Virginia National Guard

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

Virginia welcomes first female infantry officer
February 6, 2019 — FORT BENNING, Ga. — On Feb. 1, 2019, 1st Lt. Candice Bowen graduated from the U.S. Army’s Infantry Basic Officer Course and became the Virginia National Guard’s first female infantry officer. She joins a small group of other women who have successfully completed training at Fort Benning to become infantry Soldiers and officers since the career field was opened to women in 2016... MORE

116th IBCT NCOs finish first, second at National Best Warrior Competition
July 28, 2018 — Kentucky and Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took first and second place as the top noncommissioned officers in the country at the 2018 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition held July 24-27, 2018, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Sgt. Jordy Brewer, a Kentucky Soldier assigned to Barbourville, Kentucky-based 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 116th IBCT finished first, and Sgt. Jake Moyer, a Virginia Soldier assigned to Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th IBCT came in second... MORE

Virginia NCO & Maryland Soldier named best warriors in the region
May 22, 2018 — The 2018 Region II Best Warrior Competition brought Soldiers and NCOs from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. to Fort Pickett May 17-20, 2018. After days of physical and mental challenges that had the region’s best Soldiers leaping over obstacles, knocking down targets and testing their military knowledge, Virginia National Guardsman Sgt. Jake Moyer was named the region’s top noncommissioned officer, while Maryland’s Spc. Gerald Villamar was named the top Soldier. The winners from the regional competition will go on to compete at the national level this summer... MORE

Moyer, Bustillo named Virginia National Guard Best NCO, Soldier
March 1, 2018 — After four days of intense competition at the Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition, Sgt. Jake Moyer was named the Virginia National Guard’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, while Spc. Miguel Bustillo was named the Soldier of the Year Feb. 25, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Moyer is assigned to 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, while Bustillo is assigned to the 134th Cyber Security Company, 91st Cyber Brigade... MORE

Virginia Guard indirect fire infantrymen train on new mobile kit for 120mm mortars
September 20, 2017 — Virginia National Guard indirect fire infantrymen trained on the newly-fielded M326 120mm Mortar Stowage Kit, or MSK, and executed fire missions Sept. 16, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The M326 MSK is a trailer-mounted system allowing Soldiers to quickly emplace, fire and stow the fully-assembled, 300-pound 120mm mortar... MORE

Virginia hosts first Crew-Served Weapons Course at Fort Pickett
September 19, 2017 — Instructors assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute taught Virginia’s first-ever Crew-Served Weapons Course Sept. 11-15, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Twenty-eight Soldiers from units across the state attended the course, which focused on the M249 light machine gun and the M240B machine gun while aiming to improve machine gun proficiency across the force. ... MORE

116th IBCT conducts EIB testing, focuses on individual skills
August 15, 2017 — After a week of hands-on training, 254 Soldiers began testing for the Expert Infantryman Badge Aug. 6, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. EIB testing was hosted by the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was a key event in the brigade’s two-week annual training, held July 29 – Aug. 12, 2017... MORE

Va. Guard aviation battalion trains at Fort A.P. Hill
June 18, 2017 — For the first two weeks of June 2017, Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment came together at Fort A.P. Hill for annual training. There, the Soldiers focused on improving individual and unit readiness with events including a personnel recovery exercise and machine gun familiarization classes and live fires, and also provided integral air support to a multi-day mortar raid in conjunction with Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

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