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Welcome to the official Virginia National Guard news site. For more information about the Virginia National Guard, visit http://vko.va.ngb.army.mil/VirginiaGuard/Social Media
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Recent Posts
- Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program performs at 10,000th funeral
- Adjutant General recognizes state employees at Fort Pickett
- Chief Master Sergeants tackle tough questions from 192nd Fighter Wing Junior Enlisted Council
- Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy begins Class 38 with 145 cadets
- Va. Transportation Company heeds the call, prepares to haul
Latest Tweets @VaNationalGuard
- Change of command ceremony held for Virginia 149th Fighter Squadron - http://t.co/vwhFbKZW about 49 minutes ago from Tweet Button
- Virginia Army @USNationalGuard Funeral Honors Program performs 10,000th funeral - http://t.co/ivcpYrs2 about 1 hour ago from Tweet Button
- Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy begins Class 38 with 145 cadets - http://t.co/x1bmEugt about 3 hours ago from Tweet Button
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Va. Guard Soldiers earn civilian credit for military experience
Posted on January 11, 2013 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. – Virginia National Guard Soldiers have an easier way to translate their military driving skills into civilian credentials thanks to a program called Troops to Trucks that’s helped several Soldiers find employment. In 2012, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles started the program, which simplifies the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license for those military members with adequate driving experience gained through the military. “One of my Soldiers was able to get a job about three weeks later,” Capt. William Angle, commander of Company A, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said. “He’s recently back from deployment and needed worked. He’s an experienced truck driver but didn’t have a CDL. He got the waiver,... -
Virginia National Guard establishes Linked In group for employment resources
Posted on December 14, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has established the Virginia National Guard Employers Network on Linked In, a career opportunity and assistance networking group. You can join the group by visiting the following link: http://ow.ly/g64qY According to the group’s introduction message, “This is the virtual place to meet, interact and share ideas respectfully with current and former members of the Virginia National Guard, their spouses, and employers desiring the many benefits provided by employees with military experience. We are an all-volunteer group with the planning, programming, and presentations conducted by volunteers and members.” The group is open to current members of the Virginia Army and Air National Guard and their spouses seeking career employment and can help them gain... -
AG, Virginia Guard staff on hand as Governor receives keys to new Freedom Support Center at Fort Monroe
Posted on December 4, 2012 | No CommentsFORT MONROE, Va. — Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, Col. Thom Morgan, director of manpower and personnel for the Virginia Guard, and representatives of Virginia National Guard Family Programs joined Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, First Lady Maureen McDonnell, for the passing of the keys to the Freedom Support Center Nov. 30 at Fort Monroe, Va. The center will serve as a “one-stop” service facility for active duty, reserve and National Guard service members, their families and veterans with information on government benefits and programs, career planning, job training programs, financial counseling, short-term financial aid, and more. The Freedom Support Center adds a physical dimension to First Lady McDonnell’s SOS (Serving Our... -
Virginia National Guard works with Tajikistan’s Peacekeeping Operations Battalion on infantry and medical tactics
Posted on November 30, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. — Soldiers and Airmen of the Virginia National Guard participated in missions to Tajikistan from Nov. 3-16, 2012, where they conducted an exchange in infantry tactics and medical support procedures with the Tajikistan Peacekeeping Operations Battalion in preparation for future United Nations missions. Lt. Col. Michael Renforth of the 192nd Medical Group led the Medical Exchange, while 1st Lt. David Worley of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team led the Infantry Tactical Exchange. The teams consisted of Soldiers and Airmen from Joint Force Headquarters; 192nd Medical Group; Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command; Intel and Sustainment Company, 29th Infantry Division; Companies B and C, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; and Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion,... -
Virginia Guard assists DEA in drug destruction
Posted on October 16, 2012 | No CommentsRICHMOND, Va. — Soldiers from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment supporting the Virginia National Guard Counterdrug Program helped Richmond Drug Enforcement Administration agents load approximately 14,000 pounds of unwanted and expired prescription drugs into Virginia Guard FMTVs Oct. 12 before hauling the drugs north for destruction at a Northern Virginia incinerator. “Our mission today is to support the DEA in their Drug Take Back mission and our support role here is to be transporters of the pharmaceuticals they collected and haul them to the incinerator,” explained Master Sgt. Brian Wright, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Counterdrug Task Force. The drugs were collected from sites throughout Virginia by local law enforcement agencies, and then transported to the centrally located DEA... -
Virginia Guard communication professionals work with Tajikistan Peacekeeping Operations Battalion
Posted on September 30, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. — Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard completed a three-week mission to Tajikistan Sept. 12, 2012, where they helped prepare the Peacekeeping Operations Battalion for a future United Nations mission. Led by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Edgar Marquis of Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the team consisted of communications professionals from Company C, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and the Signal Company, 29th Infantry Division. The Virginia Guard team also worked with the Tajik platoon that participated in the STEPPE EAGLE 2012 in Kazakhstan, a military exercise aimed at the interoperability of international forces. While Tajikistan has sent observers in the past, this is the first time that Tajikistan has sent an actual unit to participate... -
Virginia Guard team works with Tajikistan on Security Cooperation
Posted on September 30, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. – Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard completed an engagement with the Tajik Army on small-unit tactics and Improvised Explosive Device avoidance on Sept. 12, 2012. Capt. Jack Nothstine, from the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Fort Pickett, led the team, along with 2nd Lt. Alexander Nance, 237th Engineer Company, and Sgt. Kevin Hundley, Headquarters Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion. Tajikistan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is located in Central Asia, directly north of Afghanistan. The Virginia Guard began the partnership with Tajikistan in 2004, only a few years after the beginning of the war in Afghanistan. Since then Virginia and Tajikistan have cooperated on dozens of mutually beneficial events. Tajik military leaders have become... -
Virginia Army, Air National Guard troops work with the Tajik Army on fieldcraft
Posted on September 20, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. — On Aug. 29, 2012 a five-man team from the Virginia Army and Air National Guard, led by Maj. Bill McCarty, completed an 11-day exchange with the Tajik Army. The exchange topics included mission analysis, junior leader development, land navigation, and related issues. The military exchange focused on the Peacekeeping Operations Battalion, stationed at Shamsi Base, Dushanbe. This unit’s platoon was sent to the international STEPPE EAGLE exercise in Kazakhstan as Tajikistan’s first military unit to operate outside of national borders. The battalion expects to participate in a United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in 2013 and by working with the Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, the battalion gained experience in operating within a multi-national environment. The Virginians were... -
Food, dance featured at Virginia National Guard Hispanic Heritage Month celebration
Posted on September 11, 2012 | No CommentsFORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Equal Opportunity Office hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Sept. 8, 2012 at Fort Pickett, Va. National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year from Sept. 15- Oct. 15 and celebrates the history, culture and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The event at Fort Pickett included dancers from Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana in Fairfax County and food from Acapulco’s Mexican Grill in Blackstone as well as information about famous Hispanic Americans and their role in our history. “The dancers were great,” said Capt. Kervin Sider, the state Equal Opportunity officer. “They are demonstrating part of their culture and that... -
Children of Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen enjoy 7th annual Youth Camp
Posted on August 15, 2012 | No CommentsVIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 children of Virginia National Guard members participated in the seventh annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp July 30- Aug. 3, 2012 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The week-long camp featured a wide variety of outdoor and indoor activities, including presentations from military and civilian organizations. The campers included 63 kids between the ages of 8-12 and 38 teens between the ages of 13-17. In addition to a week of outdoor activities and arts & crafts fun, the campers spent time in the sun at the beach and traveled to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for a day of fun. This year’s camp marked a lot of firsts for the Virginia Guard Youth Camp,... -
Virginia Guard troops lead exchange with Tajikistan Peacekeeping Operations Battalion
Posted on July 23, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. — A seven-man team from the Virginia National Guard ended its three-week State Partnership Program exchange in Tajikistan by spending July 7- 13 with the Tajikistan Peacekeeping Operations Battalion at Shamsi Military Base in the capital city of Dushanbe. The last half of the exchange began with a day-long seminar on Counter IED measures delivered by 1st Lt. Art Taryan from the West Point-based 237th Engineer Company. Taryan used his deployment experience in 2009 to lead the seminar as well as set up an IED lane on the base’s training grounds. On July 4th, the team delivered a presentation on the American holiday as a way to help the Tajiks get a better understanding of American culture and values that... -
Tajikistan SPP information exchange focuses on basic Soldiering skills
Posted on July 23, 2012 | No CommentsSANDSTON, Va. — Members of the Virginia Army National Guard traveled to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, for a three-week mission in support of the State Partnership Program between Virginia and Tajikistan. While there, the seven-man team traveled to Shamsi Military Base in Dushanbe June 28- July 6 and worked with with the Tajikistan Army Peacekeeping Battalion’s junior leaders on basic Soldiering tasks. The team used their areas of expertise, ranging from combat arms to combat service support, to provide the Tajik Soldiers a broad perspective for conducting operations. The exchange began with a meeting with the deputy battalion commander to provide a snapshot of the team’s capabilities and establish areas of focus. The commander selected 16 warrant officers, which are comparable to... -
Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp welcomes kids from military families
Posted on June 26, 2012 | No CommentsNEW CASTLE, Va. — Nearly 50 children attended the 5th annual Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp held at Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing in New Castle June 24-28. The children were all dependents of Virginia National Guard and active duty military families and were exposed to a multitude of outdoor events including rock-wall climbing, zip lining, kayaking, hiking, first aid and many other activities that exude confidence and build teamwork. “The (Virginia National Guard) Youth Program partnered with Operation Military Kids to bring 50 teens up here ranging in ages from 13 to 17,” said Drew Davis, director of youth programs for the Virginia National Guard. “The program is really about giving the kids an opportunity to come out here and... -
Land Component Commander publishes Annual Training Safety Message
Posted on May 30, 2012 | No CommentsSUBJECT: Annual Training Safety Message 2012 1. At the conclusion of the Memorial Day weekend, the Virginia Army National Guard will enter into our Annual Training cycle for this fiscal year. Safety and risk management should be foremost on every Soldier’s mind as we enter this cycle. 2. Commanders are to ensure they are in compliance with all unit Safety Programs and they are up to date. Leaders at all levels are to ensure unit risk management and safety briefings are conducted for all activities. All convoys and vehicle operations will be IAW applicable regulations and laws. All Soldiers, regardless of rank are safety officers. When an unsafe act is observed, do the right thing and take action to stop...