Virginia National Guard

VNG recruiter continues family legacy of military service
March 30, 2023 — Military service for the women of Staff Sgt. Naomi Williams’ family has become a tradition. During World War II, Williams’ grandmother, her Nana, served as a truck driver and her mother served in the Navy... MORE

Flight dreams realized for new VNG Medevac commander
March 27, 2023 — As a little girl, the sound of helicopter rotor blades spinning over 1st Lt. Valerie Harter’s house would send her running. Her childhood home lay in the flight path of medical evacuation helicopters flying to and from her local hospital. When she heard the rotor blades, whatever she was doing was quickly forgotten and anything that blocked her path to a clear view of the aircraft overhead was demolished... MORE

WOCs learn to lead, give back to local community
March 27, 2023 — U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve warrant officer candidates completed their community service project at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 806 food bank March 11, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The WOCs are part of Class 23-001, instructed by cadre assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based Warrant Officer Candidate School at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Virginia National Guard Warrant Officer Candidates complete their community service project at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 806 food bank March 11, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The WOCs are part of Class 23-001, instructed by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Warrant Officer Candidate School, 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. WOCS requires each class to identify, plan, and execute a community service project prior to moving on to the final phase of WOCS. Completion of the community service project provides the candidates an opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, while also practicing many of the same tasks and skills necessary to plan and execute military operations. (U.S. National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Marc Heaton)

Va. National Guard installation officially redesignated Fort Barfoot
March 24, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett was officially redesignated Fort Barfoot in honor of Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties, during a ceremony March 24, 2023, at the Blackstone Army Airfield near Blackstone, Virginia. ... MORE

VNG installation officially redesignated Fort Barfoot

3647th provides maintenance support to JMRC in Germany
March 24, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Blackstone-based 3647th Maintenance Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group provided support to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center during an exercise March 4 - 18, 2023, at Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany. ... MORE

Wynn steps into new role at R&R, stresses fairness, dignity, respect
March 21, 2023 — What first drew Maj. Kim Wynn to military service was the Army uniform of the 1980s and 90s. Catchy “Be All You Can Be” ads were filling the commercial breaks of her TV time, and she thought the Battle Dress Uniform, or BDU, looked pretty good. There was just something about it that she was attracted to and when she started attending Petersburg High School, she participated in Junior ROTC, and then, when she got to Virginia Tech, she decided to join the Virginia Army National Guard. ... MORE

Maj. Kim D. Wynn takes command of the Virginia Army National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based Recruiting and Retention Battalion from Lt. Col. Scott A. Nivens during a ceremony March 3, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presided over the change of command ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Nivens to Wynn. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

Bergman, Abbott take top honors at 2023 Best Warrior Competition
March 21, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett took top honors at the Virginia Army National Guard’s 2023 Best Warrior Competition, held March 16 - 19, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

VNG conducts Tactical Combat Care exchange in Tajikistan
March 20, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a medical infantry tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 5-10, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange, which took place at a military installation in Dushanbe, was conducted in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003... MORE

Virginia Guard Funeral Honors Program hosts Soldiers from 7 states for training
March 20, 2023 — Ten National Guard Soldiers from seven states participated in Military Funeral Honors Level 2 training Feb. 26- March 11, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Alabama, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia participated in the two-week course, hosted by the Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program... MORE

Reich named new VNG command senior enlisted leader
March 15, 2023 — Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich will succeed Chief Master Sgt. James J. Profita as the Virginia National Guard’s command senior enlisted leader, according to an announcement March 14, 2023, by the Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Reich was serving as the acting CSEL following Profita’s retirement in September 2022 and was selected as the permanent replacement with an effective date of March 14... MORE

Portrait of Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich

116th IBCT welcomes new command team
March 9, 2023 — Col. Jared D. Lake and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane D. Wolfe took charge as the new command team for the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Christopher J. Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr. March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division Commanding General, presided over the ceremony where Lake took command of the 116th from Samulski and Wolfe assumed responsibility from Reed as the brigade’s senior enlisted leader... MORE

116th IBCT Headquarters recognized for federal active duty in Kosovo
March 9, 2023 — Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia, to recognize their federal active duty in Kosovo. Delegates David Reid and Ellen Campbell were also on hand to thank Soldiers for their service... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 58 graduates 72 cadets
March 8, 2023 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 72 cadets from Class 58 March 4, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, and retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, joined Travis May, the guest speaker for the ceremony, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments. ... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct infantry exchange in Tajikistan
March 7, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted an advanced infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 26 - March 2, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan... MORE

1-116th NCO named top enlisted graduate at Ranger School
March 7, 2023 — After months of grueling effort, Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson, a sniper team leader in the Virginia Army National Guard, completed Ranger School, earned the coveted Ranger Tab and was named the enlisted honor graduate for his Ranger School course. Dawson started Ranger School with 328 other Soldiers, graduated as one of 71 to avoid a recycle and was one of only three National Guard Soldiers to graduate with his class of 125 total graduates. Dawson’s father, who earned his own tab in 1990, was there to congratulate his son and pin his tab Jan. 27, 2023, at Fort Benning, Georgia... MORE

Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson graduates Ranger School as the enlisted honor graduate during a ceremony held jan. 27, 2023, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dawson is assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as a sniper team leader and completed Ranger School immediately following his deployment to the Horn of Africa as a sniper team leader. (Courtesy photo)

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