![VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia– For many cadets in the Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, the 20-week residential portion of the program is an opportunity to pursue credit recovery and return to high school. For some, they spend their time preparing to take the GED exam at the end of the course. But for some cadets, two new programs offer […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/07/ChalleNGeTCC2-115x115.jpg "Partnerships with TCC, ABC offer ChalleNGe cadets new options upon graduation")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Onancock-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group constructed new training facilities and repaired current ones at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during their annual training June 8-22, 2019. The 23 Soldiers of the 576th were joined by 14 Soldiers from the […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/06/576thAT-115x115.jpg "576th Engineer Detachment constructs, repairs facilities at SMR during annual training")
![WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia — Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, honored dozens of VNG volunteers at the 2019 Virginia National Guard State Volunteer Recognition and Training Workshop June 9, 2019, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The annual two-day event recognizes and thanks volunteers for their efforts in support of family programs and includes training and […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/06/AJC_7098-115x115.jpg "Virginia National Guard honors volunteers at 2019 Volunteer Recognition & Training Workshop")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — Family members, friends, fellow Soldiers and Virginia National Guard senior leaders gathered to bid a formal farewell to the Soldiers of the Virginia Beach-based 1945th Contracting Team, 329th Regional Support Group, as they began federal active duty May 25, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. The ceremony included remarks from Maj. Gen. Timothy […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2009/05/1945thCT_1-115x115.jpg "1945th Contracting Team departs for overseas mission")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins, Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walter L. Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked DMA employees at a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 22, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. DMA […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/05/AJC_6444-115x115.jpg "Virginia DMA honors state employees")
![RICHMOND, Virginia — The Virginia National Guard Equal Employment Opportunity office hosted a Diversity and Unity Day April 24, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Assistant Adjutant General for Strategic Affairs, was the presiding officer at the event. Speakers included representatives from the Virginia […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/05/UnityDay1-115x115.jpg "VNG hosts Diversity and Unity Day")
![ATLANTIC, North Carolina — More than 50 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division traveled to Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic in Atlantic, North Carolina, to conduct aerial door gunnery from their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters April 4-7, 2019. “Aerial gunnery is the culminating training event for an aviation battalion,” […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/04/AerialGunnery_1-115x115.jpg "2-224th Aviation crews conduct aerial gunnery in N.C.")
![RICHMOND, Va. — April is the Month of the Military Child, a special month to recognize and pay tribute to military families and their children for the daily sacrifices and for their commitment, courage, and unconditional support of our Armed Forces. To show how much they are appreciated, the National Guard Youth Program is saluting the children of Soldiers and […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2005/12/Youth-Program-Logo-115x115.jpg "Personalized proclamations available for VNG youth in honor of Month of the Military Child"){kind=logo}
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach serves as a vital training installation, not just for the Virginia National Guard, but for personnel from all four branches of the military, both active duty and reserve, local and state first responders, and a variety of community organizations. Its prime location is just one reason for its popularity however. The […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2009/03/IMG_6683-115x115.jpg "State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach serves as vital training facility for local, state and federal organizations")
![FORT PICKETT, Va. — Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division took home top honors at the annual Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition Feb. 24, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Spc. Esther Alger of Front Royal was named Soldier of the Year and Sgt. 1st Class Paul Bosserman of Harrisonburg earned the title of NCO […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2009/02/BWC-18-winners-115x115.jpg "HHB, 29th ID troops take top honors at VNG Best Warrior Competition")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Twice a year the Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduates cadets from the five and a half month long residential portion of the program. But when the cadets take off their uniforms and return home, they don’t stop being cadets. Instead they transition to the 12-month, non-residential portion of the program. And just because […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2019/01/AJC_4038-115x115.jpg "Mentors provide valuable guidance to ChalleNGe cadets")
![FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs Safety and Occupational Health Office conducted its inaugural Trades Technician Training Course Nov. 8, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The day-long course, which was hosted in coordination with the DMA facilities, operations, maintenance and environmental sections, focused on hot topics in the safety and environmental arenas. “Safety is of the […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/wp-content/themes/arras.1.5.1.1/images/thumbnail.png "DMA hosts inaugural Trades Technician Training Course")
![FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade hosted more than a dozen civilian employers and provided not only a first-hand look at what their employees do in their military careers but also an opportunity to learn about the mission of the Army National Guard’s first cyber brigade during an Employer Support for […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/10/91st_Cyber_Bde_Boss_Lift-115x115.jpg "91st Cyber Brigade hosts ESGR Boss Lift at Fort A.P. Hill")
![HAMPTON, Va. — Lt. Col. Dennis M. Rohler, commander of the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Coleman, command sergeant major of the 529th CSSB, visited with Hampton Police Chief Terry Sult to thank him for his support of the Virginia Army National Guard during a meeting as part of the 529th CSSB Employer […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/10/529thCSSB2-115x115.jpg "529th CSSB Employer Appreciation Program brings unit leadership together with employers")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy transitioned 140 candidates to cadets during a ceremony Oct. 12, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “I want you all to think about what you’ve accomplished today,” Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, told the newly-minted cadets. “You’ve gone through acclimation, […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/10/ChalleNGe_Ceremony_2018_2-115x115.jpg "ChalleNGe Class 50 candidates transition to cadets during induction ceremony")
![Richmond, Va. — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs conducted its second Supervisor Course Sept. 18-20, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. The three-day course focused on teaching supervisors how to manage state staff, with an emphasis on state human resources and safety requirements, pay and benefits management, evaluations and discipline. It included practical training on […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/10/DMA-supervisor-course-SEP-2018-115x115.jpeg "DMA hosts second supervisors course at SMR")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 91 cadets from Class 49 during a ceremony Aug. 25, 2018, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Walt Mercer, chief operations officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, joined Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, in congratulating the cadets on finishing the […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/09/43458450325_8cc8fb4a91_z-115x115.jpg "Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 91 from Class 49")
![VIRGINIA BEACH– The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy welcomed back alumni at a 25th anniversary alumni reunion July 28, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. The event, which was conducted in coordination with family day for the current class, Class 49, provided alumni with the opportunity to meet with current staff and leadership, learn about the […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/08/Challenge-Reunion1-115x115.jpg "Commonwealth ChalleNGe welcomes back alumni for 25th anniversary reunion")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 80 children of Virginia National Guard members attended the 13th annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp July 23-27, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Youth Camp provides educational, emotional, social, and community support for the youth and families of the Virginia National Guard. Dependents of current National Guard […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/08/AJC_9292-115x115.jpg "Youth Programs hosts 13th annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp")
![VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walter L. Mercer, chief operations officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked DMA employees at two State Employee Recognition luncheons May 10, 2018, at Fort Pickett and May 23, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. “A lot […]](https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/files/2018/05/32560307_10156338027138560_7413769896913272832_o-115x115.jpg "Virginia Department of Military Affairs honors, recognizes state employees")
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- STARBASE staff provide STEM instruction to VNG Youth Camp, ChalleNGe cadets
- Paintball leads to enlistment to follow in father’s footsteps
- 192nd Wing change of command marks start of new era for VaANG
- 91st Cyber Brigade hosts Cyber Yankee ’19 using ShadowNet enterprise solution
- Norfolk armory named in honor of VNG D-Day combat medic
- 14th Annual Youth Summer Camp blasts off in Virginia Beach
- 116th IBCT more combat ready after XCTC rotation at Fort Pickett
- Recruit Sustainment Program produces greater success rate for newer recruits
- 1945th Contracting Team Soldiers recognized by Norfolk Naval Shipyard
- Virginia Defense Force Life Saving Medal presented at SMR
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