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Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 51 graduates 118 cadets
August 27, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 118 cadets from Class 51 August 24, 2019, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, joined Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, in congratulating the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half-month program... MORE

STARBASE staff provide STEM instruction to VNG Youth Camp, ChalleNGe cadets
August 16, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — Staff from the Winchester-based STARBASE Academy traveled to Virginia Beach to provide hands-on instruction to more than 60 sons and daughters of Virginia National Guard Airmen and Soldiers at the Virginia National Guard’s 14th Annual Youth Camp July 27 – Aug. 2, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach... MORE

Partnerships with TCC, ABC offer ChalleNGe cadets new options upon graduation
July 25, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia– For many cadets in the Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, the 20-week residential portion of the program is an opportunity to pursue credit recovery and return to high school. For some, they spend their time preparing to take the GED exam at the end of the course. But for some cadets, two new programs offer them the opportunity to quickly receive their GED certificate and then spend eight to 10 weeks taking college classes or training for a future career in the building industry... MORE

Secretary Hopkins visits Winchester STARBASE Academy
May 29, 2019 — WINCHESTER, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins visited students taking part in activities at the Winchester STARBASE Academy May 20, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard’s Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester, Virginia, to talk with students and see the program’s hands-on instructional approach for science, technology, math and engineering in person... MORE

Virginia DMA honors state employees
May 23, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins, Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walter L. Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked DMA employees at a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 22, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. DMA previously conducted a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 9, 2019, at Fort Pickett... MORE

Ceremony celebrates 412th birthday of VNG, Jamestown
May 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Senior leaders from the office of Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and members of the Virginia Army and Air National Guard cut a cake to celebrate the 412th birthday of the Virginia National Guard and Jamestown May 14, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The VNG traces the heritage and traditions of citizen service to the founding of Jamestown when Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense, and since May 14, 1607, there has not been a day without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas... MORE

Virginia’s vets honored on National Vietnam Veterans Day
April 3, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Dozens of Vietnam-era veterans were honored with a ceremony and special pin during a Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration March 29, 2019, at the Sitter and Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach serves as vital training facility for local, state and federal organizations
March 15, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach serves as a vital training installation, not just for the Virginia National Guard, but for personnel from all four branches of the military, both active duty and reserve, local and state first responders, and a variety of community organizations. Its prime location is just one reason for its popularity however. The facilities and training aides available, as well as the willingness of its staff, make it a vital training location for its customers... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 50 graduates 117 cadets
March 14, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 117 cadets from Class 50 March 2, 2019, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, chief operations officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, joined Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, in congratulating the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half-month program... MORE

Mentors provide valuable guidance to ChalleNGe cadets
February 4, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Twice a year the Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduates cadets from the five and a half month long residential portion of the program. But when the cadets take off their uniforms and return home, they don’t stop being cadets. Instead they transition to the 12-month, non-residential portion of the program. And just because they’re no longer watched by cadre in uniforms doesn’t mean the ChalleNGe program doesn’t have an eye on them... MORE

AG shares legislative priorities with JLC, GA Military Caucus
January 18, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, updated members of the Virginia General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus and the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations on the Virginia National Guard and discussed the VNG’s legislative initiatives for the 2019 session of the Virginia General Assembly Jan. 16, 2019, in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Governor commends Virginia National Guard
January 18, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins commended the Virginia National Guard for the organization’s service to commonwealth and country at a legislative reception hosted Jan. 16, 2019, by the Virginia National Guard Association and Virginia Army and Air National Guard Enlisted Association in Richmond, Virginia. “Over the last year I have been so proud of all the great work that our Guard does, whether it has been serving overseas or answering the call when we have had natural disasters,” Northam said. “You are always there, and people know that you are always there and you are known for your service to the commonwealth.”... MORE

DMA hosts inaugural Trades Technician Training Course
November 14, 2018 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs Safety and Occupational Health Office conducted its inaugural Trades Technician Training Course Nov. 8, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The day-long course, which was hosted in coordination with the DMA facilities, operations, maintenance and environmental sections, focused on hot topics in the safety and environmental arenas... MORE

Fort Pickett Fire & Rescue hosts incident command course
October 17, 2018 — Fort Pickett Fire & Rescue hosted instruction on the National Incident Management System Training Program Incident Command System Level 300 Course Oct. 3, 10 and 11, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. In addition to training their own personnel, first responders from nearby organizations also took part... MORE

ChalleNGe Class 50 candidates transition to cadets during induction ceremony
October 12, 2018 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy transitioned 140 candidates to cadets during a ceremony Oct. 12, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

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