Virginia National Guard

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 66 cadets from Class 59
September 6, 2023 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 66 cadets from Class 59 Aug. 26, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments... MORE

Recent ChalleNGe graduate pursues U.S. Coast Guard Scholars program, future appointment to Coast Guard Academy
July 25, 2023 — Konner Wiggins, a graduate of Class 56 of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, joined the U.S. Coast Guard July 10, 2023, and will serve as an E-2 while he completes the U.S. Coast Guard Scholars program with 73 other high school graduates from around the world. Once he completes the program at Marion Military Institute in Alabama, Wiggins will then receive a full appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut, where he will run on the school’s Division III track program... MORE

Virginia DMA employees at SMR honored at luncheon
June 2, 2023 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, presented awards to DMA employees as part of a State Employee Recognition Day luncheon May 24, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

DMA employees recognized during SMR luncheon

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 58 graduates 72 cadets
March 8, 2023 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 72 cadets from Class 58 March 4, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, and retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, joined Travis May, the guest speaker for the ceremony, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments. ... MORE

DMA training prepares ChalleNGe staff for cadets return
January 9, 2023 — Virginia Department of Military Affairs staff conducted a two-day, in-service training session for staff from Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy Jan. 3-4, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The focus of the training was on policy reviews, various safety and human resource topics and resiliency. The training also featured teambuilding and group activities. ... MORE

Training prepares ChalleNGe staff for return of cadets

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 70 from Class 57
September 7, 2022 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 70 cadets from Class 57 Aug. 27, 2022, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Class 57 cadets graduate from Commonwealth ChalleNGe

Class 56 graduates from Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy
March 16, 2022 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy conducted a graduation ceremony for the cadets of Class 56 March 5, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, and ChalleNGE staff members in congratulating the 44 cadets on their graduation. ... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 59 cadets from Class 55
September 4, 2021 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 59 cadets from Class 55 during a ceremony Aug. 21, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Brig Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, and ChalleNGe staff members in congratulating the cadets during the socially distant ceremony, which was live-streamed for family members and friends to view online... MORE

DMA employees recognized for outstanding job performance
May 26, 2021 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, the Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, presented agency-wide awards May 18, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to recognize outstanding state employees for their accomplishments... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 72 cadets from Class 54
April 2, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia- The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 72 cadets from Class 54 during a ceremony March 20, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined ChalleNGe staff members in congratulating the cadets during the socially-distant ceremony, which was live streamed for family members and friends to view online... MORE

ChalleNGe cadets excel, set to graduate during COVID-adjusted class
February 23, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia -- Class 54 of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is scheduled to graduate March 20, 2021, and for the staff and cadets of the program, it will be the culmination of a five-month class that was both virtual and in-person and required coordination with and support of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education. ... MORE

Class 53 overcomes a virtual ChalleNGe, as Class 54 prepares for hybrid experience
October 21, 2020 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia- The COVID-19 pandemic led the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy to introduce a virtual, on-line course for Class 53, which ran from May- August 2020. Now Class 54, which began Oct. 5, is preparing for a hybrid course, composed of both in-person and virtual attendance... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 51 graduates 118 cadets
August 27, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 118 cadets from Class 51 August 24, 2019, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, joined Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, in congratulating the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half-month program... MORE

Partnerships with TCC, ABC offer ChalleNGe cadets new options upon graduation
July 25, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia– For many cadets in the Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, the 20-week residential portion of the program is an opportunity to pursue credit recovery and return to high school. For some, they spend their time preparing to take the GED exam at the end of the course. But for some cadets, two new programs offer them the opportunity to quickly receive their GED certificate and then spend eight to 10 weeks taking college classes or training for a future career in the building industry... MORE

State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach serves as vital training facility for local, state and federal organizations
March 15, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach serves as a vital training installation, not just for the Virginia National Guard, but for personnel from all four branches of the military, both active duty and reserve, local and state first responders, and a variety of community organizations. Its prime location is just one reason for its popularity however. The facilities and training aides available, as well as the willingness of its staff, make it a vital training location for its customers... MORE

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