Virginia National Guard

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 47 graduates 116 cadets
August 28, 2017 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 116 cadets from Class 47 in a ceremony held Aug. 26, 2017, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj . Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia; Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin, Director of the Joint Staff of the Virginia National Guard; and retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, Director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, congratulated the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half month residential portion of the program... MORE

Commonwealth Challenge graduates get back on track
March 16, 2017 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 101 cadets during a commencement ceremony for Class 46 March 4, 2017, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Virginia State Senator Bryce Reeves, who represents the 17th District, was the guest speaker. Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin, Director of the Joint Staff for the Virginia National Guard, was on hand to congratulate the graduates and the Clifton Forge-based 29th Division Band performed ceremonial music for the event... MORE

Governor, First Lady host receptions recognizing federal active duty service
December 10, 2016 — Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe hosted receptions for the Virginia National Guard Dec. 10 and 11, 2016, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, to recognize the Soldiers and Airmen who returned from federal active duty deployments this year and their families as well as families of those personnel who are currently deployed... MORE

Dept. of Military Affairs recognizes, thanks state employees
May 18, 2016 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin, Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, and Walter L. Mercer, Director of Personnel and Administration for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees at luncheons and awards ceremonies May 10, 2016, at Fort Pickett and May 12, 2016, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach... MORE

Mercer selected as new DMA Director of Personnel and Administration
February 19, 2016 — Walter L. Mercer has been selected to succeed Stephen L. Huxtable as the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Director of Personnel and Administration according to an announcement made Feb. 19, 2016, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Huxtable will retire March 1, 2016, after more than 40 years of civilian and military service with the Virginia National Guard, and Mercer will assume the job March 10... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe continues changing lives one cadet at a time with Class 43
April 21, 2015 — Cadets in Class 43 of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy have completed their two-week acclimation phase and are now focused on the academic portion of the program, with their eyes on graduation Aug. 22... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe welcomes two new classes, host of changes to the program
March 11, 2014 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy underwent some changes before it welcomed 111 cadets into Class 40 earlier this year. The cadets of Class 40 completed their “acclimation period” into ChalleNGe Jan. 23-31, 2014, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach... MORE

STARBASE Academy blasts off in Winchester
July 24, 2012 — The Virginia National Guard hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Winchester STARBASE Academy July 23 at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester. Students from Frederick Douglass Elementary School of the Winchester Public Schools took part in the first-ever five-day program that ended July 27... MORE

Program Director Susan Corrigan cuts the ribbon July 23 to officially open the STARBASE Academy in Winchester. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard)

ChalleNGe candidates tackle rappel tower during "Hard Core" phase
January 24, 2012 — Rappel Master Instructors from the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute offered their expertise to candidates of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy Jan. 20 as they descended the 30-foot rappel tower at Fort Story during the "Hard Core" phase of the program. The Hard Core phase is the first two weeks of the ChalleNGe program where the cadre determines whether the students have what it takes to become cadets in the program... MORE

Virginia Guard receives funding for STARBASE youth education program in Winchester
November 2, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard has received federal funding to establish a STARBASE youth education program that will be hosted at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester... MORE

Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 99 from Class 34
June 23, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduated 99 cadets from Class 34 June 18 at the Naval Air Station Oceana theater in Virginia Beach. Virginia Sen. Frank Wagner and Brig Gen. Wayne A. Wright, the deputy Adjutant General of Virginia, were among those on hand to congratulate the graduates. The ceremony also marked a farewell for retired Marine Corps Col. T.M. Early, who is retiring as director of the ChalleNGe program after leading it since 2005... MORE

ChalleNGe program holds graduation ceremony for class #34

ChalleNGe cadets complete initial “Hardcore” phase
February 8, 2011 — Candidates for the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Program transitioned to full cadet status Jan. 27 and were recognized in a ceremony at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach after completing the two weeks of the “Hardcore” phase. During the mentally and physically rigorous first phase that determines eligibility for the full 20-week program, candidates tackled the obstacle course, rappel tower and leader reaction course at Fort A. P. Hill. After traversing 30-foot high obstacles and low crawling through the dirt, more than 120 candidates proved their mental toughness and ability to work as a team and earned a spot in the full program... MORE

ChalleNGe candidates navigate obstacle course

Virginia Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduates 134 from Class 33
December 27, 2010 — The Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduated 134 cadets from Class 33 Dec. 18 at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Commonwealth ChalleNGe is a free, statewide quasi-military program for at-risk teens who have dropped out of high school... MORE

Virginia ChalleNGe program graduates largest class in program history
January 14, 2010 — The Virginia National Guard’s Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated the largest class in the history of the program Dec. 19 in a ceremony at Virginia Beach’s Ocean Lakes High School... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe recognized for excellence at 2008 conference
January 15, 2009 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Program received the “Excellence in Responsible Citizenship Award” Jan. 9 at the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program Conference in Dallas... MORE

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