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Virginia Guard CST, State Police Team Up for Training Exercise
April 22, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the 34th Civil Support Team and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation bomb technicians conduct a training exercise March 19, 2024, at the Blackstone Readiness Center in Blackstone, Virginia. CST and VSP elements worked to identify possible explosives hazards while maintaining crime scene integrity.
Virginia Guardsman Earns Expert Soldier Badge
April 16, 2024
Maj. Josh Favaro, executive officer of the Virginia National Guard’s 229th Brigade Engineering Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, receives the Expert Soldier Badge from Sgt. Maj. Justin Walkup, the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team operations sergeant major, March 15, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia.
Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders
April 12, 2024
Finnish Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, meets with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. The VNG enjoys an enduring relationship with Finland that includes military training exchanges between Finnish Defence Forces and VNG Soldiers and Airmen.
Virginia Guard Conducts Infantry Tactics Exchange in Tajikistan
March 29, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conduct an infantry tactics exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense Peacekeeping Battalion March 3-8, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Virginia Guard and Tajikistan are partners through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.
Army National Guard Soldiers Train in Funeral Honors Program
March 20, 2024
The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosts 11 Army National Guard Soldiers from nine states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course March 5, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin participated in the two week-long training, which certifies instructors to teach fellow Soldiers the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans.
Virginia National Guard Takes Over Poland Sustainment Mission
March 15, 2024
U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Carlos Maldonado, the commander of the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. David Elliot, the battalion's senior enlisted advisor, uncase their unit colors during a transfer of authority ceremony in Powidz, Poland, March 11, 2024.
Army Flight School Grad Follows in Father’s Footsteps
March 8, 2024
Warrant Officer Paul D. Kelly's mother, Maria, pins his silver wings on his uniform as he graduates flight school as a Black Hawk pilot at Fort Novosel, Ala., Feb. 8, 2024. He serves with the Virginia Army National Guard.
National Guard Conducts Arctic Training with Canada
March 4, 2024
U.S. Army and Canadian Soldiers observe and secure the insertion area after disembarking from an LC-130 Hercules skiplane of the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, on frozen oceanic Arctic ice near Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, Canada, March 15, 2023. U.S. and Canadian Soldiers and U.S. Airmen are participating in Guerrier Nordique 24 to get experience operating tactically in the high Arctic.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers Validated for Poland Mission
March 1, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducted a collective training exercise Feb. 13, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas, to prepare for their upcoming federal active duty deployment to Poland. During the exercise, 529th Soldiers worked through different potential scenarios simulating the operations they are scheduled to conduct in Poland.
From Marine to Virginia Guard, Soldier's Journey Across Continents
February 27, 2024
U.S. Army Infantrymen assigned to the East African Response Force (EARF) participate in an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) to provide security at the U.S. Embassy, Mogadishu, Somalia, April 22, 2022.
Virginia Airmen Conduct Engineer Exchange in Tajikistan
February 14, 2024
Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 192nd Wing, conduct an engineer exchange with Republic of Tajikistan military and law enforcement personnel Jan. 22-26, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen Train on Emergency Response
January 31, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Richmond-Based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package conduct a collective training exercise Jan. 6, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The exercise enabled new personnel to train on the basics of incident management and emergency response.
Virginia Guard Begins Federal Duty Before Poland Deployment
January 31, 2024
Approximately 70 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Headquarters, 329th Regional Support Group, begin federal active duty with a departure ceremony Jan. 28, 2024, in Virginia Beach. The troops will deploy to Poland and serve under the command of U.S. Army’s 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade to provide sustainment command and control and support to forward-stationed U.S. and allied forces in the region.
Virginia National Guard Conducts Medevac Exchange in Tajikistan
January 8, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a medical evacuation tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 4-9, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The training supported the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.
Virginia, NC Guard Soldiers Learn Funeral Honor Fundamentals
January 5, 2024
Spc. Gabriel Joines, left, a Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the 1033rd Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, and Sgt. Brooke Hulings, right, a North Carolina National Guard Soldier assigned to the 882nd Engineer Company, 105th Engineer Battalion, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, train on conducting funeral honors for military veterans Dec. 13, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The five-day course introduced Soldiers to the finer points of rendering honors to military veterans and prepared them to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition.
Native Name Inspires Strength, Pride for Virginia Guardsman
November 28, 2023
Virginia National Guard 1st Lt. Gavin Steel, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, shown in Fort Moore, Georgia, after he completed Ranger School in 2021. Steel traces his Native American heritage through his grandmothers.
Exercise Sharpens Virginia Guard Unit’s Expeditionary Skills
November 28, 2023
Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing, train on expeditionary skills during a field training exercise Nov. 3, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach.
Virginia National Guard Trains for Firefighting Ground Support
November 13, 2023
Two Virginia National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660-gallon water buckets help fight fires Nov. 11, 2023, in Patrick County, Virginia. Aviation crews assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, coordinated efforts with the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Southern Vanguard 24 Exercise Begins in Brazil
November 8, 2023
New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Isabel Smith, center, director, Joint Staff, New York National Guard, stands with Brazilian Army officers during the opening ceremony for Exercise Southern Vanguard 24 in Macapa, Brazil, Nov. 6, 2023. The exercise is designed for U.S. Army Soldiers to conduct pre-deployment activities, deploy and conduct air assault operations while enhancing interoperability with Brazilian army forces.
Virginia Army National Guard Battles Wildfires From the Air
November 8, 2023
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry, Division provide aerial fire suppression support Nov. 6, 2023, in Madison County. After Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the VNG deployed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660-gallon water buckets at the request of the Virginia Department of Forestry.