Virginia National Guard > News - Category State Partnership Program

116th MBCT completes historic JRTC rotation
July 8, 2026 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team became the first Army National Guard MBCT to test its capabilities at a historic Joint Readiness Training Center rotation May 31 - July 1, 2026, at Fort Polk, Louisiana...

VNG supports command post exercise in Finland
June 24, 2026 — Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in a command post training exercise at the Finnish Army Academy June 7-12, 2026, in Lappeenranta, Finland...

Virginia Air Guard, Finnish Partners Sharpen Tactics, Readiness
June 17, 2026 — Two F-22 Raptors from the Virginia Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Squadron touched down at Ebbing Air National Guard Base June 16 for a joint-training exercise with Finnish Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft. ...

183rd RTI, Tajiks conduct patrolling exchanges in Tajikistan, Virginia
June 8, 2026 — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted an urban patrolling operations exchange with members of the Tajik military in May both in Tajikistan and at Fort Pickett...

VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan
May 14, 2026 — Eight Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with members of the Tajik military April 27 – May 1, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan...

VaANG cyber warriors defend digital front during Locked Shields 26
May 6, 2026 — Six members of the Virginia Air National Guard participated in Locked Shields 2026, an international cyber defense exercise, April 11-25, 2026, in Jyväskylä, Finland...

VNG team participates in Exercise Cold Response in Finland
April 8, 2026 — A team of Virginia National Guard officers traveled to Finland to participate in Exercise Cold Response, a multi-country and multi-service winter exercise lead by the Norwegian Army which concluded March 20, 2026...

VNG Soldiers, Airmen support Karelian Stone in Finland
March 18, 2026 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear defense exchange with Finnish forces Feb. 23 - March 7, 2026, in Finland. ...

VNG strengthens partnership with Tajikistan through medical exchange
March 5, 2026 — Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to Detachment 1, 192nd Medical Group, 192nd Wing conducted a combat medical exchange with members of the Tajikistan armed forces Feb. 2 - 6, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan...

VNG Soldiers, Airmen participate in Finnish cyber security exercise
February 19, 2026 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 192nd Wing participated in Elements of Cyber 2026, a Finnish cyber exercise, Feb. 2-6, 2026, in Riihimäki, Finland...

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. ...

Finnish strategy chief visits the Virginia Air National Guard
January 22, 2026 — The 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, hosted an official visit for distinguished visitors from the Finnish Defence Forces Dec. 11, 2025, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. Senior leaders within the VaANG welcomed Maj. Gen. Sami Nurmi, Finnish Defence Forces deputy chief of staff for strategy, for an official visit to the wing...

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...

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. ...

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. ...

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