Virginia National Guard > News - Category State Partnership Program

183rd RTI hosts Tajik partners, train on counterterrorism
February 5, 2026 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, completed a landmark training mission with members of the Tajikistan Special Forces Jan. 19-30, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

29th ID participates in warfighter exercise in Finland
January 21, 2026 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division Headquarters participated in the Finnish training exercise Operation Karelian Spear Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, 2025, in Kouvola, Finland... MORE

Finnish strategy chief visits the Virginia Air National Guard
January 13, 2026 — Virginia Army and Air National Guard senior leaders welcomed distinguished visitors from the Finnish Defense Forces Dec. 11, 20205, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, and at the VNG Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

VaANG team observes Finnish Air Force agile combat employment tactics
October 20, 2025 — A contingent of Virginia Air National Guard personnel recently spent time observing PROTECTIVE FENCE 2025, a major exercise conducted by the Finnish Air Force to test its air component readiness Sept. 22 - 26, 2025, in Finland. ... MORE

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. ... MORE

Red Dragons participate in Finish sniper competition

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... MORE

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. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 229th Chemical Company, 329th Regional Support Group, and Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conduct 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... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and a Finnish soldier stand in front of a Humvee

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... MORE

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. ... MORE

Ring, Nye conduct key leader engagements in 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. ... MORE

29th ID participates in Karelian Sword exercise in 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... MORE

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... MORE

Bilateral affairs officers serve as a vital connection between VNG, SPP partners

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... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan

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... MORE

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