Top Va. Guard personnel and units recognized - April 26, 2014

Virginia Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Adam K. Thiel presents certificates of recognition signed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to representatives from the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard during the 40th Annual Virginia National Guard Enlisted Association Conference banquet held April 26, 2014, in Virginia Beach. Units earning the state-level Pershing Award marksmanship award, Virginia Excellence in Training Awards and National Guard Bureau Superior Unit Awards were also recognized.

In addition to honoring the top Army Guard units, the Virginia Air National Guard's Airmen of the Year, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year were recognized along with the Virginia Army Guard's Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Virginia Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John Newby gave opening remarks, and Chief Master Sergeant Mitchell O. Brush, the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau, was they keynote speaker. Cadets from the Virginia Beach-based Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy provided the color guard.

The certificates from the Governor recognized the Gate City-based Headquarters Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, earning the Eisenhower Trophy as the top company-level unit in the Virginia Army National Guard and the Emporia-based 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group earning the Adjutant General's Cup. The Leesburg-based Company C, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was recognized for marksmanship excellence with the state-level Pershing Award for the highest marksmanship scores in the Virginia Army National Guard in annual qualification with assigned individual weapons.

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