Virginia National Guard > News - Year 2016

34th CST evaluated as fully trained and mission capable
November 2, 2016 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team were evaluated as fully trained on 12 essential collective tasks after conducting a Training Proficiency Evaluation Oct. 26, 2016, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The mission of the 34th CST is to support civil authorities in a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive incident, and the evaluated tasks included deploying the team, establishing communications and medical support, conducting survey, technical decontamination and analytical functions as well as conducting interagency coordination...

29th Infantry Division departs for federal active duty
November 1, 2016 — Virginia and Maryland government officials and national and state military leaders joined family, friends and fellow Soldiers in sending off the 29th Infantry Division as they departed for federal active duty Oct. 30, 2016, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. More than 450 Virginia and Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th are mobilizing for duty in the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield, and this will be the largest number of troops they have led since World War II...

Virginia Beach-based Va. Guard Airmen return from federal duty in Southwest Asia
October 26, 2016 — More than 120 Virginia Air National Guard engineers reunited with friends and family Oct. 26, 2016, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach after serving on federal active duty in Southwest Asia since March. Leaders from state government and the Virginia National Guard were also on hand to thank the Airmen for the service and welcome them home. Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, or RED HORSE, completed 35 projects at 11 different locations in seven countries in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve...

Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division to mobilize on federal active duty
October 19, 2016 — More than 450 Virginia and Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division are mobilizing for federal active duty in the Middle East and will conduct a departure ceremony at 11 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2016, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The 29th ID is mobilizing to provide mission command for more than 18,000 United States Army Central/Third Army Soldiers supporting Operation Spartan Shield and theater security cooperation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. This will be the largest number of troops the 29th ID has led since World War II. If needed, the 29th ID would be prepared to conduct contingency operations and command forces to respond to any threats in the CENTCOM area of responsibility...

Fredericksburg Guard battalion returns to engineer roots
October 16, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion returned to its engineer roots with a ceremony to mark its transformation to the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion Oct. 15, 2016, at Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia. The transformation is part of the U. S. Army’s reorganization of brigade combat teams to provide more engineer capabilities...

Va. Guard supports state response to Hurricane Matthew
October 12, 2016 — More than 160 Virginia National Guard Soldiers served on state active duty to assist with the multi-agency state response to Hurricane Matthew Oct. 9-10, 2016, in the Hampton Roads area. Soldiers driving Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks provided high water transportation and were also organized into teams with chain saws to help clear debris and open roads blocked by fallen trees...

Va. Guard team takes first place in Army Ten Miler mixed division category
October 10, 2016 — A team of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Manassas-based 266th Military Police Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group took first place honors in the National Guard mixed division at the Army Ten-Miler Oct. 8, 2016, in Washington, D.C. with an overall time of 5:04:43...

116th MET meets counterparts, trains with 7 partner nations
October 7, 2016 — Members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 149th Military Engagement Team arrived in Kuwait September 13, 2016, to conduct a Pre-Deployment Site Survey, or PDSS, and learn the mission they’ll soon be taking over from members of the 116th Military Engagement Team...

Va. Guard receives award for supporting veteran employment
September 28, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard was recognized with the Commonwealth Award along with multiple state agencies for their support of the Virginia Values Veterans Program at a reception Sept. 26, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia. Earlier in the day, Governor Terry McAuliffe recognized businesses for their ongoing commitment to creating employment opportunities for Virginia’s veterans at the Virginia Workforce conference, hosted by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The 669 Virginia businesses certified under the Virginia Values Veterans Program hired over 18,000 veterans, doubling the private sector commitment in a year...

VDF trains, evaluates communication teams
September 26, 2016 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted training and evaluation on multiple communications systems Sept. 24, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to ensure they are ready to provide support to the Virginia National Guard during domestic operations. VDF troops organized into response teams provide capabilities like high frequency radio, Statewide Agencies Radio System, incident management assistance and operation of Mobile Communications Platform trailers, and all of those capabilities were evaluated...

183rd RTI hosts open house, demonstrates capabilities
September 24, 2016 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute demonstrated their capabilities during an open house Sept. 24, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. RTI’s mission is to provide transition training in the infantry, transportation and military police career management fields as directed by the One Army School System, as well as operate the state’s officer and warrant officer commissioning schools...

Fort Pickett maintenance site receives 2015 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence
September 22, 2016 — Army Brig. Gen. Timothy Wojtecki, special assistant to the director of the Army National Guard, presented the 2015 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence in the Army National Guard Table of Distribution and Allowance Category to members of the Virginia Army National Guard’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site during a ceremony Sept. 21, 2016, in Arlington, Virginia...

Children of returning Soldiers build lifelong resiliency skills
September 20, 2016 — Soldiers and spouses weren’t the only ones going through post-mobilization training during Yellow Ribbon weekend for the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team September 17-18, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia. In the teen room at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, children of Soldiers were conducting their own post-deployment training that didn’t involve slide presentations by a lecturer going on in a dark ballroom room. Instead they were engaged in games, art projects and quiet personal talks all aimed at helping them through the reintegration of their parent who recently returned from deployment...

Task Force Normandy Soldiers recognized for federal duty
September 19, 2016 — Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Sept. 17, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia, in recognition of their federal active duty service from September 2015 to July 2016. Senior Virginia National Guard leaders from the state level as well as the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were on hand to formally welcome the Soldiers home and thank them for their service...

Virginia Army Guard units recognized for maintenance excellence
September 18, 2016 — Brig. Gen. Walter Mercer, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General – Army, and Command Sergeant Maj. Cheyenne Johnson, Virginia Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major, presented certificates to Virginia Army Guard units for outstanding performance in the regional Army Award for Maintenance Excellence Program Sept. 17, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The top units will represent Virginia at the national-level competition...

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