Virginia National Guard

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 72 cadets from Class 54
April 2, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia- The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 72 cadets from Class 54 during a ceremony March 20, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined ChalleNGe staff members in congratulating the cadets during the socially-distant ceremony, which was live streamed for family members and friends to view online... MORE

DMA's first mentorship program marks success with graduation
March 9, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After a year of overcoming challenges in order to learn from each other, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs’ first-ever mentorship program class of mentors and mentees graduated during a ceremony Feb. 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

ChalleNGe cadets excel, set to graduate during COVID-adjusted class
February 23, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia -- Class 54 of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is scheduled to graduate March 20, 2021, and for the staff and cadets of the program, it will be the culmination of a five-month class that was both virtual and in-person and required coordination with and support of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education. ... MORE

MTC takes third in environmental awards
January 12, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett took third place honors in the Natural Resources category of the Fiscal Year 2020 Army National Guard Environmental Security Awards, according to announcement published Dec. 8, 2020, by National Guard Bureau... MORE

DMA graduates 13 from latest Supervisors Course
December 15, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs conducted their Supervisors Course for 13 new managers of DMA employees Dec. 2-4, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The three-day course is a requirement for Virginia National Guard service members or civilians who manage DMA employees within one year of holding their position. ... MORE

Gallagher discusses importance of mentorship at DMA event
December 1, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Virginia National Guard Land Component Commander, spoke to participants in the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Workforce Development Mentoring Program during an event Nov. 19, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Veterans Day honors service, sacrifice
November 16, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Because of the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia National Guard participation in Veterans Day events was greatly reduced, but the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Armed Forces was still honored and recognized... MORE

Class 53 overcomes a virtual ChalleNGe, as Class 54 prepares for hybrid experience
October 21, 2020 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia- The COVID-19 pandemic led the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy to introduce a virtual, on-line course for Class 53, which ran from May- August 2020. Now Class 54, which began Oct. 5, is preparing for a hybrid course, composed of both in-person and virtual attendance... MORE

DMA hosts orientation for new employees
September 23, 2020 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs hosted five new employees for a quarterly New Employee Orientation Class Sept. 1, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Four new state employees and one Virginia National Guard Soldier on Active Duty for Operational Support orders attended the course. The orientation is a one-day course hosted by DMA leadership including retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the DMA chief operations officer, and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Tim White, the DMA instructor and trainer. The goal of the program is to not only cover the administrative aspects of in-processing new state workers, but also to help familiarize them with the agency and its organization... MORE

New laws benefit DMA, veterans with disabilities
August 21, 2020 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ceremonially signed into law two bills benefitting the Virginia Department of Military Affairs as well as veterans with disabilities during a virtual bill signing ceremony Aug. 4, 2020... MORE

About the Virginia National Guard
July 1, 2020 — The Virginia National Guard is a unique dual-status force with a federal mission to provide a combat reserve for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to fight our nation’s wars and a state mission to provide a response force that answers the call of the Governor to defend the commonwealth. The VNG traces the history and tradition of Citizen-Soldier service to the founding of Jamestown in 1607, and there has been a military presence defending Virginia ever since... MORE

Stream remediation project first for Forth Pickett
June 30, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After two years of planning, designing and hard work, the Virginia Army National Guard’s Environmental Program has completed a large-scale stream remediation project, the first ever at the installation. The project remediated about 2,400 linear feet of stream segment, originating at the Fort Pickett recycling facility… ... MORE

DMA Human Resources Office recognized for veterans hiring effort
June 23, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – Members of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Human Resources Office were recognized for their success and commitment to the hiring and retention of women veterans during the 2020 Virginia Women Veterans Virtual Summit hosted June 17-19 by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services in collaboration with… ... MORE

Despite COVID-19, Commonwealth challeNGe marches on with 'Virtual ChalleNGe' for Class 53
June 15, 2020 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The COVID-19 pandemic has led the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy to introduce a “Virtual ChalleNGe,” using video teleconferencing technology for the cadets of Class 53, which began May 18, 2020, with 59 cadets in three platoons. “We would love to get them on campus, but we… ... MORE

Virginia National Guard hosts D-Day observation
June 6, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard hosted a brief observation of the 76th anniversary of D-Day June 6, 2020, at the Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Chief Master Sergeant James J. Profita, the… ... MORE

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