Virginia National Guard

Special response force passes key readiness inspection
May 24, 2019 — RICHMOND, Virginia – The Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, pronounced “Surf-P,” achieved an important milestone toward becoming a certified asset to first responders by scoring 95% on a demanding, two-day National Guard Bureau Standardization, Evaluation and Assistance Team, or SEAT, inspection May 23, 2019. The results of the inspection were briefed at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Virginia DMA honors state employees
May 23, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins, Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walter L. Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked DMA employees at a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 22, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. DMA previously conducted a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 9, 2019, at Fort Pickett... MORE

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... MORE

183rd RTI graduates 1st female infantry Soldiers
May 21, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — For the first time in the history of the Virginia National Guard’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, women were among the graduates of the 11B Infantry Transition Course. Five female Soldiers were among 34 U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers who earned their blue cord May 18, 2019, after two grueling weeks of training at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

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... MORE

Virginia National Guard hosts Diversity and Unity Day
May 2, 2019 — RICHMOND, Virginia — The Virginia National Guard Equal Employment Opportunity office hosted a Diversity and Unity Day April 24, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Assistant Adjutant General for Strategic Affairs, was the presiding officer at the event. Speakers included representatives from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Blacks in Government and the Asian American Society of Central Virginia, as well as Dr. Phil Nash, an expert in cross-cultural communications... MORE

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... MORE

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