Virginia National Guard > News - Year 2019

1710th TC teams with aviators for MEDEVAC exercise
May 22, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted some unique but critical training when they conducted medical evacuation operations during their annual training May 15-16, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia...

VDF supports law enforcement at Apple Blossom Festival
May 19, 2019 — WINCHESTER, Va. — Members of the Virginia Defense Force operated traffic control points and provided mission command support May 3-5, 2019, at the 92nd Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Members of the all-volunteer VDF from units across the state assisted local law enforcement in keeping traffic moving and operated TCPs during a variety of events. The VDF also took advantage of the mission to train on multiple communication systems and rehearse administrative, mission command and logistics procedures they would use if they were called to state active duty to augment the Virginia National Guard...

2-224th Aviation crews conduct aerial gunnery in N.C.
May 15, 2019 — ATLANTIC, North Carolina — More than 50 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division traveled to Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic in Atlantic, North Carolina, to conduct aerial door gunnery from their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters April 4-7, 2019...

Ceremony celebrates 412th birthday of VNG, Jamestown
May 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Senior leaders from the office of Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and members of the Virginia Army and Air National Guard cut a cake to celebrate the 412th birthday of the Virginia National Guard and Jamestown May 14, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The VNG traces the heritage and traditions of citizen service to the founding of Jamestown when Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense, and since May 14, 1607, there has not been a day without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas...

Lord promoted to brigadier general, moves into new role
May 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Toni M. Lord was promoted to brigadier general May 7, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced April 18, 2019, that Lord would be promoted and assume new duties as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air Strategic Initiatives...

VNG honors military spouses for Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 9, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. – National Guard military spouses are honored and appreciated throughout the year, but they receive a special recognition on National Military Spouse Appreciation Day the Friday before Mother’s Day, observed on Friday, May 10 this year...

Virginia National Guard employers recognized with ESGR awards
May 8, 2019 — NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, awarded the Pro Patria Awards, Extraordinary Employer Support Award, Above and Beyond Awards, and Spouse Award during the 2019 Annual Employer Awards Banquet, May 4, 2019 in Norfolk, Virginia...

VDF supports law enforcement at Apple Blossom Festival
May 5, 2019 — WINCHESTER, Va. — Members of the Virginia Defense Force operated traffic control points and provided mission command support May 3-5, 2019, at the 92nd Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Members of the all-volunteer VDF from units across the state assisted local law enforcement in keeping traffic moving and operated TCPs during a variety of events. The VDF also took advantage of the mission to train on multiple communication systems and rehearse administrative, mission command and logistics procedures they would use if they were called to state active duty to augment the Virginia National Guard...

WOCS welcomes new commander, recognizes new warrants
May 5, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School welcomed a new commander and recognized the latest graduates of the program in back-to-back ceremonies held May 4, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. In the first ceremony, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joshua Martin took command of the Virginia National Guard’s WOCS from Chief Warrant Officer 4 Wayne Sexton. Martin is the first commander to also be a graduate of Virginia’s WOCS program...

NCO takes Boston Marathon experience to VNG running team
May 2, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Just a few short weeks after completing his long-time goal of running the Boston Marathon, Master Sgt. Ramon Abreu-Perez will lace up his running shoes on Sunday to run the National Guard Marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska. He ran his first marathon back in 2004 and has been racing ever since...

VNG rangers test their limits at Best Ranger Competition
May 1, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Fifty-three two-man teams started the Best Ranger Competition early on the morning of April 12, 2019, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Among the rangers to run across the start line were six National Guard Soldiers, three from Virginia, two from Massachusetts and one from Kentucky. The Virginia and Kentucky Soldiers are all assigned to Virginia’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team...

Thunder Soldiers conduct historic waterborne artillery exercise
April 30, 2019 — CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a historic waterborne artillery live-fire exercise during Operation Gator April 24-25, 2019, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The exercise marked the first riverine artillery fire mission for the Army since the Vietnam era...

Top Virginia National Guard units recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 29, 2019 — NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard and the 192nd Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard for high levels of readiness at the third annual Virginia Military Ball April 27, 2019, in Newport News, Virginia...

Virginia Defense Force celebrates 35th anniversary
April 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Defense Force celebrated its 35th anniversary with a cake-cutting ceremony April 18, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. With historical roots dating back to World War I, the modern Virginia Defense Force was formally reestablished in 1984, and Virginia General Assembly Joint Resolution 864 commends the VDF on its 35th anniversary...

Virginia National Guard Soldiers join multi-state Cyber Shield exercise
April 18, 2019 — CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — Virginia National Guard cyber warriors joined more than 800 National Guard personnel from 40 states and territories for Cyber Shield 2019 to test their skills in response to cyber incidents along with civilians from state government agencies, federal agencies, industry partners and academia April 5-20, 2019, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana...

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