Virginia National Guard

Bergman, Abbott take top honors at 2023 Best Warrior Competition
March 21, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett took top honors at the Virginia Army National Guard’s 2023 Best Warrior Competition, held March 16 - 19, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

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

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

Eighteen officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School traditional and accelerated program celebrate their OCS graduation Sept. 18, 2022 at a ceremony held at Fort Pickett’s 183rdRegiment, Regional Training Institute in front of family, friends, fellow Soldiers and leaders. The graduation included candidates from OCS Class 64, as well as 65A and 65B. Retired Col. Fred Bolton served as the guest speaker for the event and Lt. Col. Eric Quinn administered the oath of office to the new lieutenants. The Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided ceremonial music for the occasion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

VNG Soldier celebrates heritage by honoring family's independence
October 12, 2022 — In the United States, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15 each year, largely because that date marks the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. For Pvt. Alexander Ayala, born to a Peruvian father and a Salvadoran mother, National Hispanic Heritage Month is all about celebrating the unique cultures of his family, as well as their independence... 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

VNG teams take second, third at regional marksmanship competition
September 19, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman assigned to units across the Commonwealth made a strong showing at the Marksmanship Advisory Council Region II match, with VNG teams taking second and third place overall at the competition Aug. 26 - 28, 2022, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. ... 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 Soldiers participate in Regional Cooperation 22 in Tajikistan
August 29, 2022 — Approximately 300 troops from the United States, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Pakistan came together for the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22,” held Aug. 6-18, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The annual exercise, sponsored by U.S. Central Command and primarily conducted by National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, focused on enhancing multinational stability operations and promoting cooperation on counter-terrorism and joint combined capabilities among the U.S. and Central and South Asia, or CASA, nations. ... MORE

U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia work through medical training lanes alongside their counterparts from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense during the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22” Aug. 14, 2022, at a training site near Dushanbe, Tajikistan. RC 22 is an annual, multi-national U.S. Central Command-sponsored exercise conducted by U.S. forces in partnership with Central and South Asia nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

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

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team train on the M3E1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System June 4, 2021, at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett, Virginia.

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

429th BSB Soldier stand guard in Washington, D.C.

Task Forces provides critical assistance to Virginia's COVID-19 response
July 15, 2020 — PETERSBURG, Va. — After months of hard work and unprecedented challenges, one element of the Virginia National Guard’s support to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is drawing to a close. While COVID-19 sample collections and mask fit testing continue, the task force dedicated to logistics and… ... MORE

Task Force provides critical assistance to Virginia’s COVID-19 response

Training, combat readiness take center stage in change of command ceremony
February 10, 2020 — WINCHESTER, Va. — A Haymarket, Virginia, resident is now the commander of the Virginia Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Lt. Col. Robert Leseman officially took command of the Winchester-based unit from Lt. Col. Steele McGonegal during a change-of-command ceremony Feb. 8, 2020…... MORE

Exchange program benefits VNG Soldiers, partnerships
November 22, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Several Virginia National Guard Soldiers were able to participate in the Military Reserve Exchange Program in 2019, traveling abroad and attaching to foreign armies in a unique opportunity for military professional development. ... MORE

Top Virginia National Guard units recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 29, 2019 — NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard and the 192nd Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard for high levels of readiness at the third annual Virginia Military Ball April 27, 2019, in Newport News, Virginia... MORE

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