91st Troop Command Archive

  • FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion provided the latest in military mobile bridging technology in support of Civil War reenactors during the observation of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg Dec. 8, 2012. Members of the Virginia Defense Force also supported the event with traffic control and visitor assistance, and the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided a color guard and howitzer for the weekend’s final events Dec. 9. “This is a great training opportunity for the Soldiers of the 189th to be able to assemble the bridge on a flowing river,” said 1st Lt. Marianne E. Heldmann, commander of the 189th. “This mission also required coordination...

    Va. Guard and VDF support 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg

    Posted on December 13, 2012 | No Comments
    FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion provided the latest in military mobile bridging technology in support of Civil War reenactors during the observation of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg Dec. 8, 2012. Members of the Virginia Defense Force also supported the event with traffic control and visitor assistance, and the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided a color guard and howitzer for the weekend’s final events Dec. 9. “This is a great training opportunity for the Soldiers of the 189th to be able to assemble the bridge on a flowing river,” said 1st Lt. Marianne E. Heldmann, commander of the 189th. “This mission also required coordination...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. – After supporting the Texas National Guard by providing aerial reconnaissance support to deter illegal immigration along the Southwest Border, the final Virginia National Guard air crew, comprised of both pilots and maintainers, returned to Virginia Dec. 6, 2012. Seventeen Soldiers from the Sandston-based Detachment 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment served 30-60 day rotations along the Texas border in support of Customs and Border Patrol agents, beginning Aug. 27 when the first crew headed for Texas aboard one of the Virginia Guard’s UH-72 Lakota helicopters. During their time along the Southwest Border, Virginia Guard Soldiers were directly involved in the apprehension of more that 1,800 illegal immigrants, to include human traffickers and narcotics smugglers. They...

    Last Virginia Guard air crew returns from Southwest Border mission

    Posted on December 11, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. – After supporting the Texas National Guard by providing aerial reconnaissance support to deter illegal immigration along the Southwest Border, the final Virginia National Guard air crew, comprised of both pilots and maintainers, returned to Virginia Dec. 6, 2012. Seventeen Soldiers from the Sandston-based Detachment 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment served 30-60 day rotations along the Texas border in support of Customs and Border Patrol agents, beginning Aug. 27 when the first crew headed for Texas aboard one of the Virginia Guard’s UH-72 Lakota helicopters. During their time along the Southwest Border, Virginia Guard Soldiers were directly involved in the apprehension of more that 1,800 illegal immigrants, to include human traffickers and narcotics smugglers. They...

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  • BOWLING GREEN, Va. — Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion will provide the latest in military mobile bridging technology in support of Civil War re-enactors during the observation of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg scheduled for Dec. 8, 2012. Members of the Virginia Defense Force will also support the event with traffic control and visitor assistance. “This is a great training opportunity for the Soldiers of the 189th to be able to assemble the bridge on a flowing river,” said 1st Lt. Marianne E. Heldmann, commander of the 189th. “This mission also required coordination with multiple civilian agencies which is what we do when we are on state active...

    Va. Guard engineers and VDF to support 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg

    Posted on December 5, 2012 | No Comments
    BOWLING GREEN, Va. — Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion will provide the latest in military mobile bridging technology in support of Civil War re-enactors during the observation of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg scheduled for Dec. 8, 2012. Members of the Virginia Defense Force will also support the event with traffic control and visitor assistance. “This is a great training opportunity for the Soldiers of the 189th to be able to assemble the bridge on a flowing river,” said 1st Lt. Marianne E. Heldmann, commander of the 189th. “This mission also required coordination with multiple civilian agencies which is what we do when we are on state active...

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  • FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Lt. Col. Matthew Wear assumed command of the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit from Lt. Col. Randall Cudworth in a change of command ceremony held Nov. 18th at Fort Belvoir. Col. Edward Morgan, commander of the Information Operations Support Center, presided over the guidon exchange that signified the change of command. “The DPU has much to be thankful for, the continued and outstanding service of two proficient and talented leaders, and the great support of their families,” said Morgan. The custom of acknowledging a change in command of officers of a military unit is a formal ceremony and dates back to pre-Roman times. The ceremony emphasizes the continuity of leadership and unit identity, despite...

    Data Processing Unit welcomes incoming commander

    Posted on November 20, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Lt. Col. Matthew Wear assumed command of the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit from Lt. Col. Randall Cudworth in a change of command ceremony held Nov. 18th at Fort Belvoir. Col. Edward Morgan, commander of the Information Operations Support Center, presided over the guidon exchange that signified the change of command. “The DPU has much to be thankful for, the continued and outstanding service of two proficient and talented leaders, and the great support of their families,” said Morgan. The custom of acknowledging a change in command of officers of a military unit is a formal ceremony and dates back to pre-Roman times. The ceremony emphasizes the continuity of leadership and unit identity, despite...

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  • CEDAR BLUFF, Va. – Virginia Senator Phillip Puckett, Delegate Will Morefield, Honorable Michael Hymes and the American Veterans Honor Guard Association unveiled highway road signs honoring Sgt. Brandon Asbury and Sgt. David Lambert during a ceremony held Oct. 19 in Cedar Bluff, Va. The ceremony was held to officially fulfill the House Bill No. 1217 requirements to designate the portion of Virginia Route 19 between Tazewell and Claypool Hill, Va., as the Brandon Asbury Highway and to designate the entire Virginia Route 609 as the Sergeant David Lambert Highway. “For decades the youth of Tazewell County have been willing to leave their friends and family and march off to war to defend our freedom. Our country is dependent upon the...

    House Bill No. 1217 honors SW Va. fallen heroes

    Posted on October 23, 2012 | No Comments
    CEDAR BLUFF, Va. – Virginia Senator Phillip Puckett, Delegate Will Morefield, Honorable Michael Hymes and the American Veterans Honor Guard Association unveiled highway road signs honoring Sgt. Brandon Asbury and Sgt. David Lambert during a ceremony held Oct. 19 in Cedar Bluff, Va. The ceremony was held to officially fulfill the House Bill No. 1217 requirements to designate the portion of Virginia Route 19 between Tazewell and Claypool Hill, Va., as the Brandon Asbury Highway and to designate the entire Virginia Route 609 as the Sergeant David Lambert Highway. “For decades the youth of Tazewell County have been willing to leave their friends and family and march off to war to defend our freedom. Our country is dependent upon the...

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  • RICHMOND, 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 assists DEA in drug destruction

    Posted on October 16, 2012 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, 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...

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  • SANDSTON, 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 Guard team works with Tajikistan on Security Cooperation

    Posted on September 30, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, 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...

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  • FAIRFAX, Va. — Five soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit completed a two-week joint cyber defense exercise with officers from the Royal Signals branch of the United Kingdom’s Territorial Army Sept. 28. This exercise provided the DPU soldiers with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with U.K. network operations and serve in a real-world cyber defense mission for the British Army Land Forces Headquarters. The exercise was run by British officers assigned to the Land Information Assurance Group, a component of the U.K.’s Royal Signals branch that focuses primarily on cyber network defense. “This exercise was a tremendous opportunity for our DPU soldiers to both gain experience with the unique LIAG operational processes first-hand and conduct a...

    Virginia Guard’s DPU Soldiers complete cyber exercise with United Kingdom’s Territorial Army

    Posted on September 30, 2012 | No Comments
    FAIRFAX, Va. — Five soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit completed a two-week joint cyber defense exercise with officers from the Royal Signals branch of the United Kingdom’s Territorial Army Sept. 28. This exercise provided the DPU soldiers with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with U.K. network operations and serve in a real-world cyber defense mission for the British Army Land Forces Headquarters. The exercise was run by British officers assigned to the Land Information Assurance Group, a component of the U.K.’s Royal Signals branch that focuses primarily on cyber network defense. “This exercise was a tremendous opportunity for our DPU soldiers to both gain experience with the unique LIAG operational processes first-hand and conduct a...

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  • FORT LEE, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter provided aviation support to students conducting sling load operations training Sept. 28 at Fort Lee, Va. The students are assigned to the U.S. Army Ordnance School training to be ammunition specialists. In addition to providing realistic training to the students, the sling load training also gave Virginia Guard aviators and crew members the opportunity to work on their own skills and gain valuable flight training time. “It’s a great way for new pilots like myself to be able to get all our tasks signed off,” explained 1st Lt. William Bush of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment. “Today I’m going to get evaluated on sling load...

    Sling load operations provide valuable training to Virginia Guard aviators, Fort Lee students

    Posted on September 29, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT LEE, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter provided aviation support to students conducting sling load operations training Sept. 28 at Fort Lee, Va. The students are assigned to the U.S. Army Ordnance School training to be ammunition specialists. In addition to providing realistic training to the students, the sling load training also gave Virginia Guard aviators and crew members the opportunity to work on their own skills and gain valuable flight training time. “It’s a great way for new pilots like myself to be able to get all our tasks signed off,” explained 1st Lt. William Bush of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment. “Today I’m going to get evaluated on sling load...

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  • CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — Soldiers from 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon of the Bowling Green-based 189th Multi-role Bridge Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command took first place in the unit’s best squad competition held Sept. 22 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Seven squads of approximately 10 Soldiers each tested their skills and stamina in a wide variety of events including vehicle maintenance checks, weapons assembly and disassembly, drill and ceremonies, tire flip and launching a Zodiac assault boat into the surf. “This competition is to determine the best squad, but it is also a team building exercise,” said Capt. Matt Nowak, commander of the 189th. “The Soldiers are going to face some adversity, and they may be tired, but they still have smiles on their faces.” He explained that...

    Engineers compete for bragging rights as “best squad”

    Posted on September 28, 2012 | No Comments
    CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — Soldiers from 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon of the Bowling Green-based 189th Multi-role Bridge Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command took first place in the unit’s best squad competition held Sept. 22 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Seven squads of approximately 10 Soldiers each tested their skills and stamina in a wide variety of events including vehicle maintenance checks, weapons assembly and disassembly, drill and ceremonies, tire flip and launching a Zodiac assault boat into the surf. “This competition is to determine the best squad, but it is also a team building exercise,” said Capt. Matt Nowak, commander of the 189th. “The Soldiers are going to face some adversity, and they may be tired, but they still have smiles on their faces.” He explained that...

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  • FAIRFAX, Va. – Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit evaluated their proficiency levels in computer network defense during the unit’s capstone “Obsidian Horde” exercise Sept. 15. The exercise used different cyber scenarios of varying difficulty in order to test Soldier skills and provide senior leaders with an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of cyber warfare training conducted in the past year. The scenarios were administered by unit facilitators concurrently over an eight-hour period during the DPU’s scheduled drill. “I’m extremely pleased with the results of this exercise,” said Lt. Col. Randall Cudworth, commander of the DPU. “It provided us with a great opportunity to gain full visibility on the high level of cyber warfare skills of...

    Data Processing Unit conducts cyber defense exercise

    Posted on September 18, 2012 | No Comments
    FAIRFAX, Va. – Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit evaluated their proficiency levels in computer network defense during the unit’s capstone “Obsidian Horde” exercise Sept. 15. The exercise used different cyber scenarios of varying difficulty in order to test Soldier skills and provide senior leaders with an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of cyber warfare training conducted in the past year. The scenarios were administered by unit facilitators concurrently over an eight-hour period during the DPU’s scheduled drill. “I’m extremely pleased with the results of this exercise,” said Lt. Col. Randall Cudworth, commander of the DPU. “It provided us with a great opportunity to gain full visibility on the high level of cyber warfare skills of...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Sandston-based Detachment 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment departed for Texas aboard a UH-72 Lakota helicopter from the Virginia National Guard’s Aviation Support Facility Aug. 27. The three-Soldier crew will provide aerial reconnaissance support to the Texas National Guard mission to counter illegal immigration on the Southwest border. Over the next four months, about 20 Soldiers in air crews as well as ground support personnel will rotate through Texas in support of the mission. The Lakota helicopter is equipped with a new Mission Equipment Package that includes a forward centerline-mounted camera system with advanced optics and infrared sensors, a high intensity searchlight, cockpit and cabin touch-screen displays with moving map, a video...

    Virginia Guard aviators depart to support Southwest border mission

    Posted on August 31, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Sandston-based Detachment 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment departed for Texas aboard a UH-72 Lakota helicopter from the Virginia National Guard’s Aviation Support Facility Aug. 27. The three-Soldier crew will provide aerial reconnaissance support to the Texas National Guard mission to counter illegal immigration on the Southwest border. Over the next four months, about 20 Soldiers in air crews as well as ground support personnel will rotate through Texas in support of the mission. The Lakota helicopter is equipped with a new Mission Equipment Package that includes a forward centerline-mounted camera system with advanced optics and infrared sensors, a high intensity searchlight, cockpit and cabin touch-screen displays with moving map, a video...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. — A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Virginia Army National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command made a precautionary landing in the early afternoon Aug. 30 in Hanover County because of an equipment issue. The helicopter landed safely under its own power, and crew of three Soldiers are all fine. A maintenance crew is on site to evaluate the helicopter and make the necessary repairs so it can return to Sandston. The crew was conducting a routine training flight. Helicopter crews receive extensive training on the procedures to take if an equipment issue occurs, and the crew took the appropriate actions for the situation. The helicopter was ground transported back to the Army Aviation Support...

    Virginia Army National Guard helicopter makes precautionary landing in Hanover County

    Posted on August 30, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. — A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Virginia Army National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command made a precautionary landing in the early afternoon Aug. 30 in Hanover County because of an equipment issue. The helicopter landed safely under its own power, and crew of three Soldiers are all fine. A maintenance crew is on site to evaluate the helicopter and make the necessary repairs so it can return to Sandston. The crew was conducting a routine training flight. Helicopter crews receive extensive training on the procedures to take if an equipment issue occurs, and the crew took the appropriate actions for the situation. The helicopter was ground transported back to the Army Aviation Support...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Army and Air Guard engineers put their skills, experience and equipment to work for community service projects in Richmond and Stafford County in late July and early August. Not only did the projects help the two communities, they also gave the Soldiers and Airmen valuable real-world training they can put to use for both their federal and state missions. Both projects were part of the Innovative Readiness Training program that allows Army and Air Guard engineers to put their military skills to work on community service projects approved by National Guard Bureau. Work began last summer on the initial phases of both projects. Approximately 40 Soldiers from the Virginia Guard’s Cedar Bluff-based 1033rd Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion,...

    Army and Air Guard engineers improve communities with service projects

    Posted on August 16, 2012 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Army and Air Guard engineers put their skills, experience and equipment to work for community service projects in Richmond and Stafford County in late July and early August. Not only did the projects help the two communities, they also gave the Soldiers and Airmen valuable real-world training they can put to use for both their federal and state missions. Both projects were part of the Innovative Readiness Training program that allows Army and Air Guard engineers to put their military skills to work on community service projects approved by National Guard Bureau. Work began last summer on the initial phases of both projects. Approximately 40 Soldiers from the Virginia Guard’s Cedar Bluff-based 1033rd Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion,...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package conducted their longest continuous training exercise to date July 25, 2012 at the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center. The training is conducted in order to evaluate the team’s ability to respond effectively and proficiently in the event of a disaster. “This is the best training we have done since I came in to the unit in 2010,” said Lt. Col. Mike Renforth, 192nd Fighter Wing Expeditionary Medical Support commander and CERFP Medical Element Leader. “This is the first time we have ever done overnight, continuous operations with real-world training.” The CERFP’s mission is to assist local, state and federal agencies in...

    Virginia National Guard CERFP successfully conducts continuous disaster response exercise

    Posted on July 28, 2012 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package conducted their longest continuous training exercise to date July 25, 2012 at the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center. The training is conducted in order to evaluate the team’s ability to respond effectively and proficiently in the event of a disaster. “This is the best training we have done since I came in to the unit in 2010,” said Lt. Col. Mike Renforth, 192nd Fighter Wing Expeditionary Medical Support commander and CERFP Medical Element Leader. “This is the first time we have ever done overnight, continuous operations with real-world training.” The CERFP’s mission is to assist local, state and federal agencies in...

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  • FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — Virginia Guard Soldiers from the Bowling Green-based 189th Multirole Bridge Company bridged White’s Lake outside Fort A.P. Hill July 24 as part of the culminating exercise of their two-week annual training. The Soldiers constructed an approximately 120-meter long bridge, called an Improved Ribbon Bridge, consisting of 13 interior bays and two ramp bays during their three-day field training exercise. “What we can do, we can put these bridge bays down and connect them together and put any vehicle in the Army’s system across it,” said Capt. Matt Nowak, commander of the 189th MRBC. “We can put it down and have it out in 30 minutes to an hour and have tanks across it, have Bradleys...

    Virginia Guard Soldiers bridge the gap

    Posted on July 27, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — Virginia Guard Soldiers from the Bowling Green-based 189th Multirole Bridge Company bridged White’s Lake outside Fort A.P. Hill July 24 as part of the culminating exercise of their two-week annual training. The Soldiers constructed an approximately 120-meter long bridge, called an Improved Ribbon Bridge, consisting of 13 interior bays and two ramp bays during their three-day field training exercise. “What we can do, we can put these bridge bays down and connect them together and put any vehicle in the Army’s system across it,” said Capt. Matt Nowak, commander of the 189th MRBC. “We can put it down and have it out in 30 minutes to an hour and have tanks across it, have Bradleys...

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  • SANDSTON, 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...

    Virginia Guard troops lead exchange with Tajikistan Peacekeeping Operations Battalion

    Posted on July 23, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, 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...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. — Aviators and Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment welcomed new commander Lt. Col. Perry Jones and bid farewell to outgoing commander Lt. Col. Neal Edmonds in a change of command ceremony held June 10 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Va. “From ancient times, armies throughout the world have conducted ceremonies to commemorate victory over the enemy, to honor comrades in arms, to celebrate special occasions and to honor their dead,” said Maj. Carl Engstrom, master of ceremony for the event, as he explained the significance and tradition of military ceremonies. “The presence of the battalion colors at the center of the formation represents their importance of being at the forefront of the unit during the heat of battle.” In a symbolic transfer of command authority, battalion...

    Sandston-based aviation battalion welcomes new commander

    Posted on June 12, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. — Aviators and Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment welcomed new commander Lt. Col. Perry Jones and bid farewell to outgoing commander Lt. Col. Neal Edmonds in a change of command ceremony held June 10 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Va. “From ancient times, armies throughout the world have conducted ceremonies to commemorate victory over the enemy, to honor comrades in arms, to celebrate special occasions and to honor their dead,” said Maj. Carl Engstrom, master of ceremony for the event, as he explained the significance and tradition of military ceremonies. “The presence of the battalion colors at the center of the formation represents their importance of being at the forefront of the unit during the heat of battle.” In a symbolic transfer of command authority, battalion...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command, also known as Task Force Punisher, along with family, friends and employers, gathered at the Richmond Convention Center May 20 to conduct a Freedom Salute in honor of their service in Iraq. Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker joined Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, in thanking the Soldiers for their service and also presented a certificate of recognition signed by Gov. Bob. McDonnell. “On behalf of Governor McDonnell and the entire McDonnell administration, thank you for your service,” Decker said. “Thank you for what you do, thank you for what you...

    Task Force Punisher Soldiers gather for Freedom Salute honoring service in Iraq

    Posted on May 24, 2012 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command, also known as Task Force Punisher, along with family, friends and employers, gathered at the Richmond Convention Center May 20 to conduct a Freedom Salute in honor of their service in Iraq. Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker joined Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, in thanking the Soldiers for their service and also presented a certificate of recognition signed by Gov. Bob. McDonnell. “On behalf of Governor McDonnell and the entire McDonnell administration, thank you for your service,” Decker said. “Thank you for what you do, thank you for what you...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. — A ribbon cutting ceremony was held May 5, 2012 to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the Cannon Creek Greenway Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail, a project that was supported by members of the Virginia National Guard’s Powhatan-based 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion. The project was started in 2008 and was developed to establish a family-oriented park that will increase the social, economic and physical revitalization of the area. The 276th, who were recognized at the ceremony, played a vital role in the development of the area clearing the trail, removing debris, laying gravel by utilizing their military training in support of the community service project. Their effort is estimated to have saved the...

    Virginia Guard Soldiers on hand as Cannon Creek Greenway project dedicated

    Posted on May 8, 2012 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. — A ribbon cutting ceremony was held May 5, 2012 to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the Cannon Creek Greenway Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail, a project that was supported by members of the Virginia National Guard’s Powhatan-based 180th Horizontal Construction Company, 276th Engineer Battalion. The project was started in 2008 and was developed to establish a family-oriented park that will increase the social, economic and physical revitalization of the area. The 276th, who were recognized at the ceremony, played a vital role in the development of the area clearing the trail, removing debris, laying gravel by utilizing their military training in support of the community service project. Their effort is estimated to have saved the...

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