Virginia National Guard

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.

Unit certification a key accomplishment during Cyber Shield
July 1, 2024 — As National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and Airmen joined civilian cyber professionals and international partners for Cyber Shield 24 from May 31 to June 15, 2024, the Virginia National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade conducted CERTEX 24 to validate multiple units for future Title 10 active-duty federal mobilizations. Both exercises were hosted at the VNG’s State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for the first time... MORE

 Virginia signs state partnership agreement with Finland
May 6, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard formalized its partnership with the Finnish Defense Forces during a signing ceremony May 2, 2024, at the Finnish Ministry of Defense in Helsinki, Finland... MORE

Youngkin announces VNG to formalize partnership with Finland
May 2, 2024 — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced May 2, 2024, the Virginia National Guard has been selected as the U.S. partner to the nation of Finland for the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program... MORE

Youngkin announces VNG to formalize partnership with Finland, signs state partnership agreement

Commander of Finnish Air Force meets with VNG leaders
April 10, 2024 — Finnish Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, met with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8, 2024, during a visit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia... MORE

VNG chaplain participates in International Young Chaplains Course in Finland
October 18, 2023 — First Lt. Stanley Bouadi, a chaplain assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group participated in the International Young Chaplains Course with military chaplains from 12 other nations Sept. 25-29, 2023, in Helsinki, Finland. ... MORE

229th BEB leaders observe defense exercise in Finland
September 27, 2023 — Key leaders of the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and other Virginia National Guard personnel traveled to Finland to observe a Local Defense Exercise, or PAPU, Sept. 4-9, 2023... MORE

Red Dragon shooters compete in Finnish sniper championship
September 5, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in HÄYHÄ 2023, a Finnish Sniper Championship, held Aug. 25-27, near Taipalsaari, Finland. ... MORE

Cyber Fortress 2.0 tests Virginia's cyber response plan
August 10, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard hosted Cyber Fortress 2.0 from July 10-21, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The exercise brought together state and federal organizations who will respond in a real-world cyber incident and provided an opportunity to test Virginia’s cyber response plan and better prepare for future collective responses... MORE

Expert Infantryman Badge awarded to 14 Soldiers
July 11, 2023 — What 121 Soldiers started, just 14 completed. After five days of testing - plus days, weeks and even years of preparation - 14 Soldiers, including four from the Virginia National Guard, earned their Expert Infantryman Badges June 15, 2023. During a ceremony held on the same Fort Barfoot field where their testing began, the U.S. Army’s newest EIB-holders were pinned with the infantry blue rectangular badge bearing a 1795 Springfield Arsenal Musket signifying that they had successfully completed a quest conquered by only around 15% of those who attempt it. ... MORE

Finnish pilots visit the Virginia Air National Guard
June 13, 2023 — Finnish Air Force pilots toured the 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, with pilots from the 149th Fighter Squadron May 16, 2023, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

Saber Soldiers participate in Arctic Forge exercise in Finland
April 13, 2023 — More than 60 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, traveled to Finland to participate in Arctic Forge 23 Feb. 15 - March 7, 2023, on Sodankylä Garrison, Finland. ... MORE

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category