Locked Shields 2025: W.Va. Guard hosts NATO’s largest live-fire cyber resilience exercise
May 23, 2025 — The West Virginia National Guard hosted Locked Shields 2025, NATO’s largest live-fire cyber defense exercise, drawing more than 90 participants from the U.S. military, allied nations, federal agencies, and major tech companies. Set against a simulated invasion scenario, teams faced nearly 10,000 cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure. West Virginia National Guard played a central role in planning and execution, highlighting its growing presence in national cybersecurity efforts and strengthening partnerships through hands-on collaboration and legal interoperability... MORE

W.Va. Guard Family Programs earns first-time “GO” on national certification
May 22, 2025 — This month the West Virginia National Guard Office of Family Programs underwent rigorous Army and Air Force Accreditation which, once achieved, certifies programs in accordance with the standards set by the National Guard Bureau for Family Readiness Programs across the nation for the next four years... MORE

group photos of Family Program staff and volunteers at various events

W.Va. Chaplain Corps strengthens unity and readiness during annual sustainment training
April 21, 2025 — The West Virginia National Guard’s Chaplain Corps convened for its 2025 Annual Chaplain Sustainment Training April 4-5, 2025, at the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The training brought together 28 chaplains and religious affairs specialists from West Virginia and Maryland for two days of instruction, collaboration and strategic planning... MORE

Crucial battle against hidden threats to U.S. infrastructure being fought by West Virginia Guard’s AITEC
April 21, 2025 — The West Virginia National Guard’s Army Interagency Training and Education Center Critical Infrastructure Protection Battalion stepped into the national spotlight by hosting its first-ever Critical Infrastructure Protection Workshop, April 8-9, 2025, at Camp Dawson, in Kingwood, West Virginia. The event brought together representatives from over 37 states and territories, numerous federal agencies, and all levels of the Department of Defense to address the escalating threats facing essential U.S. public utilities, resources, and cybersecurity systems our country now faces... MORE

Key leaders gather for Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise showcase, reinforcing value of West Virginia’s unique training platform
April 18, 2025 — The West Virginia National Guard, in partnership with the Department of Defense’s Irregular Warfare Center, hosted distinguished visitors during the Ridge Runner/Ridge Healer Irregular Warfare Exercise (IWX) at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia, on April 15, 2025. Participants were varied across the irregular warfare spectrum, all with an interest in Ridge Runner IWX, a special forces multi-domain exercise for both U.S. Forces, as well as Allied and Partner Nation forces, tailored to specific evolving threats and scenarios faced by modern special operations and conventional forces... MORE

Maj. Gen. Jim Seward Assumes Role as 37th Adjutant General of W.Va. Guard
April 3, 2025 — West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey presided over a formal Assumption of Command ceremony for Maj. Gen. James “Jim” Seward as he undertook the role and responsibilities of The Adjutant General for the West Virginia National Guard at McLaughlin Air National Guard base in Charleston, West Virginia, Apr. 2, 2025... MORE

Updates to West Virginia National Guard Social Media and Website Content
April 3, 2025 — In alignment with Department of Defense Instruction 5400.17 and recent executive orders issued by the president, the National Guard Bureau and West Virginia National Guard has reviewed and adjusted its social media content to ensure compliance with DOD policies and priorities... MORE

In alignment with Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 5400.17, “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes,” and recent Executive Orders issued by the President, the West Virginia National Guard has reviewed and adjusted its website and social media content to ensure compliance with DoD policies and priorities. As a result, certain posts, pages and content has been archived and removed or modified in accordance with federal guidance.

West Virginia National Guard reflects on flood response efforts
March 28, 2025 — Following devastating flooding across numerous counties in the southern part of West Virginia, Soldiers and Airmen with the West Virginia National Guard were activated by Gov. Patrick Morrisey alongside his state of emergency proclamation made on Feb. 15, 2025... MORE

Image Gallery

Gold Star Families keep names alive during annual West Virginia weekend retreat

Cadets with the Mountaineer Challenge Academy spend the morning putting together a boot display for the Gold Star families on September 27, 2024 at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia, as a part of the annual Gold Star Families Retreat hosted by the West Virginia National Guard. Since its first congressional designation in 1936, the last Sunday in September has been recognized as “Gold Star Mother’s Day” and in 2012 was declared “Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day”. The West Virginia National Guard hosts Gold Star families from West Virginia and Pennsylvania annually at Camp Dawson for three days of fellowship and remembrance. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lorie Hayes)

PHOTO BY: Sgt. 1st Class Ariana Shuemake

VIRIN: 240927-Z-A3556-1005.JPG

FULL SIZE: 2.18 MB

Additional Details

CAMERA

iPhone 13

LENS

iPhone 13 back dual wide camera 5.1mm f/1.6

APERTURE

16/10

SHUTTERSPEED

1/60

ISO

250

IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.

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Video by Sgt. Cheryl Madolev, Staff Sgt. Mickey Miller, Sgt. Davis Rohrer

WVNG Best Warrior Competition 2024 Video

153rd Public Affairs Detachment

March 19, 2024 | 4:11

Soldiers and Airmen from the West Virginia and District of Columbia National Guard compete in the West Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition held April 19-21, 2024, at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia. Best Warrior is an annual event where participants compete in a series of warrior training tasks including weapons proficiency on the M4 rifle, 9mm pistol, land navigation, physical fitness, combat first aid, tactical movements, communications, and professional development activities. Photos by 153rd Public Affairs Det., WVARNG