1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment

01/28/2026

‼️ NOTICE: Page deactivation and photo archive transition ‼️

In accordance with Army Directive 2025-25, which streamlines and clarifies Army social media use for organizations, this page will no longer be updated or monitored.

Additionally, this page will be archived and become inaccessible on Feb. 28, 2026.

To preserve public access to historical imagery, the photo archive for 1-116th IBCT is being transferred to Flickr and will be available at the link below.

To keep up with the Virginia National Guard, follow our official page or visit our website at https://va.ng.mil

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11/20/2025

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, move through a scout selection assessment Nov. 15, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, as they compete for positions within the battalion's scout platoon. Candidates completed physical and technical tasks ranging from the Air Assault Obstacle Course and ruck march to weapons, communications and medical skill lanes during the multi-day evaluation.

11/17/2025

Lt. Col. Jonathan R. Cochran takes command of the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team from Lt. Col. Mark P. Ford during a ceremony Oct. 24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Col. Arthur S. Moore, 116th IBCT commander, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Ford to Cochran.

06/26/2025

Here is the 116th IBCT XCTC “Hero Video” shot by Henry Power and Jared Hollingsworth and edited by Henry Power. Read more about XCTC at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/24/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a platoon attack live fire training lane June 23, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/24/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct air movement operations during a field training exercise with the New Jersey National Guard’s 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment, and the Georgia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment June 21-22, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/24/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a field training exercise June 22, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/23/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct base defense operations June 18, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/23/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct air movement operations with the New Jersey National Guard’s 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment, and the Georgia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment June 18, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/20/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the battalion scout platoon in 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a squad live fire range June 17, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and the scouts are organization in the new battalion multipurpose company along with the mortar and assault platoons. The MPC provides ground and aerial reconnaissance, indirect fire support, launched effects, counter unmanned aerial systems and deception capabilities to fix and attrit enemy forces that allows for infantry companies to close with and destroy the enemy. The MBCT is being evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)

06/20/2025

Issue #12 of the 2025 Commonwealth's Guardian bi-weekly newsletter is available for download in PDF format at https://vngpao.info/VNGNews2025Issue12.

In this issue:

116th to field test new MBCT organization
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp

29th ID Soldiers participate in Normandy D-Day commemoration
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/28mdmpfr

VNG military installation renamed to honor World War II hero
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/2p8hkye7

DMA Employees recognized during appreciation luncheon
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/3e2hx7m4

Civic Leader Appreciation Day showcases VAARNG to educators
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/3ks63zbr

192nd Mission Support Group holds realignment ceremony
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/yyf5escm

VNG helps commemorate D-Day 81 in Bedford
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/2p9cms7v

VNG commemorates D-Day 81 in France, Bedford
~ Photo collection on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/yckj7aae

116th IBCT conducts XCTC rotation
~ Photo collection on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/2f68jay5

Sky’s the limit: 200th Combat Weather Flight
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/5n99ts7w

VNG flights crews, aircraft support Fort Lee DZ reopening
~ Photos on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/bdmjukym

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06/16/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a mortar live fire with 81mm mortar systems June 9, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.