Virginia National Guard

Gunnery simulators augment Army Guard training
June 19, 2019 — SUFFOLK, Va. – Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, stood in the turret of a Humvee, prepared to engage targets with his M2 .50 caliber machine gun. “Gunner ready,” he said to his truck commander, as they proceeded down a dusty road. Soon enough, the commander called out an approaching target. “Target identified,” Murphy responded. “500 meters.”... MORE

Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard's Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, engages targets with an M2 .50 caliber machine gun on the Individual Unstabalized Gunnery Trainer during training at the Suffolk Armory in Suffolk, Virginia, June 8, 2019. The IUGT is a computer-based simulator that connects the body of a weapon to a virtual reality system and is used to augment the training on crew-served weapons.

183rd RTI celebrates accreditation success
June 18, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute gathered to celebrate their success in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command accreditation process June 22, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Gibbs takes responsibility of Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion
June 14, 2019 — FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Gibbs took responsibility as the senior noncommissioned officer of the Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion from Command Sgt. Maj. Dempsey O. Whitt June 13, 2019, in a change of responsibility ceremony held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Both command sergeants majors are members of the Virginia National Guard. This is the first time in the twelve-year history of the Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion in which two Virginia National Guard command sergeants majors took responsibility back to back of the organization. This position is an active duty, title 10, one-year commitment with the opportunity to extend beyond the one-year tour... MORE

Va. National Guard hosts inaugural Women’s Summit
June 14, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard hosted their inaugural Women’s Summit June 19, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Women from across the force attended the event, which this year focused on balancing the demands of women’s personal and professional lives... MORE

29th ID remembers D-Day, 75 years later
June 13, 2019 — FORT BELVOIR, Va. – A group of 25 National Guard Soldiers from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Kentucky assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based, 29th Infantry Division joined more than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the WWII Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day... MORE

Virginia Defense Force conducts communications, security training in Lynchburg
June 13, 2019 — LYNCHBURG, Va. — Members of the all-volunteer Virginia Defense Force conducted training on the communications systems and security capabilities they could use during emergency response operations in support of the Virginia National Guard July 13, 2019, in Lynchburg, Virginia. VDF personnel trained on high frequency radio employment for voice and data messaging and security capabilities like access control... MORE

Riggers reflect on D-Day heroics 75 years after harrowing operation
June 12, 2019 — BLACKSTONE ARMY AIRFIELD, Va. – The intensity and magnitude of the great sea, air and land invasion known as D-Day was not fully comprehended by Sgt. Trayon Augburn. The parachute rigger was wearing a World War II-era uniform while preparing for a parachute jump June 6 at Fort Pickett – the exact day his airborne brethren had landed on the beaches of Normandy, France 75 years ago. The Soldier admitted he knew little about the battle involving 156,000 Allied troops, including 73,000 Americans, 13,000 of them from the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions who would have been wearing a uniform identical to his... MORE

VNG Soldiers to extend enlistments during Army Birthday Ceremony at the Pentagon
June 12, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers will extend their enlistments during the Army Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. June 13, 2019, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley and the Sergeant Major Of the Army Daniel A. Dailey will host the event celebrating the U.S Army’s 244th Birthday... MORE

Virginia National Guard honors volunteers at 2019 Volunteer Recognition & Training Workshop
June 10, 2019 — WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia — Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, honored dozens of VNG volunteers at the 2019 Virginia National Guard State Volunteer Recognition and Training Workshop June 9, 2019, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The annual two-day event recognizes and thanks volunteers for their efforts in support of family programs and includes training and information sessions on a variety of topics... MORE

Bedford ceremonies mark 75th anniversary of D-Day
June 7, 2019 — BEDFORD, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen greeted World War II veterans and acted as military escorts during a roll call honoring their service at the observation of the 75th anniversary of D-Day June 6, 2019, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band performed ceremonial music, and members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to assist local law enforcement with traffic flow, parking and pre-security checks before the event... MORE

Army National Guard offering six-year $20,000 re-enlistment bonus
June 6, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers with an ETS date before Sept. 30, 2019, who have not re-enlisted are eligible for a $20,000 bonus... MORE

Secretary Hopkins visits Winchester STARBASE Academy
May 29, 2019 — WINCHESTER, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins visited students taking part in activities at the Winchester STARBASE Academy May 20, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard’s Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester, Virginia, to talk with students and see the program’s hands-on instructional approach for science, technology, math and engineering in person... MORE

1945th Contracting Team departs for overseas mission
May 28, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — Family members, friends, fellow Soldiers and Virginia National Guard senior leaders gathered to bid a formal farewell to the Soldiers of the Virginia Beach-based 1945th Contracting Team, 329th Regional Support Group, as they began federal active duty May 25, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. The ceremony included remarks from Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Col. Doyle Gillis, the commander of the 329th RSG, and Maj. Nate Seymour, the commander of the 1945th CT... MORE

1945th Contracting Team departs for overseas service

Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony honors Virginia’s fallen
May 27, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginians from all branches of the Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to their country were remembered at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial May 27, 2019, in Richmond. Virginia. Ten Virginia National Guard Soldiers have been killed by hostile enemy action since Sept. 11, 2001, and they... MORE

Adjutant General’s 2019 Memorial Day Message
May 26, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Each year on Memorial Day we remember the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the ideals of freedom we all cherish. I hope that each of you will pause at some point during the long weekend for a personal moment of silence to honor our fallen comrades... MORE

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