Virginia National Guard

VNG gearing up for Milton, winding down Helene support
October 9, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard is gearing up Oct. 9, 2024, to support Florida as they prepare for the expected impacts of Hurricane Milton while it winds down Hurricane Helene support in Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard Black Hawk helicopter headed to Florida
October 8, 2024 — A Virginia National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crew and members of the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team deployed from Sandston, Virginia, to Florida Oct. 8, 2024, to provide support for expected impacts of Hurricane Milton... MORE

VNG aviation crews depart for Hurricane Milton support mission

HART makes first real-world rescues, prepares for Florida mission
October 7, 2024 — After years of intense training and planning, Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members conducted real-world rescue hoists of stranded citizens Sept. 27 and 28, 2024, in and around Abingdon, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard continues support after Hurricane Helene
October 4, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard continues to support response efforts after Hurricane Helene with troops staged Oct. 4, 2024, in Abingdon, Virginia. Approximately 20 Soldiers with tactical trucks remain on duty with the ability to conduct transportation, debris reduction and commodity distribution missions... MORE

HART practices mountain, cliff rescue at Crabtree Falls
November 15, 2023 — Above a forest aglow with fall’s foliage, the blades of Virginia National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters sliced through the air. Below, first responders from Chesterfield County and Wintergreen looked skyward as rescuers, simulated victims and an emergency litter were hoisted to and from the aircraft as part of a training event focused on cliff and mountain rescue. The training, which took place Oct. 25, 2023, at Crabtree Falls in Nelson County, Virginia, was the most recent training opportunity for Virginia’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART, a team comprised of Virginia National Guard flight crews and personnel from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team. ... MORE

HART demonstrates hoist capabilities for SWVA emergency managers
November 22, 2022 — Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members provided a hoist rescue capability demonstration for emergency managers from across southwestern Virginia Nov. 16, 2022, in Tazewell, Virginia. ... MORE

HART trains on rooftop rescue hoists during quarterly exercise
June 30, 2021 — Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members trained on rescue hoist operations during a training exercise June 8-10, 2021, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members train on confined-space rescue hoist operations June 10, 2021, in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

HART partnership cited as career highlight for participants
December 1, 2020 — CHESTERFIELD, Va. — For nearly a decade, Virginia National Guard flight crews have worked alongside technicians from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team. Over those many years, the two organizations created, built and grew Virginia’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART. Since the program’s inception in 2011, the HART has deployed for hurricane response, flown countless hours over the waterways and landscapes of Virginia and now boasts approximately 20 trained technicians. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard flight crews train with Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members on rescue hoist operations Nov. 19, 2020, in Chesterfield, Virginia. Together, the Virginia aviators and Chesterfield first responders form the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART. Their training focused on conducting litter hoists and is part of an ongoing partnership that first began in 2011.

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