About Author: Staff Sgt. Terra Gatti

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Staff Sgt. Terra Gatti is the Broadcast NCOIC and the Social Media NCOIC for the Virginia National Guard Public Affairs team. She can be reached via email at terra.gatti@us.army.mil or by phone at (804) 236-7894.

Posts by Staff Sgt. Terra Gatti

  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – At training sites across Fort Pickett, Soldiers from the Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are honing their warrior skills as they conduct pre-mobilization training in advance of their deployment to Afghanistan later this spring. “We’re going to be doing convoy security and support for the host nation’s trucks, as well as for U.S. and allied forces, and we’ll also be performing our normal transportation movements,” explained Capt. Rodney C. Rhodes, commander of the 1710th Transportation Company. “Our motto is ‘You Call, We Haul,’ so now that we’ve got the call, the Soldiers are ready to haul.” The company arrived at Fort Pickett in early February and will spend...

    Va. Transportation Company heeds the call, prepares to haul

    Posted on February 13, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – At training sites across Fort Pickett, Soldiers from the Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are honing their warrior skills as they conduct pre-mobilization training in advance of their deployment to Afghanistan later this spring. “We’re going to be doing convoy security and support for the host nation’s trucks, as well as for U.S. and allied forces, and we’ll also be performing our normal transportation movements,” explained Capt. Rodney C. Rhodes, commander of the 1710th Transportation Company. “Our motto is ‘You Call, We Haul,’ so now that we’ve got the call, the Soldiers are ready to haul.” The company arrived at Fort Pickett in early February and will spend...

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  • SANDSTON, 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,...

    Va. Guard Soldiers earn civilian credit for military experience

    Posted on January 11, 2013 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, 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,...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – With upwards of three feet of snow covering the ground at home, approximately 1,500 Canadian Army reservists forming Task Force Phoenix descended upon Fort Pickett Jan. 2 to escape the sub-zero temperatures and to conduct a four-day collective training event, called Exercise Noble Guerrier (Noble Warrior) 13. The task force brought together Soldiers from 20 different units from across Quebec, all from the Montreal-based 34th Canadian Brigade Group and the Quebec City-based 35th Canadian Brigade Group. Exercise Noble Warrior is a culminating training event for the reservists, designed to validate and test the skills learned and sharpened over the fall months, during which the soldiers came together for eight days, over four weekends, to train collectively....

    Exercise Noble Warrior brings Canadian reservists to Fort Pickett

    Posted on January 10, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – With upwards of three feet of snow covering the ground at home, approximately 1,500 Canadian Army reservists forming Task Force Phoenix descended upon Fort Pickett Jan. 2 to escape the sub-zero temperatures and to conduct a four-day collective training event, called Exercise Noble Guerrier (Noble Warrior) 13. The task force brought together Soldiers from 20 different units from across Quebec, all from the Montreal-based 34th Canadian Brigade Group and the Quebec City-based 35th Canadian Brigade Group. Exercise Noble Warrior is a culminating training event for the reservists, designed to validate and test the skills learned and sharpened over the fall months, during which the soldiers came together for eight days, over four weekends, to train collectively....

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  • SANDSTON, Va. –The Virginia Guard gathered representatives from state, local and military organizations to discuss the goals of each organization and how they might work together to help survivors of sexual assault during the inaugural Virginia National Guard Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Awareness Summit, held Jan. 8 at the Mullins Readiness Center in Sandston, Va. “As we planned this summit, the goal in mind was to develop a sense of community, partnership, and an understanding between the military and civilian communities to give the best treatment to our survivors, both military and civilian,” explained Kimberly Cullen, the Virginia Guard’s alternate sexual assault response coordinator. “We wanted to gather all of our local and state resources in one room to...

    Va. Guard hosts inaugural Sexual Assault Awareness Summit

    Posted on January 9, 2013 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. –The Virginia Guard gathered representatives from state, local and military organizations to discuss the goals of each organization and how they might work together to help survivors of sexual assault during the inaugural Virginia National Guard Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Awareness Summit, held Jan. 8 at the Mullins Readiness Center in Sandston, Va. “As we planned this summit, the goal in mind was to develop a sense of community, partnership, and an understanding between the military and civilian communities to give the best treatment to our survivors, both military and civilian,” explained Kimberly Cullen, the Virginia Guard’s alternate sexual assault response coordinator. “We wanted to gather all of our local and state resources in one room to...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – Representatives from various Virginia National Guard units, sections and facilities from across the commonwealth gathered Dec. 4 at Fort Pickett for the Virginia Guard’s first Internal Sustainability Workshop. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to the various directives and goals associated with sustainability and to focus on the recycling efforts of the Virginia National Guard. “The recycling program is our first step toward formalizing our agency efforts in support of the overall long-range sustainability program goals and objectives,” explained Col. Marie M. Mahoney, recycling team leader and deputy director for the Virginia Guard’s United States Property and Fiscal Office. “Building a successful agency wide recycling program will serve as the initial building block toward institutionalizing sustainability...

    Va. Guard works to improve sustainability efforts

    Posted on December 11, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – Representatives from various Virginia National Guard units, sections and facilities from across the commonwealth gathered Dec. 4 at Fort Pickett for the Virginia Guard’s first Internal Sustainability Workshop. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to the various directives and goals associated with sustainability and to focus on the recycling efforts of the Virginia National Guard. “The recycling program is our first step toward formalizing our agency efforts in support of the overall long-range sustainability program goals and objectives,” explained Col. Marie M. Mahoney, recycling team leader and deputy director for the Virginia Guard’s United States Property and Fiscal Office. “Building a successful agency wide recycling program will serve as the initial building block toward institutionalizing sustainability...

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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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  • The 2012 Holiday Video Message from Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Green, the Virginia Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, is available online at the following links: View the video on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100864180302796  Download in WMV format: http://ow.ly/fEWD5 Download in MOV format: http://ow.ly/fEWLO Share

    Adjutant General and Senior Enlisted Leader Holiday Video Message available online

    Posted on November 28, 2012 | No Comments
    The 2012 Holiday Video Message from Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Green, the Virginia Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, is available online at the following links: View the video on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100864180302796  Download in WMV format: http://ow.ly/fEWD5 Download in MOV format: http://ow.ly/fEWLO Share

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  • SANDSTON, Va. – Virginia Guardsman Spc. Steven Fletcher, of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, honed his marksmanship skills early. “I have grown up hunting and shooting, and have always enjoyed it,” Fletcher said. Now, Fletcher holds a coveted spot on the All-Guard Marksmanship Team, shooting on both the combat and pistol teams. It all started when Fletcher, originally from Warrenton and currently residing in Culpeper, signed up to compete in his unit’s marksmanship competition, held earlier this year over the unit’s annual training period. The top four shooters from that competition, which included Fletcher, formed a team and represented their unit at the state level competition, held in June at Fort Pickett, Va. Again, Fletcher earned a top spot...

    Virginia Guard marksman selected for All-Guard Marksmanship Team

    Posted on November 17, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. – Virginia Guardsman Spc. Steven Fletcher, of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, honed his marksmanship skills early. “I have grown up hunting and shooting, and have always enjoyed it,” Fletcher said. Now, Fletcher holds a coveted spot on the All-Guard Marksmanship Team, shooting on both the combat and pistol teams. It all started when Fletcher, originally from Warrenton and currently residing in Culpeper, signed up to compete in his unit’s marksmanship competition, held earlier this year over the unit’s annual training period. The top four shooters from that competition, which included Fletcher, formed a team and represented their unit at the state level competition, held in June at Fort Pickett, Va. Again, Fletcher earned a top spot...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. – Virginia Guardsman Spc. Steven Fletcher, of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, honed his marksmanship skills early. “I have grown up hunting and shooting, and have always enjoyed it,” Fletcher said. Now, Fletcher holds a coveted spot on the All-Guard Marksmanship Team, shooting on both the combat and pistol teams. It all started when Fletcher, originally from Warrenton and currently residing in Culpeper, signed up to compete in his unit’s marksmanship competition, held earlier this year over the unit’s annual training period. The top four shooters from that competition, which included Fletcher, formed a team and represented their unit at the state level competition, held in June at Fort Pickett, Va. Again, Fletcher earned a top spot...

    Virginia Guard marksman selected for All-Guard Marksmanship Team

    Posted on November 16, 2012 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. – Virginia Guardsman Spc. Steven Fletcher, of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, honed his marksmanship skills early. “I have grown up hunting and shooting, and have always enjoyed it,” Fletcher said. Now, Fletcher holds a coveted spot on the All-Guard Marksmanship Team, shooting on both the combat and pistol teams. It all started when Fletcher, originally from Warrenton and currently residing in Culpeper, signed up to compete in his unit’s marksmanship competition, held earlier this year over the unit’s annual training period. The top four shooters from that competition, which included Fletcher, formed a team and represented their unit at the state level competition, held in June at Fort Pickett, Va. Again, Fletcher earned a top spot...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – As one of seven regional winners, Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Gate City-based 1032nd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, competed for a top spot in the national-level Philip A. Connelly Awards for Excellence in Army Food Service Nov. 2 at Fort Pickett. The Soldiers of the 1032nd are no stranger to competing at the national level, taking the first place spot in the National Guard Field Kitchen category in 2009, and acheiving a runner-up spot in the 2012 competition after missing the top spot by just three points. “Honestly, a lot of our success is having a great cooking staff that works for the 1032nd and a great 1032nd that supports the cooking staff,”...

    Virginia Transportation Company competes in national food competition

    Posted on November 6, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – As one of seven regional winners, Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Gate City-based 1032nd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, competed for a top spot in the national-level Philip A. Connelly Awards for Excellence in Army Food Service Nov. 2 at Fort Pickett. The Soldiers of the 1032nd are no stranger to competing at the national level, taking the first place spot in the National Guard Field Kitchen category in 2009, and acheiving a runner-up spot in the 2012 competition after missing the top spot by just three points. “Honestly, a lot of our success is having a great cooking staff that works for the 1032nd and a great 1032nd that supports the cooking staff,”...

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  • NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Fourteen Virginia Guard Soldiers traveled north to Maryland in October to requalify on their RQ-7B Shadow tactical unmanned aerial systems as part of their post-deployment reset training. The Soldiers, from the Bowling Green-based Detachment 1, Company B, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, trained at Webster Field, part of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Oct. 14 – Nov. 4, reacquainting themselves with their Shadows as weather permitted, and riding out Hurricane Sandy when it didn’t. “The hurricane kind of delayed us,” said Sgt. Eric Mehaffey, a standardization instructor operator in the unit. “We weren’t able to fly because of it, but the first week was great.” The training conducted...

    Virginia unmanned aerial system platoon resets after Afghanistan deployment

    Posted on November 5, 2012 | No Comments
    NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Fourteen Virginia Guard Soldiers traveled north to Maryland in October to requalify on their RQ-7B Shadow tactical unmanned aerial systems as part of their post-deployment reset training. The Soldiers, from the Bowling Green-based Detachment 1, Company B, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, trained at Webster Field, part of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Oct. 14 – Nov. 4, reacquainting themselves with their Shadows as weather permitted, and riding out Hurricane Sandy when it didn’t. “The hurricane kind of delayed us,” said Sgt. Eric Mehaffey, a standardization instructor operator in the unit. “We weren’t able to fly because of it, but the first week was great.” The training conducted...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. — Across the commonwealth, Virginia Guard Soldiers are adding small, square unique identification tags, or UIDs, to sensitive and high-dollar equipment items to streamline the inventory process. “The little barcode will be with that piece of equipment from cradle to grave,” said Chief Warrant Officer Renate Long, assistant logistics planner for the Virginia Guard. “So now when someone goes out to scan, let’s say, a truck, they’ll be able to access everything that ever happened to that truck – when the engine got replaced, if it was in an accident, what units it went to and where it’s going next.” In 2004, according to Long, the U.S. Army began applying UIDs to all newly produced equipment as...

    Virginia Guard equipment gets tagged for easier tracking

    Posted on October 23, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. — Across the commonwealth, Virginia Guard Soldiers are adding small, square unique identification tags, or UIDs, to sensitive and high-dollar equipment items to streamline the inventory process. “The little barcode will be with that piece of equipment from cradle to grave,” said Chief Warrant Officer Renate Long, assistant logistics planner for the Virginia Guard. “So now when someone goes out to scan, let’s say, a truck, they’ll be able to access everything that ever happened to that truck – when the engine got replaced, if it was in an accident, what units it went to and where it’s going next.” In 2004, according to Long, the U.S. Army began applying UIDs to all newly produced equipment as...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – The Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company conducted new equipment training with their newly-acquired M1117 Armored Security Vehicles Oct. 9-19 at Fort Pickett, Va. The 229th MPs recently received 12 ASVs and both vehicle maintainers and operators have been learning their way around the massive, multi-ton vehicles. “We’re here for a 10-day ASV class that shows us how to operate and maintain the vehicle,” explained Sgt. Ralph Jarrell, a military police officer in the 229th and a student in the ASV operators course. “It’s going really good.” The ASV is an armored and turreted all-wheel drive vehicle, weighing in at over 30,000 pounds when equipped with a full combat load. It is designed to support military...

    Virginia Guard MPs train on new Armored Security Vehicles

    Posted on October 21, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – The Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company conducted new equipment training with their newly-acquired M1117 Armored Security Vehicles Oct. 9-19 at Fort Pickett, Va. The 229th MPs recently received 12 ASVs and both vehicle maintainers and operators have been learning their way around the massive, multi-ton vehicles. “We’re here for a 10-day ASV class that shows us how to operate and maintain the vehicle,” explained Sgt. Ralph Jarrell, a military police officer in the 229th and a student in the ASV operators course. “It’s going really good.” The ASV is an armored and turreted all-wheel drive vehicle, weighing in at over 30,000 pounds when equipped with a full combat load. It is designed to support military...

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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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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – Noncommissioned officers of the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team gathered along with Virginia Army Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Carl Holcomb and Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Kiser, from 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to welcome Sgt. Austin L. Beaty into the NCO Corps in an NCO Induction Ceremony held Oct. 10 at Fort Pickett. At the start of the ceremony, 34th CST 1st Sgt. Brodie Kirkland provided a history of the NCO Corps, beginning with the American Revolution when Baron Friedrich von Steuben, America’s first inspector general, called NCOs “the backbone of the Army.” Kirkland went on to detail the importance NCOs have played throughout America’s history, including during the expedition of Meriwether Lewis...

    Virginia Guard’s newest NCO honored in NCO Induction Ceremony

    Posted on October 16, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – Noncommissioned officers of the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team gathered along with Virginia Army Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Carl Holcomb and Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Kiser, from 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to welcome Sgt. Austin L. Beaty into the NCO Corps in an NCO Induction Ceremony held Oct. 10 at Fort Pickett. At the start of the ceremony, 34th CST 1st Sgt. Brodie Kirkland provided a history of the NCO Corps, beginning with the American Revolution when Baron Friedrich von Steuben, America’s first inspector general, called NCOs “the backbone of the Army.” Kirkland went on to detail the importance NCOs have played throughout America’s history, including during the expedition of Meriwether Lewis...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. — Instructors and rappel masters from the Virginia Guard’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute taught the U.S. Army’s Rappel Master Course Sept. 24-28 at the RTI with a starting class of 26 Soldiers from around the nation. “The point of the rappel master course is essentially to advance the techniques that they learned from air assault school,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Homer, noncommissioned officer in charge for the rappel master course. “Once they leave here they can rappel personnel off towers and off aircraft and hopefully any rotary wing platform the Armed Forces has.” During the five-day course, Soldiers hoping to become rappel masters learn how to tie and utilize knots commonly used during rappelling...

    Virginia Guard’s 183rd RTI trains new rappel masters

    Posted on September 29, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. — Instructors and rappel masters from the Virginia Guard’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute taught the U.S. Army’s Rappel Master Course Sept. 24-28 at the RTI with a starting class of 26 Soldiers from around the nation. “The point of the rappel master course is essentially to advance the techniques that they learned from air assault school,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Homer, noncommissioned officer in charge for the rappel master course. “Once they leave here they can rappel personnel off towers and off aircraft and hopefully any rotary wing platform the Armed Forces has.” During the five-day course, Soldiers hoping to become rappel masters learn how to tie and utilize knots commonly used during rappelling...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute marked the opening of the second and final phase of their new facility during an annual family day event Sept. 23. Phase II includes 123,916 square feet of student barracks spread across three two-story barracks buildings. Each building is equipped with high speed wireless internet, complimentary laundry facilities, and various room configurations all designed to suit the needs of the diverse course offerings of the RTI. “We are in a class with very few states,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Howard “Skip” Halfacre, commandant of the RTI, on the newly completed state-of-the-art facility. “Students are going to attend a world-class facility, not only in the classroom spaces and in the...

    Virginia’s 183rd RTI marks completion of new facility

    Posted on September 26, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute marked the opening of the second and final phase of their new facility during an annual family day event Sept. 23. Phase II includes 123,916 square feet of student barracks spread across three two-story barracks buildings. Each building is equipped with high speed wireless internet, complimentary laundry facilities, and various room configurations all designed to suit the needs of the diverse course offerings of the RTI. “We are in a class with very few states,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Howard “Skip” Halfacre, commandant of the RTI, on the newly completed state-of-the-art facility. “Students are going to attend a world-class facility, not only in the classroom spaces and in the...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – Members of the Virginia Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, spent the week of Sept. 9-15 at Fort Pickett teaching their newest Soldiers and Airmen the basics of incident response as part of CERFP University. CERFP University aims to educate new members of the response force on the operating procedures of hazardous material detection equipment and the correct wear of personal protective equipment, as well as to ensure all new members obtain the required certifications from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “It’s an opportunity to bring students into a training environment and to teach them what we do for the state mission as a CERF unit,” said Tech....

    Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen train at CERFP University

    Posted on September 17, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – Members of the Virginia Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, spent the week of Sept. 9-15 at Fort Pickett teaching their newest Soldiers and Airmen the basics of incident response as part of CERFP University. CERFP University aims to educate new members of the response force on the operating procedures of hazardous material detection equipment and the correct wear of personal protective equipment, as well as to ensure all new members obtain the required certifications from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “It’s an opportunity to bring students into a training environment and to teach them what we do for the state mission as a CERF unit,” said Tech....

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  • FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — Twelve of the Virginia Guard’s top shooters competed Aug. 16-19 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. in a regional competition, and Virginia Guard Soldiers beat out shooters from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware to earn several top spots in both pistol and rifle matches. The competition, called the Marksmanship Advisory Committee Region II Marksmanship Sustainment Exercise, was designed to identify the top shooters in the region and to test the marksmanship skills of the competitors. “These events are both physically and mentally demanding and are designed to foster self-confidence and overall team solidarity,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Jones, assistant state marksmanship coordinator and marksmanship competitor. “It enforces lessons learned in combat and in competition while ensuring the success of...

    Virginia shooters represent at regional marksmanship competition

    Posted on August 25, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — Twelve of the Virginia Guard’s top shooters competed Aug. 16-19 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. in a regional competition, and Virginia Guard Soldiers beat out shooters from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware to earn several top spots in both pistol and rifle matches. The competition, called the Marksmanship Advisory Committee Region II Marksmanship Sustainment Exercise, was designed to identify the top shooters in the region and to test the marksmanship skills of the competitors. “These events are both physically and mentally demanding and are designed to foster self-confidence and overall team solidarity,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Jones, assistant state marksmanship coordinator and marksmanship competitor. “It enforces lessons learned in combat and in competition while ensuring the success of...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – Virginia Guard Soldiers from the Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are using this year’s two-week annual training from Aug. 4 – 18 as an opportunity to get a head start on the skills they’ll need next year when they deploy to Afghanistan. The unit is currently trained and organized as a medium cargo transportation company but will train on the U.S. Army’s Palletized Load System prior to deploying, a system they were able to gain some experience with during annual training. “To our understanding, these are the type of vehicles that we’re going to fall in on once we reach Afghanistan,” explained Sgt. Gary Wood, a team leader...

    Virginia Guard Transportation Company gets head start on deployment training

    Posted on August 16, 2012 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – Virginia Guard Soldiers from the Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are using this year’s two-week annual training from Aug. 4 – 18 as an opportunity to get a head start on the skills they’ll need next year when they deploy to Afghanistan. The unit is currently trained and organized as a medium cargo transportation company but will train on the U.S. Army’s Palletized Load System prior to deploying, a system they were able to gain some experience with during annual training. “To our understanding, these are the type of vehicles that we’re going to fall in on once we reach Afghanistan,” explained Sgt. Gary Wood, a team leader...

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