Virginia National Guard

Task Force Red Dragon Soldiers recognized for federal active duty in Africa
January 25, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Red Dragon received the Virginia Governor’s National Service Medal Jan. 21, 2023, at multiple locations across Virginia to recognize their federal active-duty service in Africa from November 2021 through September 2022. ... MORE

2-183rd Soldier profiled by FUTURES magazine
January 24, 2023 — Pfc. Noor Habr, assigned to the Virginia Beach-based Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, spent three days being photographed and interviewed for FUTURES magazine Jan. 19-21, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ... MORE

Governor commends VNG, families after year busy with mobilizations
December 7, 2022 — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and the First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin hosted a reception for Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families Dec. 4, 2022, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, to recognize the families of those personnel who are currently on federal active duty deployments. ... MORE

VNG celebrates 18 new OCS graduates
October 14, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard welcomed 18 officer candidates from Officer Candidate School classes 64, 65A and 65B during a ceremony held Sept. 18, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard installation, brigade and battalion command selections announced
September 28, 2022 — The Adjutant General of Virginia announced officers who have been selected for command in the Virginia National Guard at the instillation, brigade and battalion level... MORE

TF Red Dragon conducts transfer of authority, ends mission in Horn of Africa
September 20, 2022 — Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as Task Force Red Dragon, conducted a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 19, 2022, to officially end their security mission for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, known as Task Force Wolfhound, assumed responsibility for the mission. Approximately 1,000 Soldiers from across Virginia and Kentucky began serving on federal active duty on Nov. 27, 2021. With their mission complete, they will return to Virginia and Kentucky in the coming weeks... MORE

Red Dragons earn their spurs in Kenya
September 1, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa held a Spur Ride August 20, 2022, in Manda Bay, Kenya... MORE

VNG Soldier takes gold at World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
July 25, 2022 — Pvt. Braylon Manuel won gold at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship two years in a row, earning the top spot in both 2021 and 2022. Manuel will be assigned to the Virginia National Guard's 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team following his initial entry training... MORE

Va. Beach native first female cav scout in VNG
April 4, 2022 — After 22 weeks of intense training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Pfc. Noor Habr became the first woman in the Virginia Army National Guard to earn the 19D Cavalry Scout military occupational specialty, or MOS. Habr, an Arab American and native of Virginia Beach, decided to join the National Guard after a recruiter visited her school in 2021. As a senior at Bayside High School, she was trying to figure out what her next step would be after graduation... MORE

116th IBCT Soldiers train on new recoilless rifle system
June 15, 2021 — Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team trained on the M3E1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System during a course held at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett’s New Equipment Training / New Equipment Fielding facility June 1 - 11, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

116th IBCT leads task force of 12 states at PI59
January 27, 2021 — WASHINGTON, DC — The Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took a lead role in the security of the 59th Presidential Inauguration, commanding a task force of more than 7,400 Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states. The coalition, named Team Capitol, was responsible for maintaining the physical security of the Capitol grounds. On inauguration day, the 116th headquarters served as the operations center to coordinate thousands of Guardsmen lining fences with shields, body armor and rifles... MORE

Cav Soldiers recognize Smithfield VFW for support
September 21, 2020 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Suffolk-based Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team recognized and thanked members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8545 in Smithfield, Virginia, during a unit awards ceremony Sept. 11, 2020, in Suffolk, Virginia. Bravo Troop and Post 8545 came together under the VFW’s Adopt-a-Unit program. According to the VFW more than 121,000 military and family members are actively supported by VFW Posts and Auxiliaries through the VFW Adopt-a-Unit program... MORE

Gunnery simulators augment Army Guard training
June 19, 2019 — SUFFOLK, Va. – Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, stood in the turret of a Humvee, prepared to engage targets with his M2 .50 caliber machine gun. “Gunner ready,” he said to his truck commander, as they proceeded down a dusty road. Soon enough, the commander called out an approaching target. “Target identified,” Murphy responded. “500 meters.”... 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

Saber Soldiers provide crew evaluations for active-duty cavalry squadron
January 29, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard cavalry Soldiers provided vehicle crew evaluators for their active-duty counterparts from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during gunnery training Jan. 15 – 26, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Soldiers assigned to the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided the evaluation support for the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division as they conducted crew-served gunnery ranges with multiple vehicles and weapons systems... MORE

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