Virginia National Guard > News - Category Finland Partnership

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

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.

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

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

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... MORE

Finnish Air Force commander tours 192nd Wing, meets Virginia National Guard leaders

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... MORE

VNG Combat Engineers train with Finnish counterparts during Arctic Forge 25

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. ... MORE

Red Dragons conduct infantry exchange in Finland
January 9, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted an infantry exchange with Finnish Defense Forces Nov. 16 - 24, 2024, in Finland. ... MORE

VNG leaders observe defense exercise in Finland
October 15, 2024 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers traveled to Finland to observe Exercise Karelian Stronghold alongside key senior leaders within the Finnish Defense Forces Sept. 1 - 7, 2024, at multiple locations in Finland. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard expands relationship with Finnish Army commander
October 14, 2024 — Virginia National Guard leadership hosted Lt. Gen. Pasi Välimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, during a bilateral engagement Oct 12, 2024, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The visit was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland became partners earlier in 2024... MORE

VNG senior enlisted leaders meet with Finnish counterparts
September 11, 2024 — Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leadership traveled to Finland Aug. 19- 23, 2024, to collaborate with members of the Finnish Defence Forces on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027... MORE

Cyber Fortress 3.0 builds resiliency, enhances partnerships
August 1, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard brought together multi-national and inter-agency partners to execute Cyber Fortress 3.0, a water management cyber incident response, to exercise the Commonwealth of Virginia’s cyber incident response process July 7-20, 2024, at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach... MORE

A member of the Finnish Defense Forces collaborates with a Virginia National Guard cyber operator July 15, 2024, during Cyber Fortress 3.0 at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach.

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