Virginia National Guard

VNG Chaplains gather for joint sustainment training
April 15, 2024 — More than 40 chaplains and religious affairs specialists personnel from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and the Virginia Defense Force came together for a two-day Joint Chaplain Annual Sustainment Training event April 13-14, 2024, at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

VNG, VDF Chaplains gather for joint sustainment training

Building Strong and Ready Teams training aids 529th Soldiers prior to deployment
January 26, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard Chaplain Corps conducted its first Building Strong and Ready Teams training Jan. 18, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. This event was conducted for members of the Virginia Beach- based Headquarters Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, which is scheduled to deploy to Poland later this month... MORE

VNG chaplain participates in International Young Chaplains Course in Finland
October 18, 2023 — First Lt. Stanley Bouadi, a chaplain assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group participated in the International Young Chaplains Course with military chaplains from 12 other nations Sept. 25-29, 2023, in Helsinki, Finland. ... MORE

Virginia Defense Force chaplains support Bulla Chapel at Fort Barfoot
August 29, 2023 — Virginia Defense Force chaplains volunteered their time during the 2023 summer annual training season to conduct Sunday services at the Maneuver Training Center Fort Barfoot Bulla Chapel in order to provide religious support to Soldiers conducting training on the installation... MORE

Johnson presented Order of Martin of Tours award
July 26, 2023 — Lt. Col. Brett Johnson, the Virginia Army National Guard full-time support chaplain, received the Order of Martin of Tours award from Col. Seung Lee, the VNG state chaplain, as part of his promotion ceremony May 14, 2023, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Chaplains gather for annual sustainment training
May 17, 2023 — More than 30 chaplains and religious affairs specialists from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force participated in a one-day Joint Chaplain Annual Sustainment Training May 6, 2023, at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Lee named new VNG state chaplain
January 23, 2023 — Lt. Col. Seung Lee, who most recently served as the command chaplain for the 134th Chaplain Support Team, is the new Virginia National Guard state chaplain. Lee succeeds Col. Benjamin Sprouse. ... MORE

Education center offers opportunities to learn, lead for evacuated Afghans
March 7, 2022 — Evacuated Afghan children who have been out of school since August 2021 are back in class thanks to a newly-renovated community education center here. Located across the street from where Afghan evacuees are temporarily staying while awaiting processing for onward movement, the center is opened to adults and children and a result of collaboration efforts among multiple organizations currently participating in the largest evacuation of at-risk personnel since the Vietnam War, said Maj. Delphoney Kargbo, a 29th Infantry Division chaplain currently supporting Task Force Liberty. ... MORE

VDF chaplains provide support at Fort Pickett chapel
September 28, 2021 — Virginia Defense Force chaplains volunteered their time to conduct Sunday services at the Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett Bulla Chapel throughout the Summer of 2021 in order to provide religious support to Soldiers conducting training on the installation. ... MORE

Online training provides valuable collaborative experience for VNG chaplains
July 14, 2021 — Religious support personnel from all components of the Virginia National Guard participated in a virtual training event June 5, 2021, designed to not only provide required training but also to increase communication and improve collaboration between the services. “It was a really good mix of Army, Air and Virginia Defense Force, as well as active duty,” said Capt. Will Cochrane, chaplain for the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group. “There was a great joint aspect with different elements represented. It was unique to be with them and collaborate. I honestly don’t remember a time when we’ve done that before. Everyone had a piece of the training.”... MORE

Virginia Guard chaplains, NCOs provided valuable support to D.C. mission
March 10, 2021 — RICHMOND, Virginia – When Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen headed to Washington, D.C., in January, chaplains and religious affairs specialists were right alongside them to provide support and assistance... MORE

Chaplains support troops on mission in Washington, D.C.

VaARNG, VDF chaplains celebrate ongoing partnership
November 6, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Chaplains from the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Defense Force recognized the retirement of Lt. Col. (Va.) David C. Lagerveld, the VDF’s senior chaplain, and the ongoing partnership with VDF chaplains providing support at Fort Pickett during a lunch held in October in the Richmond area... MORE

Capt. (Va.) Deb O'Neil-Lewis, a chaplain with the Virginia Defense Force, leads a field service during the Summer 2020 annual training season at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

VNG couples laugh their way to stronger marriage
October 5, 2020 — WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Approximately eight Virginia National Guard couples attended a Strong Bonds weekend retreat Sept. 11-13, 2020, at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. The event focused on using humor to strengthen their marriages and improve communication skills. “As you can see, this is not an Army PowerPoint presentation,” said Capt. Will Cochrane, a chaplain assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters. “This is an entertaining, funny presentation and you can hear folks laughing and enjoying themselves, interacting and connecting and having a good time.” ... MORE

134th Chaplain Support Team Soldiers return from deployment
July 13, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 134th Chaplain Support Team are back home after a successful deployment providing religious support to U.S. troops overseas. The detachment, led by Lt. Col. Seung H. Lee, the 134th Command Chaplain, arrived back in Virginia in… ... MORE

Virginia National Guard appoints full-time support chaplain
November 28, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard recently appointed Army Chaplain (Maj.) Brett Johnson as the state’s full-time support chaplain to provide religious support services to help ensure the spiritual well-being of Soldiers, Airmen, families and civilians. While he is stationed at Fort Pickett, Johnson is able to coordinate religious support for individuals all over the state... MORE

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