A Virginia National Guard soldier wounded in an accidental blast at Fort Pickett is in stable condition at VCU Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery, a spokesman said yesterday. Thirteen soldiers taken to Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg on Wednesday night were treated and released and have returned to duty, said Maj. Cotton Puryear.

Virginia statements on the shootings at Fort Hood:
“I am truly saddened to hear of the tragic shooting at Fort Hood, home to thousands of our nation’s active-duty military and their families. My heart goes out to the military community at Fort Hood and the families of the victims. Until we learn the full scope of the events, I will continue to monitor the situation closely.“

A Russian heavy-lift military cargo plane crashed on takeoff Sunday in Siberia, killing all 11 crew members on board, officials said.

Despite court prodding and changes in state election laws, 16 Virginia localities have failed to meet a deadline to allow absentee ballots of military personnel serving overseas to be counted on time. Nancy Rodriques, secretary of the State Board of Elections, said she did not know how many ballots will not be counted. The local election districts include the cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights and Williamsburg as well as Caroline County.

Congressional investigators say the Army made critical mistakes in tests of a new body armor design. They’re recommending an independent review of the results before the gear is issued to troops in combat.

Crews were searching the Atlantic Ocean early Friday for an F-16 fighter pilot off the coast of South Carolina after two jets collided during night training exercises.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran is stronger than ever and warned that its military will “cut the hand” of anyone who attacks. But a military parade where he spoke was marred when an air force plane crashed, killing seven people, according to state radio.

Money spent on early-childhood education today can help protect America’s national security tomorrow, former military leaders said yesterday at a news conference in Richmond. About 70 percent of the nation’s military-age young people cannot enlist in the armed forces because of inadequate education, criminal records or physical problems.

The Chesterfield County School Board voted unanimously last night to collect data on students who are children of active-duty military personnel and federally employed parents. The information will be used to apply for annual grants expected to bring up to $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid program. The program pays school districts for students who are children of active-duty personnel and parents living in Chesterfield and employed on any federal property in Virginia.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday ceremonially signed more than a dozen bills designed to assist Virginia’s military families and veterans. Legislation passed during the 2009 General Assembly session provides uniform treatment and expedited record-sharing in education for military children who transfer between school districts and states. Virginia has the most school-age children—76,352—of active military personnel in the nation.

Grilling hot dogs and hamburgers over open flames is a rite of summer. But for about 70 people, a cookout yesterday in Goochland County was about more than good food and fellowship. Members of the Blue Star Families of Richmond gathered at Benedictine Abbey on River Road for the group’s annual picnic—just one way they provide support for families of active-duty military personnel.

The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a challenge to the Pentagon policy forbidding gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, granting an Obama administration request to maintain the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” directive.

The organizers of Innsbrook After Hours will keep the Memorial Day spirit chugging into the week. For tomorrow’s co-headlining show of Little Feat and Tea Leaf Green, all military personnel and those who work as first responders will be admitted to the concert for free. “It seems the proper thing to do,“ said Laurin Willis, one of the promoters of the Innsbrook series. “In this post-9/11 world, these are the people who have been the heroes the past seven years.“

When Air Force Tech. Sgt. Phillip Andrew Myers was attending Hopewell High School, his class song was “Lean on Me.“ “I believe this is what Phillip always said,“ classmate Alton Jamison said yesterday in the school’s auditorium. “You can lean on me.“ More than 180 people—family and strangers, uniformed and not—gathered in the school to remember Myers, an explosive ordnance disposal technician killed April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was 30.

The Little Feat-Tea Leaf Green show at Innsbrook on Wednesday will reward first responders and members of the military.  All police, firefighters, EMTs and military will be given free admission to the concert by showing their official identification at the gate.  The double bill begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are still available for $12.50 (general admission) and $30 (gold circle seating.