Virginia National Guard

SMR DMA employees celebrated at 2023 Fall Festival
October 2, 2023 — Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees attended the 2023 DMA Fall Festival Sept. 22, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In addition to the catered lunch, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the DMA Chief Operations Officer, and Col. James C. Shaver, Fort Barfoot garrison commander, thanked the group for their hard work and dedication and presented awards to a number of SMR employees... MORE

VNG celebrates commissioning of 10 new OCS graduates
October 2, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 10 new lieutenants to its ranks Sept. 17, 2023, during a commissioning ceremony for the graduates of Officer Candidate School Class 65, as well as Class 66A and 66B, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Friends and family members gathered at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute to celebrate the new lieutenants and the Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment during the ceremony. ... MORE

Ten officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School receive their commissions Sept. 17, 2023, at a ceremony held at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The candidates were part of the traditional OCS Class 65, as well as accelerated Classes 66A and 66B. During the ceremony, they took the oath of office, and were then pinned with second lieutenant rank by family and friends. Col. Kurt K. Kobernik, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, served as the guest speaker for the event, while the 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

VNG marksmanship experts conduct historic exchange in Tajikistan
September 29, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in marksmanship exchange with female members of Tajik National Police Sept. 5-9, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program... MORE

229th BEB leaders observe defense exercise in Finland
September 27, 2023 — Key leaders of the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and other Virginia National Guard personnel traveled to Finland to observe a Local Defense Exercise, or PAPU, Sept. 4-9, 2023... MORE

St. Lo Soldiers honor heritage during “Chubby Cup” competition
September 25, 2023 — Nine teams of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the battalion’s Carl “Chubby” Proffitt Jr. Squad Competition Sept. 9, 2023, at Fort Walker, Virginia... MORE

VNG staged, ready in Hampton Roads area for possible severe weather response operations
September 23, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 35 Soldiers with tactical trucks capable of high water transportation Sept. 23, 2023, at VNG facilities in the Hampton Roads area in order to support the response to impacts of Tropical Storm Ophelia... MORE

Soldier committed to assisting fellow troops with suicide intervention, prevention
September 15, 2023 — Sgt. Ian Gallaugher is a behavioral health technician with the Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command at Fort Barfoot. When he joined the VNG in 2015 he was looking for a military occupational specialty that supported Soldiers actively serving... MORE

Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course prepares Soldiers to become VAARNG’s technical experts
September 15, 2023 — The 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Warrant Officer Candidate School hosted a Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course Sept. 8-10, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Completion of Pre-WOC is a pre-requisite for any Virginia Army National Guard Soldier to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School... MORE

Goodwin goes with the flow, reaches top warrant officer rank
September 14, 2023 — This year, Chief Warrant Officer 5 DJuana Goodwin became the first African American woman to ever attain the top warrant officer rank in the Virginia Army National Guard. Over nearly 40 years, she’s gone with the flow, taken care of Soldiers, forged indelible friendships, beaten breast cancer and become a mainstay in the organization... MORE

Djuana L. Goodwin is promoted to chief warrant officer 5 May 18, 2023, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office to Goodwin. Williams was joined by Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the VNG Director of the Joint Staff, to pin on the new rank. Goodwin was the first Black woman promoted to warrant officer 1 in the VNG in 2001, and she is the first Black woman to be promoted to chief warrant officer 5. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)

Virginia Army Guard G4 hosts logistics training workshop
September 13, 2023 — The Virginia Army National Guard G4 hosted a logistics training workshop Aug. 14- 16, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The purpose of the workshop was to synchronize efforts of the supply personnel and maintainers across the state to improve logistical operations and planning at the company and battalion levels, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Rhonda L. Williams, senior enlisted advisor for the Virginia Army National Guard Deputy Chief of Staff G4... MORE

1173rd conducts real-world transportation mission in Pennsylvania
September 12, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 1173rd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a transportation and storage reform mission during their annual training July 9-21, 2023, at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. ... MORE

192nd Wing welcomes Lange as new commander
September 9, 2023 — Col. Brock “Magma” Lange took command of the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing from Col. Christopher “Skosh” Batterton during a change of command ceremony Sept. 9, 2023, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jumper hands 192nd Wing guidon to Col. Lange.

529th CSSB Soldiers endure heat, gain valuable training during JRTC rotation
September 6, 2023 — Approximately 60 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted Joint Readiness Training Center rotation 23-8.05 July 6 to Aug. 6, 2023, at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Conducted in support of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 529th... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 66 cadets from Class 59
September 6, 2023 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 66 cadets from Class 59 Aug. 26, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments... MORE

Red Dragon shooters compete in Finnish sniper championship
September 5, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in HÄYHÄ 2023, a Finnish Sniper Championship, held Aug. 25-27, near Taipalsaari, Finland. ... MORE

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