Virginia National Guard > News - Category State Partnership Program

Red Dragons participate in Finnish sniper competition
October 20, 2025 — A team of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the HÄYHÄ Finnish Sniper Competition Sept. 5 - 7, 2025, in Pahkajärvi, Finland. ...

VNG participates in counter-mobility operations exchange in Finland
October 3, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in the Finnish Engineer Platoon Counter-Mobility Operations 25 course Aug. 25 - 29, 2025, at the Kainuu Brigade in Kajaani, Finland...

VaARNG Soldiers conduct CBRN exercise in Finland
September 30, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 229th Chemical Company, 329th Regional Support Group, and Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exchange with members of the Finnish Defense Forces during Exercise Karelian Stronghold Sept. 1 - 5, 2025, near Helsinki, Finland. ...

329th Soldiers conduct maintenance exchange in Finland
August 21, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a maintenance exchange with members of the Finnish Defense Forces July 23- Aug. 12, 2025, in Finland...

VNG Soldiers, Airmen participate in Regional Cooperation 25
July 18, 2025 — Seven Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in U.S. Central Command’s annual Regional Cooperation exercise June 15-27, 2025, at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts...

TAG, CSEL conduct key leader engagements in Tajikistan
July 14, 2025 — Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Master Sgt. John Nye, the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader, conducted key leader engagements with senior Tajikistan officials June 23 and 24, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ...

29th ID participates in Finland's Exercise Karelian Sword
July 1, 2025 — Approximately 20 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division participated in exercise Karelian Sword, a large-scale, multi-national military exercise, May 23 - 30, 2025, in the Kymenlaakso region of Finland. ...

VNG conducts military decision making process exchange in Tajikistan
June 24, 2025 — Five Virginia National Guard members conducted a staff officer exchange with members of the Tajikistan Armed Forces June 9 - 13, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003...

Bilateral affairs officers serve as vital connection between VNG, SPP partners
June 2, 2025 — As part of the National Guard State Partnership Program, Virginia is paired with both Finland and Tajikistan to engage in a wide array of military activities, ranging from joint training exercises and subject matter expert exchanges to disaster response and humanitarian aid initiatives. Key components of these SPP relationships are the work and dedication of bilateral affairs officers — Virginia National Guard officers who live in Finland and Tajikistan and manage defense and security cooperation between Virginia and the officers’ host countries...

VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan
May 5, 2025 — Three Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with members of the Tajik military April 21 - 25, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003...

VNG Soldiers conduct close-quarters battle exchange in Tajikistan
April 22, 2025 — Four Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a close-quarters battle exchange with members of the Tajik military April 7 - 11, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan...

Finnish Air Force commander tours 192nd Wing, meets VNG leaders
April 14, 2025 — Finnish Maj. Gen. Timo Herranen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, met with Virginia National Guard leaders April 7, 2025, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The visit was part of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, which established a partnership between Virginia and Finland in May 2024...

237th Engineers train with Finnish counterparts during Arctic Forge 25
March 10, 2025 — A platoon of Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the West Point-based 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group recently took part in a cold-weather training exercise with the Finnish Defense Force, marking a milestone in the VNG's partnership with Finland...

VNG, Finland participate in Arctic Interest Council conference
March 7, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard Management Group, in coordination with the Virginia National Guard, hosted the National Guard Arctic Interest Council annual conference Feb. 11 - 12, 2025, in Springfield, Virginia. ...

VNG conducts officer and NCO development exchange in Tajikistan
February 25, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted an exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan focusing on noncommissioned officer and junior officer development Feb. 17-21, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan...

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