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DMA recognizes SMR state employees during appreciation event
December 29, 2025 — Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, retired Col. Everton Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, and Lt. Col. John Crocker, the State Military Reservation commander, recognized and thanked DMA state employees for their hard work and dedication during an employee appreciation luncheon Dec. 19, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia...

Class 63 cadets graduate from Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy
December 23, 2025 — The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 40 cadets during a ceremony for Class 63 Dec. 18, 2025, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Col. Jeff Wagstaff, Senior Army Advisor to the Virginia Army National Guard, Jen Lanz, director of Commonwealth ChalleNGe, Jerome Ferrette, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe deputy director, and Juan Guisti, an alumnus of CCYA Class 8 and the guest speaker for the ceremony, congratulated each of the graduates on completing the five-and-a-half month-long residential portion of the program...

Former AG Williams named Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs
December 22, 2025 — Retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, who served as the 28th Adjutant General of Virginia, was selected by Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger to serve as the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, according to a news release from the incoming governor’s communications team Dec. 22, 2025. ...

Senior leaders recognize DMA state employees during luncheon
December 17, 2025 — Brig. Gen. Todd H. Hubbard, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, and Col. Eric L. Quinn, Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett garrison commander, recognized and thanked Department of Military Affairs employees during an employee appreciation luncheon Dec. 16, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ...

Senior enlisted leader assignments announced for 116th MBCT, 183rd RTI and 192nd Wing
December 16, 2025 — New senior noncommissioned officers are taking responsibility in the Virginia Army and Air National Guards, according to announcements made by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia...

Six Virginia National Guard Soldiers earn EIB
December 16, 2025 — Six Virginia Army National Guard infantrymen earned the Expert Infantryman Badge after days of rigorous testing that culminated in an Oct. 31, 2025, ceremony at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, conducted the testing at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia...

Reality Store give ChalleNGe cadets insight into real-world financial decisions
December 12, 2025 — Cadets of Class 63 of the Virginia Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy experienced an interactive, educational simulation designed to help them gain practical insight into real-world financial decision-making Nov. 15, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia...

Crocker succeeds Huffman as SMR commander
December 12, 2025 — Lt. Col. John R. Crocker succeeded Lt. Col. Emily Huffman as the commander of the Virginia National Guard’s State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during a ceremony Dec. 5, 2025. Col. Eric Quinn, Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett garrison commander, presided over the change of command ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Huffman to Crocker...

STARBASE Blackstone sees success in first year
December 11, 2025 — As 2025 draws to a close, so does the first calendar year of STARBASE Blackstone, the Virginia National Guard’s second STARBASE Academy location, which opened its doors in summer of 2025. ...

429th line companies get refresh during transformation to LSB
December 1, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard’s Danville-based 429th Light Support Battalion formally conducted a casing of the colors ceremony for Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies Nov. 14, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, marking the conclusion of their storied service under the BSB structure. ...

First Formation streamlines new VaARNG Soldier onboarding process
November 26, 2025 — The Virginia Army National Guard held its inaugural First Formation, a concept designed to help integrate new Soldiers into the organization, Nov. 6, 2025, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ...

VNG recruiters, aviation battalion honor area 9-year-old with ceremonial promotion
November 26, 2025 — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers honored John Paul Macri, 9, with a ceremonial promotion to the rank of staff sergeant during a visit to the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. Earlier this year, Macri began to experience balance issues and double vision. In March, doctors discovered a rapidly growing brain tumor and diagnosed him with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma...

116th MBCT Soldiers field Infantry Squad Vehicle
November 24, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from units across the Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team conducted Infantry Squad Vehicle Operator New Equipment Training Nov. 10-14, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia...

Red Dragon Soldiers compete for scout platoon selection
November 18, 2025 — Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team spent the week ending Nov. 16, 2025, pushing their limits during a demanding Scout Selection Board designed to identify the battalion’s next generation of reconnaissance leaders...

VDF Chaplain joins VaARNG ranks
November 17, 2025 — A Virginia Defense Force chaplain formally swore in and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Virginia Army National Guard Oct. 29, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ...

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