An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | March 29, 2021

Virginia National Guard provides mobile vaccination teams

By Cotton Puryear Virginia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard is reconfiguring the task force conducting COVID-19 testing and mask fit training to create mobile vaccination teams.

The new teams will consist of Army and Air National Guard medics trained and certified by the Virginia Department of Health to administer the vaccines. These teams will also include supervisory, medical, administrative and logistics specialists that manage the teams' operations.

The VNG plans to reconfigure its testing task force into five mobile vaccination teams. Each team is to be able to vaccinate up to 250 people a day in support of localities. The mobile teams will remain deployed under the direction of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Virginia Department of Health.

The teams will also conduct COVID-19 testing, as needed.

The VNG has a limited number of medical providers available due to other military operational requirements and planned overseas deployments.

Approximately 325 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen operating in two battalion task forces from multiple units are supporting the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Health at COVID-19 community vaccination sites across the commonwealth.

Starting March 1, 2021, a new battalion task force began a two-week training period at community vaccination sites across Virginia. The Virginia COVID-19 Unified Command then set priorities and decided where the VNG personnel would deploy to provide logistics, administrative and operational support.

Since COVID response operations began in April 2020, VNG personnel have collected more than 172,000 samples for testing and tested thousands of N95 respirator masks for proper fit in support of localities.

Missions from April through July 2020 included helping food banks across the state distribute more than 1.3 million pounds of food.

 

 

Related Articles
National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force partner with military and civilian cyber operators in enclaves to simulate the process they would follow to respond to and mitigate a cyber attack Aug. 11, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during Cyber Fortress 25. The exercise focused on electric cooperatives and provided an opportunity to test Virginia’s cyber response plan, better prepare for future collective responses and build resiliency. In addition, representatives from several foreign militaries participated in the exercise, including a number from Finland, Virginia National Guard’s State Partnership Program's partner. The Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and Information Operations Support Center hosted the exercise which includes a re-certification of two cyber protection teams and one battalion headquarters as part of their federal mission.
Virginia Guard, Cyber Operators Train at Cyber Fortress 25
By Cotton Puryear, | Sept. 19, 2025
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.  – National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force partnered with military and civilian cyber operators Aug. 2-17 at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia,...

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bedford-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a movement to contact situational training lane June 9, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal.
Virginia Guard to Test New Mobile Brigade Combat Team
By Cotton Puryear, | June 12, 2025
RICHMOND, Va.  –  The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) will be the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade...

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman conduct a collective training exercise simulating a response to a simulated mass casualty radiological event April 30, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The Soldiers and Airmen are assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP. During the exercise, search and rescue, decontamination and medical teams worked together to rescue simulated casualties portrayed by role players. The CERFP is capable of providing support to first responders and civil authorities after a chemical, biological or nuclear incident. Read more about the 34th CERFP athttps://vngpao.info/2p89jnkp.
Virginia National Guard Team Trains for Disaster Response
By Mike Vrabel, | May 9, 2025
FORT BARFOOT, Va.  –  Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a collective training exercise responding to a simulated mass casualty radiological event at Fort Barfoot April 28 - May 2. The Soldiers and Airmen...