Virginia National Guard

VNG celebrates commissioning of 13 new lieutenants
September 25, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard celebrated the commissioning of 13 new lieutenants at a ceremony held Sept. 15, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The event marked the end of Officer Candidate School for the candidates enrolled in Class 66, 67A and 67B. ... MORE

VNG combined arms marksmanship match held at Fort Barfoot
June 18, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit hosted the Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Match, held May 17-19, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The annual competition brought together approximately 50 shooters from across the state. Over the course of the match, shooters tested their skills on both rifle and pistol from a variety of distances and firing positions... MORE

VNG hosts ROTC marksmanship match at Fort Barfoot
May 7, 2024 — ROTC cadets from six Virginia universities came together for a marksmanship match hosted by the Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit, as well as the state’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. The event, held April 19-21, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia, was dubbed the 2024 ROTC College Clash Marksmanship Competition and included 59 cadets from schools including George Mason University, James Madison University, Liberty University, Radford University, Virginia Tech and the Virginia Military Institute... MORE

VNG shooters excel at 2024 U.S. Army Small Arms Competition
April 24, 2024 — Two teams of Virginia National Guard Soldiers performed admirably during the 2024 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship, a week-long, All-Army marksmanship competition held March 10-16, 2024, at Fort Moore, Georgia. ... MORE

VNG recognizes 7 WOCS graduates
March 6, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard celebrated the graduation of seven Soldiers from the 183 Regiment, Regional Training Institute’s Warrant Officer Candidate School during a ceremony held March 3, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. For the candidates, their WOCS graduation served as a culmination of years of hard work and dedication in their respective career fields. On average, the candidates had 14 years of service, an overall academic average of 94 percent and represented five branches and two states... MORE

VNG WOCs hit milestones, hurtle toward graduation
February 14, 2024 — The seven Soldiers currently enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School are nearly through with their transition from noncommissioned officers to fully-fledged warrant officers. Over their most recent drill weekend, held Feb. 2-4, 2024, the candidates tackled their community project at the Chesterfield Food Bank and Outreach Center, took their capstone academic assessment, and presented their class song and sign to their battalion commander... MORE

Inaugural ROTC marksmanship match hosted by VNG MTU
October 17, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit hosted 64 cadets from 11 Virginia colleges and universities during their inaugural ROTC Pistol Championship, held Sept. 30, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The event ran cadets through a three-stage competition that required them to engage targets from 25 yards under varying time constraints. ... MORE

VNG celebrates commissioning of 10 new OCS graduates
October 2, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 10 new lieutenants to its ranks Sept. 17, 2023, during a commissioning ceremony for the graduates of Officer Candidate School Class 65, as well as Class 66A and 66B, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Friends and family members gathered at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute to celebrate the new lieutenants and the Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment during the ceremony. ... MORE

Ten officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School receive their commissions Sept. 17, 2023, at a ceremony held at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The candidates were part of the traditional OCS Class 65, as well as accelerated Classes 66A and 66B. During the ceremony, they took the oath of office, and were then pinned with second lieutenant rank by family and friends. Col. Kurt K. Kobernik, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, served as the guest speaker for the event, while the 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course prepares Soldiers to become VAARNG’s technical experts
September 15, 2023 — The 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Warrant Officer Candidate School hosted a Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course Sept. 8-10, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Completion of Pre-WOC is a pre-requisite for any Virginia Army National Guard Soldier to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School... MORE

VNG hosts combined arms marksmanship match
May 29, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit tested the skills of nearly 90 shooters during the Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Match, a three-day combined arms match held May 19-21, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The Virginia National Guard’s annual marksmanship match brought together Soldiers and Airmen from across the state to test their skills on both rifle and pistol. The shooters were challenged with matches that required them to engage targets with both rifle and pistol from a variety of firing positions and distances... MORE

A Soldier shoots a rifle in the prone position in a field.

New VNG warrant officers recognized as TACs make national impact
May 16, 2023 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School celebrated and recognized the graduation of six warrant officer candidates from Class 23-001 in a ceremony held May 6, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The class of newly-promoted warrant officers included Soldiers from both the Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guard, as well as the U.S. Army Reserve. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve candidates swear in as new the nation’s newest warrant officers during a recognition ceremony at the conclusion of the Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School, taught by cadre assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, May 6, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The ceremony marked the conclusion of WOCS for the six candidates, who were pinned with their new WO1 rank during the ceremony. Chief Warrant Officer 5 John D. Calley, the State Command Chief Warrant Officer, served as the guest speaker for the event.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

WOCs learn to lead, give back to local community
March 27, 2023 — U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve warrant officer candidates completed their community service project at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 806 food bank March 11, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The WOCs are part of Class 23-001, instructed by cadre assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based Warrant Officer Candidate School at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Virginia National Guard Warrant Officer Candidates complete their community service project at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 806 food bank March 11, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The WOCs are part of Class 23-001, instructed by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Warrant Officer Candidate School, 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. WOCS requires each class to identify, plan, and execute a community service project prior to moving on to the final phase of WOCS. Completion of the community service project provides the candidates an opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, while also practicing many of the same tasks and skills necessary to plan and execute military operations. (U.S. National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Marc Heaton)

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 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

Fort Pickett hosts CNGB for weapons qualifications
August 22, 2022 — Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, completed a weapons qualification course for the M17 pistol and M4 carbine Aug. 1, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

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