Virginia National Guard

VDF plans to expand capabilities, continue building partnerships
April 7, 2018 — The Virginia Defense Force is making plans to expand its capabilities and continue to build partnerships in order to better support their fellow Virginians. The all-volunteer reserve of the Virginia National Guard is looking to grow from its current strength of approximately 300 personnel to its full authorized strength of 750, add additional mission sets and continue discussions with organizations such as the Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for training and exercise opportunities... MORE

29th Soldiers participate in ceremony honoring WWI veteran
April 7, 2018 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division participated in a memorial tree planting ceremony to honor the memory of Pvt. Herman Davis, a decorated World War I veteran, March 4, 2018, in Manila, Arkansas. The ceremony commemorates the 100th anniversary of Davis’s enlistment into Company I, 113th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division... MORE

Task Force Echo is an Army Cyber success story
April 5, 2018 — Task Force Echo, an Army National Guard formation comprised of more than 140 Soldiers from seven states — California, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and Utah — held an award ceremony to honor and recognize the service of these cyber warriors March 27, 2018, at Fort Meade, Maryland... MORE

Epperly to succeed Ortner as commander of 29th Infantry Division
April 5, 2018 — Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly will succeed Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner as the commander of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made April 5, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment was effective April 5... MORE

Virginia Guard hosts SAPR Victim Advocate refresher training
April 4, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard hosted more than 50 National Guard, Reserve and active duty Soldiers and Airmen from more than 15 states and territories for a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate refresher training course March 27-30, 2018, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The 32-hour training focuses on victim advocacy, prevention and ethics and featured guest speakers from local, state and national agencies... MORE

Virginia Guard hosts SAPR Victim Advocate resfresher training

National Guard infantrymen complete final challenge of ALC
March 25, 2018 — “Conducting a full raid on a village with a helicopter, that’s hard to beat,” said Sgt. Dexter Whitten, an Indiana National Guardsman enrolled in the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute’s Infantry Advanced Leaders Course. Together with more than 30 of his classmates, Whitten watched as four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters approached March 19, 2018, and landed in the Fort Pickett field in front of them. The aircraft, flown by Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, were there in support of course’s culminating event, a raid on one of Fort Pickett’s villages... MORE

Virginia marksmen earn honors at national marksmanship match
March 24, 2018 — More than 200 shooters competed in the 2018 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 11-18, 2018, including four Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard. The competition, commonly referred to as the “All-Army” match, including active duty, U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from across the country, divided into 37 teams... MORE

Ortner selected as the Military Executive for the Reserve Forces Policy Board
March 23, 2018 — Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner has been selected to serve as the Military Executive for the Reserve Forces Policy Board in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, according to an announcement made March 21, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The position is effective April 1, 2018... MORE

Family Programs hosts regional National Guard youth symposium
March 21, 2018 — Teen delegates from National Guard Family Programs in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and West Virginia gathered for the Region 3 Youth Symposium March 15-18, 2018, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hosted by Virginia National Guard Family Programs, the four-day event included programs designed to develop leadership skills, build resiliency, and identify and offer recommendations on issues National Guard Youth currently face... MORE

Family Programs hosts regional youth symposium for National Guard

VDF trains on individual skills, professional development
March 21, 2018 — More than 130 members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted training to improve their individual skills and professional development March 16-18, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. VDF volunteers trained on high frequency radio and mobile communications platform operations, incident management assistance, traffic control and access control and also took part in professional development classes including junior officer and senior noncommissioned officer leader development, property accountability, procurement procedures, officer candidate school and recruiting and retention. Communications support, operations center augmentation and security assistance are some of the many different mission sets the VDF provides as the all-volunteer auxiliary to the Virginia National Guard authorized by the Code of Virginia... MORE

DMA personnel train on new radio equipment with VSP
March 20, 2018 — After years of research, planning and approval processes, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs finally received more than $1.7 million in Statewide Agencies Radio System, or STARS, equipment. On March 15, 2018, representatives from the Virginia State Police, who manage the system, conducted a short training session on the equipment for Virginia Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force... MORE

Virginia Soldiers truck UH-1 from Pickett to new headquarters site
March 15, 2018 — A multi-unit effort resulted in the addition of a UH-1 Huey helicopter to the historical artifacts on display at the site of the new Virginia National Guard headquarters building March 10, 2018, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia... MORE

DiNonno to command 116th IBCT, change of command scheduled for June 10, 2018
March 9, 2018 — Lt. Col. Joseph DiNonno will succeed Col. Scott Smith as the commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and a change of command ceremony is scheduled for June 10, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced DiNonno’s command selection Jan. 4, 2018... MORE

Family Programs offers personal financial counselor services
March 7, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard Family Programs Office provides a personal financial counselor at no cost to service members and their families... MORE

State Military Reservation hosts Virginia Fire Marshal’s Academy training
March 5, 2018 — The Virginia Fire Marshal’s Academy conducted a four-week fire investigation course Jan. 23- Feb. 16, 2018, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. Twenty attendees representing 18 jurisdictions participated in the course, one of three offered yearly around the state and one of several that must be mastered to achieve certification as a Fire Marshal in Virginia... MORE

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