Virginia National Guard

Virginia Guard Soldiers train on basics of Military Funeral Honors
July 28, 2021 — Nine Virginia National Guard Soldiers completed Level 1 Funeral Honors training June 20-27, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Led by the Virginia National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program, the course prepares Soldiers to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition... MORE

116th IBCT trains on new Squad Designated Marksman Rifle
July 26, 2021 — Virginia and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team trained on and fielded new M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifles July 12-15, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

29ID assumes authority of Task Force Spartan
July 23, 2021 — Maj. Gen. John Rhodes, commanding general, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, assumed command of Task Force Spartan from Maj. Gen. Patrick Hamilton, commanding general, 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, July 20, 2021. The transfer of authority ceremony was presided over by Lt. Gen. Terry Ferrell, commanding general, U.S. Army Central... MORE

192nd Maintenance Squadron holds assumption of command
July 22, 2021 — The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Maintenance Squadron gained a new commander, Lt. Col. Elim H. Sniady, during an assumption of command ceremony July 11, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

The 192nd Maintenance Squadron holds an assumption of command ceremony July 11, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Lt. Col. Elim H. Sniady assumed command of the squadron after serving as Air National Guard Combat Forces advisor.

VNG builds partnerships at Regional Cooperation 21
July 14, 2021 — Fifteen Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in Regional Cooperation 2021, a U.S. Central Command-led exercise designed to promote cooperation and joint combined capabilities among the U.S and partner nations in Central and South Asia, or CASA. The annual exercise, held this year June 7-17, 2021, at Fort Harrison, Montana, was a brigade-level command post exercise. Virginia Soldiers integrated into various roles, often working alongside partner nation military members... MORE

Brig. Gen. James Ring, Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, and Col. Todd Hubbard, VNG Operations Chief, visit Regional Cooperation 2021, a U.S. Central Command-led exercise designed to promote cooperation among the U.S and partner nations in Central and South Asia, June 14, 2021, in Helena, Montana. Fifteen Virginia Soldiers participated in the event and were integrated in various staff positions and used the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with their state partners from Tajikistan. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

Online training provides valuable collaborative experience for VNG chaplains
July 14, 2021 — Religious support personnel from all components of the Virginia National Guard participated in a virtual training event June 5, 2021, designed to not only provide required training but also to increase communication and improve collaboration between the services. “It was a really good mix of Army, Air and Virginia Defense Force, as well as active duty,” said Capt. Will Cochrane, chaplain for the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group. “There was a great joint aspect with different elements represented. It was unique to be with them and collaborate. I honestly don’t remember a time when we’ve done that before. Everyone had a piece of the training.”... MORE

180th Engineers head to Louisiana for JRTC rotation
July 14, 2021 — More than 50 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are supporting the Arkansas National Guard during a training rotation July 10 - Aug. 3, 2021, at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site load a bulldozer onto a trailer for transport July 9, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The bulldozer is part of the heavy equipment the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group is taking for use during a training rotation July 10 - Aug. 3, 2021, at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

34th CST conducts drug hazard training in Manassas
July 13, 2021 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted unique drug identification training and a full-scale response exercise June 22 - 24, 2021, at the Manassas Readiness Center in Manassas, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conduct a site assessment on a mock drug lab during a training exercise June 24, 2021, at the Manassas Readiness Center in Manassas, Virginia.

VNG Soldiers move historic M84 to Richmond for restoration, display
July 13, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the G4 Maintenance Assistance and Instruction Team moved a historic M84 self-propelled 4.2 mortar carrier June 25, 2021, from the Charlottesville Readiness Center to the VNG Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the G4 Maintenance Assistance and Instruction Team offload an M84 self-propelled 4.2 mortar carrier June 25, 2021, at the VNG's Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.

Deployed 29th Infantry Division warrant officers celebrate 103rd birthday
July 12, 2021 — Virginia Army National Guard warrant officers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, celebrated the Warrant Officer Corps’ 103rd birthday alongside their 36th Infantry Division counterparts July 9, 2021, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait... MORE

Gillis promoted to brigadier general, will lead VaARNG strategic initiatives
July 7, 2021 — Col. Doyle Gillis, Jr., was promoted to brigadier general July 10, 2021, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, and succeeds Brig. Gen. James A. Zollar as the Virginia National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced the promotion and assignment July 2... MORE

Col. Doyle Gillis, Jr., is promoted to brigadier general July 10, 2021, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Gillis succeeds Brig. Gen. James A. Zollar as the Virginia National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives, and the promotion and assignment are effective July 10.

VNG wraps CVC support, continues mobile vaccination missions
June 30, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to provide support to the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Emergency Management as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. VNG mobile vaccination support teams continue to operate across the commonwealth, while the task force assigned to provide logistics and administrative support to Community Vaccination Clinics has concluded their mission. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a mobile vaccination mission on board international ships in May and June 2021 in Norfolk, Virginia.

VNG Soldiers make strong showing at fitness competition
June 30, 2021 — Six Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers traveled to Arkansas to compete at the DekaStrong National Guard Challenge fitness competition May 22-23, 2021, at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Camp Robinson, Arkansas... MORE

Six Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers traveled to Arkansas to compete at the DekaStrong National Guard Challenge fitness competition May 22-23, 2021, at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

Logistics officer balances family with military career
June 30, 2021 — Lt. Col. Alyssa Astphan grew up in a military family. Her father served, her uncle served, and before them, her Lebanese grandfather served in World War II with a local militia and both the French and British Armies. Continuing her family's legacy of military service always seemed like a given. From the time she knew about the concept of careers, she knew hers would be spent in the military... MORE

HART trains on rooftop rescue hoists during quarterly exercise
June 30, 2021 — Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members trained on rescue hoist operations during a training exercise June 8-10, 2021, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members train on confined-space rescue hoist operations June 10, 2021, in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

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