Virginia National Guard

Waller Depot announced as site for future Museum of the Virginia National Guard
November 14, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard’s S. Gardner Waller Depot in Richmond, Virginia, has been selected as the site for the future Museum of the Virginia National Guard according to an announcement made Nov. 13, 2024, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

VNG Soldier balances science, service on path to success
November 13, 2024 — As a first-generation American and the first in her family to attend college, Spc. Mariel Gomez has broken new ground with every step she’s taken. She was born in California, to newly-immigrated parents, and spent a few impactful years with her grandparents in El Salvador before moving with her family to Virginia where she routinely served as a translator and helped her family bridge the gap between their Salvadoran heritage and their new American life. Today, she holds an undergraduate degree in sustainable biomaterials from Virginia Tech and is completing a master's program in chemical engineering at North Carolina State University. Additionally, one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, she serves in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group as a 12K, a plumber... MORE

Spc. Mariel Gomez poses with her dog. (Courtesy photo)

Howlett announced as new Virginia Defense Force senior enlisted leader
November 6, 2024 — Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) Christopher Howlett will serve as the new senior enlisted leader for the Virginia Defense Force, according to an announcement made Nov. 4, 2024, by Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, Commander of the Virginia Defense Force. Howlett succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) Christopher Frederick Sr... MORE

329th RSG welcomes new commander, senior enlisted leader
November 6, 2024 — In another historic moment for one Virginia National Guard family, Col. Juanita Rohler took command of the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group from Col. Dennis Rohler, her husband, Nov. 2, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The 329th also welcomed a new senior enlisted leader when Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Viera accepted responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Brian H. Coleman... MORE

Red Dragon snipers showcase strength, skill at Finnish Sniper Championship
November 5, 2024 — For the third consecutive year, snipers from the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team traveled to Finland to compete against their international peers at the HÄYHÄ 2024 Sniper Shooting Championship. Three Red Dragon snipers - Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson, Sgt. James O’Connell and Spc. Jonathan Farrar - competed Sept. 20-22, 2024, at a training site near Imatra, Finland... MORE

Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson, Sgt. James O’Connell, and Spc. Jonathan Farrar pose together competiting together in the HÄYHÄ 2024 Sniper Shooting Championship Sept. 20-22, 2024, in Finland. (Courtesy Photo)

Mazur takes command of 91st Cyber Brigade
November 4, 2024 — Col. Gerald Mazur took command of the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade from Brig. Gen. Rusty McGuire during a ceremony Oct. 26, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia. ... MORE

34th CST joins local agencies for mass casualty incident training
November 3, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 34th Civil Support Team joined first responders from across the region for a mass casualty incident response course exercise Oct. 19, 2024, at Central High School in Victoria, Virginia. ... MORE

ChalleNGe Class 61 hosts Family Day
October 31, 2024 — Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy cadets of Class 61 and their families enjoyed Family Day Oct. 19, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cadets conducted a pass in review and drill and ceremony demonstration for family, friends and Virginia National Guard leadership before enjoying several hours of food, fun and games with their guests... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 61 hosts Family Day

VNG Airmen assist with NC hurricane response
October 22, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing began assisting with hurricane response operations Oct. 18, 2024, in Burnsville, North Carolina... MORE

229th BEB Soldier wraps up eventful summer after Air Race Classic triumph
October 21, 2024 — Spc. Ashley Asselin’s journey into the world of aviation took off during her high school JROTC experience. Since then, she’s earned her pilot’s license, joined the Virginia Army National Guard as a 15E Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repairer, finished her undergraduate degree at Liberty University and joined the full-time staff there as a flight instructor. This summer, she soared to new heights by finishing in the top five of her division in the renowned all-women’s Air Race Classic... MORE

Spc. Ashley Asselin, at left, competes in the 2024 Women's Air Race Classic June 18-21, 2024, with her teammates from Liberty University. (Courtesy photo)

VNG ceremony launches new STEM program in Blackstone
October 21, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Blackstone STARBASE Academy Oct. 20, 2024, in Blackstone, Virginia... MORE

VNG stands up new Directorate of Resiliency
October 18, 2024 — In an effort to improve resiliency and readiness among its troops, the Virginia National Guard recently created the J9 Directorate of Resiliency, bringing together Soldier-care efforts under one umbrella... MORE

Crenshaw, Ring visit 529th CSSB Soldiers in Poland
October 15, 2024 — Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, visited Oct. 7, 2024, with Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion on federal active duty in Poland... MORE

VNG leaders observe defense exercise in Finland
October 15, 2024 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers traveled to Finland to observe Exercise Karelian Stronghold alongside key senior leaders within the Finnish Defense Forces Sept. 1 - 7, 2024, at multiple locations in Finland. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard expands relationship with Finnish Army commander
October 14, 2024 — Virginia National Guard leadership hosted Lt. Gen. Pasi Välimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, during a bilateral engagement Oct 12, 2024, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The visit was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland became partners earlier in 2024... MORE

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