Virginia National Guard

VNG Soldier balances science, service on path to success
November 13, 2024 — As a first-generation American and the first in her family to attend college, Spc. Mariel Gomez has broken new ground with every step she’s taken. She was born in California, to newly-immigrated parents, and spent a few impactful years with her grandparents in El Salvador before moving with her family to Virginia where she routinely served as a translator and helped her family bridge the gap between their Salvadoran heritage and their new American life. Today, she holds an undergraduate degree in sustainable biomaterials from Virginia Tech and is completing a master's program in chemical engineering at North Carolina State University. Additionally, one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, she serves in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group as a 12K, a plumber... MORE

Spc. Mariel Gomez poses with her dog. (Courtesy photo)

Pioneers “Push for Life” during Suicide Awareness Month
September 23, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, have knocked out nearly 22,200 pushups as of Sept. 23, 2024, in support of the Virginia National Guard Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention’s and Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce’s “Push for Life Challenge.” The Soldiers completed 10,000 pushup repetitions during their regularly scheduled drill weekend held Sept. 8 and have kept pushing every day since... MORE

Ceremony extends enlistments for 276th Engineer Bn. Soldiers
July 29, 2024 — More than 15 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group extended their enlistments during a ceremony July 25, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia, during the unit’s annual training. ... MORE

276th Engineer Bn. hosts “Plus One Day” during AT
July 25, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a "Plus One Day" with their loved ones July 19, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

276th Engineers conduct mountain warfare exchange with Tajik partners
May 20, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a mountain warfare exchange with Tajik military forces Apr. 29 - May 3, 2024, in Romit, Tajikistan. ... MORE

Mother, mentors provide guiding light for engineer captain
March 28, 2024 — When Capt. Catherine Bean raised the idea of joining the military, her mother was an immediate voice of support. At the time, Bean was still in high school. She wanted to join the military, but she also wanted to attend college. With her mother’s guidance, she researched ROTC programs. Then, the two hit the road, logging hundreds of miles together as they visited universities that could offer Bean an ROTC scholarship. Eventually, Bean settled on the Army ROTC program at the University of Mississippi... MORE

Capt. Catherine Bean, on the far right, poses with friends and peers. (Courtesy photo)

116th IBCT’s Cooper, 329th’s Bradner are VaARNG best warriors
March 22, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group claimed top honors at the 2024 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 14 - 17, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. ... MORE

229th MPs conduct checkpoint security exchange in Tajikistan
February 27, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a border checkpoint military security exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 19 - 23, 2024, in Dusti, Tajikistan. ... MORE

VNG conducts medical evacuation exchange in Tajikistan
January 8, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a medical evacuation tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 4-9, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003. ... MORE

Humility, teamwork keys to success for Sapper honor grad
July 25, 2023 — Following four fierce weeks at the U.S. Army’s Sapper Leader Course, Staff Sgt. Borys Vargas, a combat engineer assigned to the Virginia National Guard, was named distinguished honor graduate for Course 23-005. While Vargas appreciated the honor, he said he didn’t see himself as the distinguished honor graduate... MORE

Engineers begin construction of new demo range at Fort Barfoot
June 22, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to engineer units from across the state had the unique opportunity to work together to begin construction on a new light demolition range during annual training June 3-17, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

Families get taste of annual training during 276th's "Plus One Day"
June 16, 2023 — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group participated with family members and loved ones in the battalion’s inaugural Plus One Day June 9, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

“Plus One” day gives families glimpse into 276th’s annual training

576th EUD recognized as most outstanding engineer unit in Army National Guard
June 8, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, received the 2022 Itschner Award as the most outstanding U.S. Army engineer company in the Army National Guard from the Society of American Military Engineers at the Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo on May 4, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas... MORE

VNG MPs conduct border checkpoint security exchange in Tajikistan
April 21, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a border checkpoint security military exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan April 10-14, 2023, at the border checkpoint in Dusti, Tajikistan... MORE

576th Soldiers recognized for overseas service
March 31, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, received the Virginia Governor’s National Service Medal during a ceremony March 26, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

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