Virginia National Guard

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

VNG Officer Candidate School accepting applications for Winter Accelerated Program
July 26, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard Officer Candidate School is now accepting applications for the Winter Accelerated Program schedule for January through March 2023 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The program is hosted by 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regional Training Institute... MORE

Virginia National Guard's newest Warrant Officers recognized
May 23, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard's Warrant Officer Candidate School welcomed five new graduates at a ceremony May 14, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Warrant Officer Candidate School Class 22-001, hosted by 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, also included four warrant officer candidates from the North Carolina Army National Guard. One Virginia Guard graduate was unable to participate in the ceremony... MORE

WOCs show community support with Rockbridge Area Relief Association
April 4, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Warrant Officer Candidates completed their community project at the Rockbridge Area Relief Association March 19, 2022, in Lexington, Virginia. More than 10 WOCs participated in the event, and all were part of Class 22-001, taught by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Warrant Officer Candidate School at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Warrant Officer Candidates volunteer at the Rockbridge Area Relief Association as part of their Warrant Officer Candidate School community project March 19, 2022, in Lexington, Virginia. WOCS requires each class to identify, plan and execute a community project. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Rhita Daniel)

Pre-OCS gives Soldiers insight into officer training experience
March 28, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers interested in furthering their careers as officers gained insight into the Officer Candidate School experience March 12-13, 2022, during a pre-OCS event held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The training, conducted by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, aimed to prepare Soldiers for the unique challenges of OCS... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers participate in land navigation training March 12, 2022, at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The training was part of a pre-Officer Candidate School drill weekend for Soldiers interested in attending OCS. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Ben Melin)

Virginia National Guard welcomes 17 new OCS graduates
October 5, 2021 — The Virginia Army National Guard celebrated the graduation of 17 officer candidates from Officer Candidate School Class 63 and 64B Sept. 19, 2021, at a ceremony held at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

Seventeen Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates celebrate their graduation from Officer Candidate School Sept. 19, 2021, at a ceremony held at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Of the 17 graduates, 13 accepted their commissions, took their oath of office, and pinned on their lieutenant bars. Alumi from previous OCS classes participated in a presentation of a historic guidon from OCS Class 11 and the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided ceremonial music for the occasion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

OCS Class 64 launches into Phase II
July 28, 2021 — Twelve Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates completed Phase I of Officer Candidate School and launched their training into Phase II during a recent drill weekend, held July 16-18, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia’s OCS is taught by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute and the first drill of Phase II was held at SMR as a nod to the program’s historic past. ... MORE

Twelve Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates launch into Phase II of Officer Candidate School July 17, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The candidates are part of OCS Class 64, and spent the weekend training at SMR where Virginia’s OCS was founded. The course is taught by cadre assigned to Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

Virginia National Guard welcomes nine new officers
May 4, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard welcomed nine new lieutenants to their ranks in a ceremony held April 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The new lieutenants are part of the Virginia National Guard’s winter accelerated Officer Candidate School Class 64A. Col. Doyle Gillis, the Virginia National Guard’s director of manpower and personnel, served as the guest speaker for the event, while Lt. Col. James C. Shaver, commander of 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, administered the oath of office. ... MORE

Nine Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates celebrate their graduation from Officer Candidate School April 25, 2021, at a ceremony held at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The candidates, all part of the winter accelerated Class 64A, took the oath of office and were then pinned with second lieutenant rank by family and friends. Col. Doyle Gillis, the Virginia National Guard’s director of manpower and personnel, served as the guest speaker. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

VNG WOCs check off milestones on way toward course completion
April 1, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s warrant officer candidates hit a few milestones during their March drill weekend. On March 19th, 2021, candidates volunteered at the Chesterfield Food Bank where they helped sort, load and distribute thousands of pounds of food to hundreds of local residents. Then, on the following day, they presented their class song and sign to Col. Charles B. Martin, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Warrant officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School present their class song and sign to Col. Charles B. Martin, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, March 20, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The class includes both U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. The candidates will head south to Fort McClellan, Alabama, in at the end of April to begin Phase III and the final step toward becoming warrant officers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt.1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

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