Army Guard Archive

  • SANDSTON, Va. — Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis A. Green, the Virginia Guard senior enlisted leader, and other senior leaders honored and recognized Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees during luncheons May 8 at Camp Pendleton and May 10 at Fort Pickett. The luncheons were held during Virginia Public Service Week, a special week when employees are recognized around the state for their dedication and hard work, according to Michelle Claiborne, human resource manager for DMA. “Here at DMA, we hosted a luncheon at Camp Pendleton and Fort Pickett where senior leaders could show their appreciation of the state employees,” she said. In addition to lunch, DMA recognized individuals...

    Va. Guard honors state employees at recognition luncheons

    Posted on May 15, 2013 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. — Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis A. Green, the Virginia Guard senior enlisted leader, and other senior leaders honored and recognized Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees during luncheons May 8 at Camp Pendleton and May 10 at Fort Pickett. The luncheons were held during Virginia Public Service Week, a special week when employees are recognized around the state for their dedication and hard work, according to Michelle Claiborne, human resource manager for DMA. “Here at DMA, we hosted a luncheon at Camp Pendleton and Fort Pickett where senior leaders could show their appreciation of the state employees,” she said. In addition to lunch, DMA recognized individuals...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. — Senior leaders, Soldiers, Airmen and civilians employees gathered to celebrate the 406th birthday of the Virginia National Guard with a cake cutting May 14, 2013, at the Joint Force Headquarters in Sandston. The Virginia National Guard traces the heritage and traditions of selfless service to the founding of the Jamestown Settlement May 14, 1607, where Capt. John Smith organized a militia to defend the colony. There has not been a day since without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas. Prior to 1652, formal military organizations were formed as needed and disbanded after the threat passed, and then the House of Burgesses passed a bill that each county would organize militia companies...

    Virginia National Guard celebrates 406th birthday

    Posted on May 14, 2013 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. — Senior leaders, Soldiers, Airmen and civilians employees gathered to celebrate the 406th birthday of the Virginia National Guard with a cake cutting May 14, 2013, at the Joint Force Headquarters in Sandston. The Virginia National Guard traces the heritage and traditions of selfless service to the founding of the Jamestown Settlement May 14, 1607, where Capt. John Smith organized a militia to defend the colony. There has not been a day since without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas. Prior to 1652, formal military organizations were formed as needed and disbanded after the threat passed, and then the House of Burgesses passed a bill that each county would organize militia companies...

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  • FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Senior Virginia National Guard leaders joined military leaders from Fort A.P. Hill, Marine Corps Base Quantico and Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in signing the Fredericksburg Region Armed Forces Community Covenant May 4, 2013, in Fredericksburg. Brig. Gen. Wayne A. Wright, deputy adjutant general of Virginia, Col. John M. Epperly, commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Lt. Col. Chris Doss, commander of the Fredericksburg-based 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, signed the covenant that pledged “to create and encourage a strong relationship between these communities and the military and former military personnel and families who live and work in them; to educate men, women and children of the value and...

    Virginia Guard leaders sign Fredericksburg region Community Covenant

    Posted on May 6, 2013 | No Comments
    FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Senior Virginia National Guard leaders joined military leaders from Fort A.P. Hill, Marine Corps Base Quantico and Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in signing the Fredericksburg Region Armed Forces Community Covenant May 4, 2013, in Fredericksburg. Brig. Gen. Wayne A. Wright, deputy adjutant general of Virginia, Col. John M. Epperly, commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Lt. Col. Chris Doss, commander of the Fredericksburg-based 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, signed the covenant that pledged “to create and encourage a strong relationship between these communities and the military and former military personnel and families who live and work in them; to educate men, women and children of the value and...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Guard Soldiers and one Airmen from the Virginia National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force joined with Soldiers from the Martinsville-based 1173rd Transportation Company to help Richmond Drug Enforcement Administration agents loaded nearly 18,000 pounds of unwanted and expired medications into Virginia Guard trucks May 3, 2013, in Richmond, Va. After loading the many tons of drugs into their trucks, the Soldiers drove north, along with several DEA agents, to an incinerator in Northern Virginia where the drugs were unloaded and then destroyed. The drug haul away and destruction was part of the DEA’s National Take-Back Initiative, a program designed to “provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the general public...

    Va. Guard helps DEA haul & destroy tons of drugs

    Posted on May 6, 2013 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Guard Soldiers and one Airmen from the Virginia National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force joined with Soldiers from the Martinsville-based 1173rd Transportation Company to help Richmond Drug Enforcement Administration agents loaded nearly 18,000 pounds of unwanted and expired medications into Virginia Guard trucks May 3, 2013, in Richmond, Va. After loading the many tons of drugs into their trucks, the Soldiers drove north, along with several DEA agents, to an incinerator in Northern Virginia where the drugs were unloaded and then destroyed. The drug haul away and destruction was part of the DEA’s National Take-Back Initiative, a program designed to “provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the general public...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. – Eleven Virginia Guard Soldiers and Airmen from units across the state graduated from the inaugural iTAP 2.0 training course May 3, 2013 in Richmond, Va. The program is funded and hosted by IVET, the Institute for Veterans Education and Training, and is a week-long program for veterans and their spouses that “establishes a gameplan for pursuing educational, employment or entrepreneurial goals,” according to the IVET website. IVET is 501c3 non-profit organization and offers iTAP 2.0 at no cost to course participants. Throughout the week, students engage in lessons taught by subject matter experts in a variety of fields, working not just on building resumes or how to enter a new career field, but also on how to...

    Va. Guard Airmen, Soldiers graduate inaugural training program

    Posted on May 6, 2013 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. – Eleven Virginia Guard Soldiers and Airmen from units across the state graduated from the inaugural iTAP 2.0 training course May 3, 2013 in Richmond, Va. The program is funded and hosted by IVET, the Institute for Veterans Education and Training, and is a week-long program for veterans and their spouses that “establishes a gameplan for pursuing educational, employment or entrepreneurial goals,” according to the IVET website. IVET is 501c3 non-profit organization and offers iTAP 2.0 at no cost to course participants. Throughout the week, students engage in lessons taught by subject matter experts in a variety of fields, working not just on building resumes or how to enter a new career field, but also on how to...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia National Guard special response force capable of providing support to first responders and civil authorities was recommended for validation following an external evaluation April 27 at the Virginia Beach Fire & EMS Training Center. The Virginia National Guard’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear High Yield Explosive Response Force Package, known as the CERFP (pronounced “surf-p”), was rated as “fully trained” on 15 of the 16 major tasks they had to accomplish. The CERFP can conduct tasks associated with incident management, urban search and rescue, mass causality decontamination, technical decontamination, medical triage and treatment and fatality search and recovery. The force is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from units based in Petersburg, West Point, Rocky...

    Va. Guard CERFP validated for duty following external evaluation in Virginia Beach

    Posted on May 5, 2013 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia National Guard special response force capable of providing support to first responders and civil authorities was recommended for validation following an external evaluation April 27 at the Virginia Beach Fire & EMS Training Center. The Virginia National Guard’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear High Yield Explosive Response Force Package, known as the CERFP (pronounced “surf-p”), was rated as “fully trained” on 15 of the 16 major tasks they had to accomplish. The CERFP can conduct tasks associated with incident management, urban search and rescue, mass causality decontamination, technical decontamination, medical triage and treatment and fatality search and recovery. The force is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from units based in Petersburg, West Point, Rocky...

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  • EMPORIA, Va. – Family members and friends of deployed Soldiers assigned to the 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group joined with representatives from Virginia Guard Family Programs and the Virginia National Guard for a round table discussion with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, April 30, 2013, at the readiness center in Emporia, Va. The goal of the discussion was to give Kaine, who sits on the Armed Services Committee in the U.S. Senate, a chance to discuss the unique challenges Guard families face during deployments. “I just want to make sure that I’m acting with as much knowledge as I can have,” Kaine told the group. “The guardsmen and women in this commonwealth and their...

    Sen. Kaine visits families of deployed 1710th Trans. Co. Soldiers

    Posted on May 3, 2013 | No Comments
    EMPORIA, Va. – Family members and friends of deployed Soldiers assigned to the 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group joined with representatives from Virginia Guard Family Programs and the Virginia National Guard for a round table discussion with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, April 30, 2013, at the readiness center in Emporia, Va. The goal of the discussion was to give Kaine, who sits on the Armed Services Committee in the U.S. Senate, a chance to discuss the unique challenges Guard families face during deployments. “I just want to make sure that I’m acting with as much knowledge as I can have,” Kaine told the group. “The guardsmen and women in this commonwealth and their...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. — Proceeds from timber harvested at the Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center near Blackstone support Department of Defense Forestry and Natural Resource Programs, and 40 percent is given back to local county school systems. According to Brandon Martin, Fort Pickett-MTC forester, nearly $215,500 was divided up between Nottoway (57%), Dinwiddie (29%) and Brunswick (14%) Counties. “Timber harvesting is a core component of the Fort Pickett-MTC Forestry Program,” Martin said. “Harvesting allows for proper forest stand dynamics, leading to healthy and productive forested ecosystems and beneficial early successional wildlife habitat. Trees harvested at Fort Pickett-MTC are used to make a variety of wood products; from paper and paper products to dimensional framing lumber and fine furniture.” Martin said...

    Fort Pickett forestry program benefits local schools

    Posted on May 2, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. — Proceeds from timber harvested at the Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center near Blackstone support Department of Defense Forestry and Natural Resource Programs, and 40 percent is given back to local county school systems. According to Brandon Martin, Fort Pickett-MTC forester, nearly $215,500 was divided up between Nottoway (57%), Dinwiddie (29%) and Brunswick (14%) Counties. “Timber harvesting is a core component of the Fort Pickett-MTC Forestry Program,” Martin said. “Harvesting allows for proper forest stand dynamics, leading to healthy and productive forested ecosystems and beneficial early successional wildlife habitat. Trees harvested at Fort Pickett-MTC are used to make a variety of wood products; from paper and paper products to dimensional framing lumber and fine furniture.” Martin said...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. — Construction began April 15, 2013, on the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility at Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center near Blackstone. This $8.8 million construction project will create a five acre urban training environment with 17 buildings, roads, alleys, parking areas, parks, athletic fields and related infrastructure. “This is a great addition to the training venue inventory available at Fort Pickett,” said Col. Bill Korsen, Fort Pickett garrison commander. “These types of projects enhance or improve Fort Pickett’s ability to provide the training platforms to support unit readiness.” The new facility will be integrated with the existing Military Operations in Urban Terrain site. The project also includes a state of the art after action review center with...

    Construction begins on new Fort Pickett urban training site

    Posted on May 2, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. — Construction began April 15, 2013, on the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility at Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center near Blackstone. This $8.8 million construction project will create a five acre urban training environment with 17 buildings, roads, alleys, parking areas, parks, athletic fields and related infrastructure. “This is a great addition to the training venue inventory available at Fort Pickett,” said Col. Bill Korsen, Fort Pickett garrison commander. “These types of projects enhance or improve Fort Pickett’s ability to provide the training platforms to support unit readiness.” The new facility will be integrated with the existing Military Operations in Urban Terrain site. The project also includes a state of the art after action review center with...

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  • FORT HOOD, Texas — Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Bryan Rhode and Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visited Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group April 29-30, 2013, at Fort Hood, Texas. After receiving an update about the unit’s preparations for deployment, the senior leaders observed training and met with Soldiers at the dinner meal. Soldiers from the 1710th are conducting their final training and preparations for a yearlong federal mobilization to Afghanistan where they are scheduled to perform transportation support operations. The Soldiers mobilized for federal active April 1, 2013, and are scheduled to...

    Senior leaders visit 1710th Trans. Co. at Fort Hood

    Posted on May 2, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT HOOD, Texas — Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Bryan Rhode and Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visited Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group April 29-30, 2013, at Fort Hood, Texas. After receiving an update about the unit’s preparations for deployment, the senior leaders observed training and met with Soldiers at the dinner meal. Soldiers from the 1710th are conducting their final training and preparations for a yearlong federal mobilization to Afghanistan where they are scheduled to perform transportation support operations. The Soldiers mobilized for federal active April 1, 2013, and are scheduled to...

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  • STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford Civil War Park opened to the public Saturday, April 27, 2013, with an official ceremony that included speeches by state and local officials, historical lectures, living history displays, and more than 1,300 locals and Civil War enthusiasts there to enjoy the new 41-acre park. Soldiers and Airmen of the Virginia National Guard were recognized for their significant contributions to the construction of the park. Built on the site of Union Army of the Potomac encampments, fortifications and roads from the winter of 1862-63, the site had long been forgotten to all but local relic hunters until retired Air Force Col. Glenn A. Trimmer and the Friends of Stafford County Civil War Sites got involved. “He...

    Stafford Civil War Park opens with help from Virginia Guard

    Posted on April 30, 2013 | No Comments
    STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford Civil War Park opened to the public Saturday, April 27, 2013, with an official ceremony that included speeches by state and local officials, historical lectures, living history displays, and more than 1,300 locals and Civil War enthusiasts there to enjoy the new 41-acre park. Soldiers and Airmen of the Virginia National Guard were recognized for their significant contributions to the construction of the park. Built on the site of Union Army of the Potomac encampments, fortifications and roads from the winter of 1862-63, the site had long been forgotten to all but local relic hunters until retired Air Force Col. Glenn A. Trimmer and the Friends of Stafford County Civil War Sites got involved. “He...

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  • WASHINGTON – During an official ceremony at Fort McNair April 25, the National War College dedicated one of its classrooms to an alumnus and former Virginia National Guardsman killed in Iraq in 2007. Col. Paul M. Kelly, a 2004 graduate of the National War College, died in a helicopter crash in Baghdad on Jan. 20, 2007. Commissioned in 1982 through the University of Dayton (Ohio) Army ROTC, he served as an engineer officer in the Ohio National Guard and later as an aviation officer in the South Carolina National Guard and National Guard Bureau before taking command of the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, Virginia National Guard, an assignment that included a tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina as the Aviation Task...

    National War College dedicates classroom to Virginia Guardsman

    Posted on April 29, 2013 | No Comments
    WASHINGTON – During an official ceremony at Fort McNair April 25, the National War College dedicated one of its classrooms to an alumnus and former Virginia National Guardsman killed in Iraq in 2007. Col. Paul M. Kelly, a 2004 graduate of the National War College, died in a helicopter crash in Baghdad on Jan. 20, 2007. Commissioned in 1982 through the University of Dayton (Ohio) Army ROTC, he served as an engineer officer in the Ohio National Guard and later as an aviation officer in the South Carolina National Guard and National Guard Bureau before taking command of the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, Virginia National Guard, an assignment that included a tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina as the Aviation Task...

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  • CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — More than 30 members of the Virginia National Guard community gathered for Earth Day activities April 23, 2013, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The two teams of volunteers from the Virginia Guard Environmental Office, Community Based Warrior Transition Unit, Virginia Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe, Virginia Tech Conservation Management Institute, 203rd RED HORSE Squadron and Camp Pendleton headquarters filled 75 bags of trash and installed more than 700 linear feet of fence to protect the sand dunes in one day. “This was the inaugural Earth Day event at Camp Pendleton,” said Maj. Jaycee Shaver, an environmental officer with the Virginia Army National Guard. “It was a great success and next year we hope to expand and get more...

    Earth Day brings Va. Guard volunteers out to clean up, protect Camp Pendleton environment

    Posted on April 27, 2013 | No Comments
    CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — More than 30 members of the Virginia National Guard community gathered for Earth Day activities April 23, 2013, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The two teams of volunteers from the Virginia Guard Environmental Office, Community Based Warrior Transition Unit, Virginia Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe, Virginia Tech Conservation Management Institute, 203rd RED HORSE Squadron and Camp Pendleton headquarters filled 75 bags of trash and installed more than 700 linear feet of fence to protect the sand dunes in one day. “This was the inaugural Earth Day event at Camp Pendleton,” said Maj. Jaycee Shaver, an environmental officer with the Virginia Army National Guard. “It was a great success and next year we hope to expand and get more...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. – The warrant officer candidates enrolled in Class 13-001 of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute’s Warrant Officer Candidate School, started Phase II of the program April 19, 2013, at Fort Pickett. The nine candidates remaining by the end of the weekend, down from 10 at the start, came primarily from the Virginia Army National Guard, with one candidate, from the U.S. Army Reserve, traveling from North Carolina to attend the course. This first weekend of Phase II is the first of five drill weekends that make up the second phase of WOCS, all of which will take place at the RTI. The requirements for the second phase of WOCS are outlined by the U.S. Army’s Warrant...

    The Making of a Warrant: WOCs begin Phase II at Virginia’s RTI

    Posted on April 25, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. – The warrant officer candidates enrolled in Class 13-001 of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute’s Warrant Officer Candidate School, started Phase II of the program April 19, 2013, at Fort Pickett. The nine candidates remaining by the end of the weekend, down from 10 at the start, came primarily from the Virginia Army National Guard, with one candidate, from the U.S. Army Reserve, traveling from North Carolina to attend the course. This first weekend of Phase II is the first of five drill weekends that make up the second phase of WOCS, all of which will take place at the RTI. The requirements for the second phase of WOCS are outlined by the U.S. Army’s Warrant...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. — Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, recognized the Headquarters Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, as the top company-level unit in the Virginia Army National Guard during the Virginia National Guard Officer’s Association Conference held April 20, 2013, in Richmond. He also presented the Virginia Excellence in Training Award, National Guard Bureau Superior Unit Award and Pershing Trophy to recognize other top-performing company level units. Long also announced that two Virginia National Guard battalions have been recognized as the best in the nation by the National Guard Association and the Association of the United States Army. The Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team...

    Virginia National Guard recognizes top units

    Posted on April 25, 2013 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. — Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, recognized the Headquarters Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, as the top company-level unit in the Virginia Army National Guard during the Virginia National Guard Officer’s Association Conference held April 20, 2013, in Richmond. He also presented the Virginia Excellence in Training Award, National Guard Bureau Superior Unit Award and Pershing Trophy to recognize other top-performing company level units. Long also announced that two Virginia National Guard battalions have been recognized as the best in the nation by the National Guard Association and the Association of the United States Army. The Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 180 Virginia Army and Air Guard personnel from a special response force of the Virginia National Guard will conduct an external evaluation exercise April 27, 2013, hosted by the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center in Virginia Beach. The exercise will validate response capabilities and improve operations for the response force. FOR THE NEWS MEDIA: Members of the news media are invited to attend training and preparations for the evaluation on Friday, April 26, 2013, at 11 a.m. Reporters and photographers should check in at the Virginia National Guard readiness center at 1096 South Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach no later than 10:45 for an information briefing and transport to the training location. Please DO...

    Virginia National Guard special response force to conduct external evaluation in Virginia Beach

    Posted on April 25, 2013 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 180 Virginia Army and Air Guard personnel from a special response force of the Virginia National Guard will conduct an external evaluation exercise April 27, 2013, hosted by the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center in Virginia Beach. The exercise will validate response capabilities and improve operations for the response force. FOR THE NEWS MEDIA: Members of the news media are invited to attend training and preparations for the evaluation on Friday, April 26, 2013, at 11 a.m. Reporters and photographers should check in at the Virginia National Guard readiness center at 1096 South Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach no later than 10:45 for an information briefing and transport to the training location. Please DO...

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  • SANDSTON, Va. — Brig. Gen. William R. Phillips, II, has been selected to succeed Brig. Gen. William J. O’Neil as deputy commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, and Col. Blake C. Ortner has been named to succeed Phillips as the Virginia National Guard land component commander, according to an announcement made April 24, 2013, by Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. O’Neil will retire effective July 1, 2013, after 27 years of service. “Brig. Gen. Phillips will bring a wealth of experience to his new assignment as the deputy commanding general of the 29th Infantry Division,” Long said. “His recent superb performance as the Virginia Army National Guard’s land component commander is...

    Phillips named 29th ID deputy commander, Ortner new Va. Army Guard commander

    Posted on April 24, 2013 | No Comments
    SANDSTON, Va. — Brig. Gen. William R. Phillips, II, has been selected to succeed Brig. Gen. William J. O’Neil as deputy commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, and Col. Blake C. Ortner has been named to succeed Phillips as the Virginia National Guard land component commander, according to an announcement made April 24, 2013, by Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. O’Neil will retire effective July 1, 2013, after 27 years of service. “Brig. Gen. Phillips will bring a wealth of experience to his new assignment as the deputy commanding general of the 29th Infantry Division,” Long said. “His recent superb performance as the Virginia Army National Guard’s land component commander is...

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  • RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Bryan Rhode and Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, the Adjutant General of Virginia, were among those who recognized and honored Virginia National Guard volunteers at the 2013 Virginia National Guard State Volunteer Recognition Workshop & Youth Symposium April 20, 2013, in Richmond. This year’s Volunteer Recognition Conference was the largest since its inception in August 2008, according to Vickie Sais, the Virginia National Guard Family Programs director. More than 100 people attended this year’s event where 72 adult and youth volunteers received awards in recognition of their support of family programs over the past year, including family readiness groups, youth camps, and various other...

    Va. Guard honors volunteers at 2013 Volunteer Recognition Workshop

    Posted on April 23, 2013 | No Comments
    RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Bryan Rhode and Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, the Adjutant General of Virginia, were among those who recognized and honored Virginia National Guard volunteers at the 2013 Virginia National Guard State Volunteer Recognition Workshop & Youth Symposium April 20, 2013, in Richmond. This year’s Volunteer Recognition Conference was the largest since its inception in August 2008, according to Vickie Sais, the Virginia National Guard Family Programs director. More than 100 people attended this year’s event where 72 adult and youth volunteers received awards in recognition of their support of family programs over the past year, including family readiness groups, youth camps, and various other...

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  • FORT A. P. HIll, Va. — Soldiers from the Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command conducted new equipment training on the Dry Support Bridge system at Fort A. P. Hill April 19, 2013. During the two-week certification course taught by representatives from WFEL, the bridge manufacturer, Soldiers spent time in the classroom as well as in the field to learn how to set up and take down the bridge. At the same time, unit mechanics conduct training on how to maintain the new equipment. The new bridge takes less personnel and less time to set up than the previous system, and the company also has a float bridge system in their inventory. A total of...

    189th Engineers field new bridge system

    Posted on April 22, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT A. P. HIll, Va. — Soldiers from the Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command conducted new equipment training on the Dry Support Bridge system at Fort A. P. Hill April 19, 2013. During the two-week certification course taught by representatives from WFEL, the bridge manufacturer, Soldiers spent time in the classroom as well as in the field to learn how to set up and take down the bridge. At the same time, unit mechanics conduct training on how to maintain the new equipment. The new bridge takes less personnel and less time to set up than the previous system, and the company also has a float bridge system in their inventory. A total of...

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  • FORT PICKETT, Va. — Members of the Sandston-based Detachment 2, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 135 Aviation Regiment conducted wildfire suppression training and certification in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season during their drill weekend April 12-14, 2013, at Fort Pickett. “From an aviation standpoint, this type of DSCA (Defense Support to Civil Authorities) training is the most rewarding experience mission we have,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shane Leipertz, standardization and unit instructor pilot. “It is a true example of the National Guard’s role. We work closely with the Department of Forestry to be a part of the firefighting mission. It’s great when we get to use our equipment to help the citizens of Virginia.” During this training, two pilots...

    Virginia aviators train to prepare for the wildfire season

    Posted on April 19, 2013 | No Comments
    FORT PICKETT, Va. — Members of the Sandston-based Detachment 2, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 135 Aviation Regiment conducted wildfire suppression training and certification in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season during their drill weekend April 12-14, 2013, at Fort Pickett. “From an aviation standpoint, this type of DSCA (Defense Support to Civil Authorities) training is the most rewarding experience mission we have,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shane Leipertz, standardization and unit instructor pilot. “It is a true example of the National Guard’s role. We work closely with the Department of Forestry to be a part of the firefighting mission. It’s great when we get to use our equipment to help the citizens of Virginia.” During this training, two pilots...

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