Virginia National Guard

10/21/2026

WANTED: Your creativity!

The Virginia National Guard’s Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce is currently accepting entries in collaboration with the National Guard Bureau’s 2026 Sexual Harassment\Assault Response and Prevention Program, or SHARP, Poster Contest through Nov. 25, 2026.

For instructions on how to submit and what to include, visit https://vngpao.info/5dkyvezn.

The contest is open to junior enlisted personnel, company-grade officers, Army civilians and dependents of active duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers, with winners selected from each category. Posters should be prevention-focused, supporting SHARP and IPPW principles and highlighting positive behaviors, protective factors and proactive prevention.

Winning entries will be submitted to the NGB-level contest, with overall winners announced in February 2027. Winning posters will be displayed at VNG facilities including readiness centers, barracks and other high-visibility locations and will remain posted for one year.

10/19/2026

Virginia National Guard senior leaders send off Virginia and Maryland National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division as they depart for their federal mobilization Oct. 18, 2026, in Sandston, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Maj. Gen. Joseph Dinonno, former 29th ID commander were among the senior leaders wishing the Soldiers good luck on their deployment. The 29th ID will conduct pre-deployment training before supporting Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

10/16/2026

CW5 Douglas Harris, the Virginia National Guard’s Command Chief Warrant Officer, catches up with three members of the Old Dominion Cohort working at the national level: CW4 Delores Grimes, CW3 Clint Snider and CW2 Craig Schmid.

Interested in becoming a Virginia National Guard warrant officer? Start at https://vngpao.info/ODCohort.

10/15/2026

“Command Sgt. Maj. Dickenson and I are proud of our Soldiers’ response and their willingness to meet the challenge,” said Lt. Col. Eric Johnson, commander of the RRB. “We appreciate senior leaders and supporting staff for their continued prioritization of recruiting and retention.”

The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion exceeded its National Guard Bureau goal for the second year in a row.

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

The Virginia Army National Guard’s Old Dominion Warrant Officer Cohort held its inaugural warrant officer professional development event in Virginia Beach, bringing together about 40 Army and Air warrant officers for professional development, networking and a celebration of the Warrant Officer Corps birthday. Supported by CW5 Douglas Harris, the VaARNG Command Chief Warrant Officer, and CW5 Adam Crenshaw, assigned to the 91st Cyber Brigade, the event included a discussion led by CW4 Thomas Mooney, a targeting warrant officer assigned to the 29th Division Artillery.

10/09/2026

Congratulations to the Virginia National Guard team that finished 2nd in the 2026 Community Cup soccer tournament Oct. 3, 2026, at River City Sportsplex. The Community Cup is a day of family fun that includes a soccer tournament, food trucks, entertainment, kids zone, first responders’ vehicles and informational booths. This free event focuses on bringing together multicultural communities and Richmond region first responders. The VNG team finished the tournament with a 3-1-1 record. The team’s only loss was to Henrico Fire Department, which finished first overall.

10/08/2026

Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Chief Master Sergeant John F. Nye, the VNG Senior Enlisted Leader, and Del. Michael Feggans join Virginia Air National Guard and 192nd Wing senior leadership in welcoming home approximately 60 Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, 192nd Wing, Oct. 6, 2026, at the Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, following a six-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific Command. The 203rd RED HORSE provides a highly-mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency operations worldwide. See more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD6Z22

10/04/2026

Virginia and Maryland National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division begin their federal mobilization with a ceremony Oct. 3, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Christopher Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric J. Saxton, the 29th ID command team, cased the unit colors, which will be unfurled when they arrive in the U.S. Central Command Area of Operations in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Samulski and Brig. Gen. Andrew W. Collins, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, gave remarks to the unit’s Soldiers and loved ones, and the VNG’s Troutville-based 29th ID Band performed music for the ceremony.

Let's go!

10/02/2026

Longtime Virginia Guardsman Sgt. Travis Hafner was remembered during a memorial service earlier today in Fort Myer, Virginia, after passing away Sept. 20, 2026, after a brief illness. The entire Virginia National Guard mourns his loss and extends its solemn and sincere condolences to his family, loved ones and his Guard family.

At the VNG’s Joint Force Headquarters, an artifact on display pays tribute to Hafner and the sacrifices he made during his service to his state and his country. Read more at https://va.ng.mil/News/Article/4615136/headquarters-display-honors-late-vng-soldier/