Virginia National Guard

Virginia Army Guard pilot continues family’s aeronautical legacy
October 15, 2021 — When Chief Warrant Officer 3 Darrell Busquets joined the military, it was an enlisted engineer. Since then, he’s trained as an infantryman, deployed as a combat engineer, and earned his wings as an Army aviator. Today, he’s the battalion standardization pilot for the Virginia National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. ... MORE

‘To the Horse!’ Virginia Air National Guard’s Civil Engineering Squadron welcomes its new commander
October 6, 2021 — The 192nd Wing’s 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Oct. 2, 2021, at the State Military Reservation where the unit is stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Col. David Lands, 192nd Mission Support Group commander, presided over the ceremony where Maj. Ayad M. Abisaab assumed command from Lt. Col. Jeffrey E. Getz... MORE

Col. David Lands, 192nd Mission Support Group commander, left, presents the 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) guidon to Maj. Ayad M. Abisaab signifying the start of his command during a change of command ceremony Oct. 2, 2021, at State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Phillips receives Governor’s Honor Award for Creative Customer Service
October 6, 2021 — Todd Phillips, Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett deputy chief of Plans, Training and Security, received the Virginia Governor’s Honor Award for Creative Customer Service Sept. 28, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard welcomes 17 new OCS graduates
October 5, 2021 — The Virginia Army National Guard celebrated the graduation of 17 officer candidates from Officer Candidate School Class 63 and 64B Sept. 19, 2021, at a ceremony held at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

Seventeen Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates celebrate their graduation from Officer Candidate School Sept. 19, 2021, at a ceremony held at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Of the 17 graduates, 13 accepted their commissions, took their oath of office, and pinned on their lieutenant bars. Alumi from previous OCS classes participated in a presentation of a historic guidon from OCS Class 11 and the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided ceremonial music for the occasion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

Ceremony introduces new Virginia National Guard HQs shoulder patch
September 30, 2021 — The Virginia National Guard introduced a new shoulder patch for the Joint Force Headquarters during a ceremony Sept. 30, 2021, at Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The new insignia was authorized Sept. 21 by the Department of the Army Institute of Heraldry and has been revised to remove colors and design elements referring to the Confederacy... MORE

COOP exercise tests DMA's ability to relocate in an emergency
September 27, 2021 — Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees conducted a continuity of operations exercise Sept. 14-17, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The exercise, which simulated an emergency that forced DMA employees to leave Fort Pickett and relocate to Virginia Beach, provided an opportunity for 29 DMA employees to test their network connectivity, perform their work functions from a different location, conduct staff visits and face-to-face coordination with SMR staff and tenant organizations, and troubleshoot their standard operating procedures and continuity binders... MORE

COOP exercise tests DMA ability to relocate in an emergency

Army National Guard Recruiters support Lynchburg 9/11 event
September 21, 2021 — Virginia Army National Guard recruiters participated in Lynchburg’s 3rd Annual Heroes Day, a joint recruiting and awareness event for first responders held September 11, 2021, at River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg, Virginia. The event included personnel from Lynchburg, Amherst, Bedford and Campbell Counties, as well as Virginia State Police. ... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard recruiters participate in the 3rd annual Heroes Day, a joint recruiting and awareness event for first responders September 11, 2021, at River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg, Virginia. The event included personnel from Lynchburg, Amherst, Bedford and Campbell Counties, as well as Virginia State Police. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Ben Melin)

World Trade Center elevator pulley dedicated at VNG 9/11 remembrance ceremony
September 20, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and guests gathered to remember the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and dedicate a World Trade Center elevator pulley for historical display Sept. 11, 2021, at the VNG Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

Sending off the Bats! - the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron supports USCYBERCOM
September 17, 2021 — Virginia Air National Guard members from the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron have embarked on a six-month mobilization this month in support of United States Cyber Command’s 856th Cyber Protection Team. The Airmen celebrated their upcoming mission with family and command leadership during send-off ceremonies in August 2021 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

Virginia Air National Guard members from the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron ceremoniously removed their 185th COS bat patch, replacing it with the 856th Cyber Protection Team patch during send-off ceremonies Aug. 7, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Richmond native named honor graduate, Equal Opportunity Leader
September 13, 2021 — On her first deployment to Kuwait with the 29th Infantry Division in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Spc. Shenika Marable wistfully wished to be an equal opportunity leader (EOL) for the unit. Army regulations that required an EOL be a sergeant-promotable or higher rank dashed her hopes... MORE

Airman jumps into action using deployment training, resuscitates drowning child
September 12, 2021 — Situations can change in an instant. We’ve all heard that before. But for Master Sgt. Keona Newsom, a commander’s support staff noncommissioned officer in charge with the 192nd Operations Group, it was never more true than on July 27, 2021... MORE

Master Sgt. Keona Newsom, 192nd Operations Group commander’s support staff noncommissioned officer in charge, is sitting down and smiling for a photo.

29th ID mother, son deployed together
September 11, 2021 — When deployed Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sandra Williams misses her son, Alex, she doesn’t have to do math to figure out what time it is where he is located before calling him. Because they are deployed together in support of Operation Spartan Shield, the mother-son combo not only share the same moon – they share the same time zone... MORE

Airmen remember 20th Anniversary of 9/11 with 20K
September 11, 2021 — In the pre-dawn hours of Sept. 11, 2021, approximately 40 Airmen assigned to the 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, gathered to remember the events of September 11th, 2001, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. In teams of up to four Airmen, or individually, they walked or ran a combined distance of 20 kilometers in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the attack on the United States... MORE

A group of Airmen walk and run outside in an event.

VNG Soldiers complete flood assistance mission in Buchanan County
September 10, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers completed their mission assisting local and state emergency services organizations with flooding response Sept. 8, 2021, in Buchanan County, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Cedar Bluff-based 1033rd Engineer Company deliver water to residents impacted by flooding Sept. 3, 2021, in Buchanan County, Virginia.

Virginia Soldiers attend Comprehensive Health and Wellness Course at NGB
September 7, 2021 — Nine Virginia National Guard Soldiers traveled north to attend a Comprehensive Health and Wellness Leaders Course, held July 25-30, 2021, at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Washington, D.C. The five-day course brought together more than 40 Soldiers and Airmen from 13 states and territories. The course aimed to equip leaders with effective tools for improving and managing the culture of health and wellness within their states and units. ... MORE

U.S. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 13 states pose together following a Comprehensive Health and Wellness Leaders Course, held July 25-30, 2021, at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy Photo)

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