Virginia National Guard

Logistics officer balances family with military career
June 30, 2021 — Lt. Col. Alyssa Astphan grew up in a military family. Her father served, her uncle served, and before them, her Lebanese grandfather served in World War II with a local militia and both the French and British Armies. Continuing her family's legacy of military service always seemed like a given. From the time she knew about the concept of careers, she knew hers would be spent in the military... MORE

Signal officer shares journey of transition, acceptance
June 16, 2021 — When Maj. Keilyn DiStefano started her military career in 1998, it was in a different state, under a different name, with a different gender assignment. Back then, she wasn’t herself... MORE

Dual-military couple provides mutual support through unique challenges
June 15, 2021 — U.S. Air Force Maj. Jonathan Patterson and U.S. Army Sgt. Mark Patterson knew within the early stages of their respective careers that military service was the right fit for them. The couple joined their respective branches about a decade apart, Maj. Patterson first, in early 2001, and Sgt. Patterson later, in 2011. The decade between their entry into the military saw a drastic change in policy toward members of the LGBTQ+ community. ... MORE

VNG “American Korean” talks career diversity & open-mindedness
May 19, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Capt. John Choi Hemby calls himself an “American Korean,” because, he says, he’s an American first. Hemby’s mother is Korean and his father, who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, is white. Growing up in Virginia and Mississippi, he said it wasn’t always easy to fit in. ... MORE

124th CPB first VNG battalion with all-female staff
March 29, 2021 — FORT MEADE, Md. – For Lt. Col. Christina Perronie, Maj. Michele Spangler, Capt. Anabel Montano-Vargas, Capt. Katie Kerr and Capt. Vanessa Rodriguez, 2020 proved exceptionally memorable. These women, all assigned to the Fairfax-based 124th Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade, not only mobilized, but also comprised the first known all-female staff within the Virginia Army National Guard, as well as Task Force Echo... MORE

Newest R&R 1SG talks resilience, family balance
March 25, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — First Sgt. Ebony Bridges, assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, said reaching her current rank is something she’s incredibly proud of. As a Black woman, the road to her current position hasn’t always been easy, and there was a point when she thought she’d never be promoted past sergeant first class. But, she stayed the course and kept giving her best to the organization... MORE

Vaccine support task force commander humbled by opportunity to serve
March 22, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Lt. Col. Juanita Rohler wears a lot of hats. She commands the Virginia National Guard’s vaccination support task force and the 529th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group. She’s one half of a dual-military couple and a dedicated mom. These days, as COVID-19 vaccination efforts ramp-up across the nation, she’s pretty busy... MORE

229th BEB NCO felt destined for military service
March 5, 2021 — FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – As a kid, Sgt. Cassandra Lyons grew up playing with G.I Joes, so it wasn’t that surprising when she joined the Virginia National Guard her junior year of high school. “I felt almost destined to be in the military,” she explained. “I had an interest in the comradery the organization provides.”... MORE

First female VNG two-star thanks family, NCOs, highlights role of empathy, integrity
March 4, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Before she made history, commanded troops or wore a uniform, Maj. Gen. Michelle Rose was just another high school student trying to figure out how to pay for college. The lone girl in a family of six kids, she applied to ROTC programs, received a scholarship from the U.S. Army and started working toward an engineering degree at North Carolina State University. Since then, over a career spanning more than three decades, Rose has met her husband, raised three independent and trailblazing daughters, deployed in support of multiple overseas operations and, most recently, become the first woman from the Virginia National Guard to achieve the rank of major general... MORE

Army Guard recruiter recommits to college commitment
March 1, 2021 — HAMPTON, Va. -- When Staff Sgt. Monisha Braxton was 17, her main goal was to go to college. Her financial situation made that goal extra challenging and while other students her age were making college plans, she was busy working in the food service industry. Braxton graduated high school with honors and looked into taking some classes at a local community college. The tuition was still more than she could afford so, she joined the U.S. Army, largely because the Army recruiter was the first to return her call... MORE

Cyber intelligence Airman draws inspiration from role models
February 24, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. -- After enlisting in the Air Force Reserve in 2007 and serving more than a decade in the intelligence field, Master Sgt. Anthony Jones decided to make the jump to the Virginia Air National Guard to pursue a new challenge: cyber intelligence. Jones is now a cyber intelligence section chief for the 185th Cyber Operations Squadron, Virginia’s first cyber squadron charged with defense of the Air Force Information Network. ... MORE

VNG Soldier supporting COVID fight says he joined to help community
February 18, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. -- Growing up, Spc. TreyVon Meekins was an honor roll student, participated in extracurricular activities and was an active member of his church. He says faith always played an important role in his life and has shaped his personal values and commitment to service. He found the National Guard a few years after high school. After caring for his ailing grandmother until her death in 2013, he worked in the civilian sector until making the decision to enlist in the Virginia Army National Guard... MORE

Recruiter talks Guard benefits, importance of recognizing Black leaders
February 18, 2021 — NORFOLK, Va. -- For Sgt. 1st Class Gertha L. Cleveland, a recruiter with the Virginia Army National Guard, a point of personal pride is her service in all three components of the U.S. Army. Over the course of her military career, she’s served on active duty and in both the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard. Cleveland first served in the USAR before entering active duty. She then took a break from her military career. Just over a year later, a National Guard recruiter contacted her and, realizing she missed her military family, she was quickly convinced the National Guard was right for her. Two weeks after her initial conversation with the recruiter, she enlisted in the National Guard... MORE

VNG preventive medicine officer talks vaccine, military service and diversity
February 10, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. -- In high school, after high school and in college, 1st Lt. Andrew Curtis thought about joining the military. Each time, he was dissuaded by friends and family. Then, at 30, as a husband and father of three, he learned about the National Guard. He wanted a change of pace from his corporate career, and joining the Virginia National Guard seemed like the perfect opportunity. ... MORE

Through trauma, 192nd Wing Airman works to end bullying, boost confidence in children
February 10, 2021 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.— The year was 2018 when Rebecca Adams was crushed by the news her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Adams has no siblings, and her mother raised her as a single parent in Portsmouth, Virginia. Needless to say, their relationship could be described as nothing less than “very close.” In 2019, the two celebrated receiving college degrees together, in the same month!... MORE

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