Virginia National Guard

From ambulances to artillery: one NCO’s pursuit of military & medical dreams
April 15, 2024 — As a young adult, Sgt. Stella Escano knew she wanted to attend medical school. She also knew she wanted to eventually serve in the military, but wanted to get her education locked in first. Growing up in and around Norfolk, Virginia, an area with a dense military presence, Escano was quite familiar with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, but neither of those options felt like the right choice for her. So, she went online and did some research... MORE

Sgt. Stella Escano takes a written exam alongside her fellow competitors at the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Best Warrior Competition held Jan. 5-7, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. (Courtesy photo)

VNG NCO reflects on being a female in the field artillery
March 25, 2024 — Part of Staff Sgt. Felicia Taylor’s motivation for joining the Virginia Army National Guard was to prove what she was capable of. Her father didn’t think she could make it through Basic Combat Training, or BCT, and she felt certain he was wrong. Then she looked into the benefits of military service and realized she could serve part-time in the National Guard while still working toward her college and career goals... MORE

Field artillery NCO reflects on quick-paced military journey
February 6, 2024 — For Sgt. Christopher Brown, the best part about serving in the field artillery is the camaraderie he’s found there. He serves in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Hanover, Virginia, as a 13B Cannon Crewmember. He’s been in the military for about half a decade, but has already experienced a handful of schools and both an overseas and stateside deployment... MORE

A Soldier poses in front of a field artillery sign.

116th Infantry Regiment holds 55th Annual Muster on Veterans Day
November 29, 2023 — Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered to honor the unit’s history and enjoy an evening of camaraderie at the 55th annual 116th Infantry Regiment Muster Nov. 11, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Congressman Ben Cline and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, both delivered remarks and Col. Jared Lake, commander of the 116th IBCT, provided an update on the brigade’s activities over the last year. ... MORE

Field artillery officer talks mentorship, unity for Pride Month
June 9, 2023 — Over the course of nearly a decade and a half serving in the Virginia Army National Guard, 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Martin gained four military occupational specialties as an enlisted Soldier before commissioning as a field artillery officer. As an African American woman and a member of the LGBTQ community, she is unique among her peers, which is exactly why she chose to branch field artillery in the first place... MORE

Ring takes command of VNG as Adjutant General of Virginia
June 8, 2023 — Brig. Gen. James W. Ring took command of the Virginia National Guard as the Adjutant General of Virginia from Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams and was promoted to major general during a ceremony June 3, 2023, at the VNG Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Thunder Soldiers honored for federal service
March 2, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, received the Governor’s National Service Medal Feb. 25, 2023, in Hanover, Hampton and Norfolk, Virginia, to recognize their recent federal service in Iraq... MORE

Governor commends VNG, families after year busy with mobilizations
December 7, 2022 — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and the First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin hosted a reception for Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families Dec. 4, 2022, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, to recognize the families of those personnel who are currently on federal active duty deployments. ... MORE

1-111th Field Artillery officially ends mission in Iraq
November 16, 2022 — Virginia and Ohio National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conducted a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 12, 2022, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to officially end their short-range air defense mission for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve... MORE

Virginia National Guard installation, brigade and battalion command selections announced
September 28, 2022 — The Adjutant General of Virginia announced officers who have been selected for command in the Virginia National Guard at the instillation, brigade and battalion level... MORE

VNG’s first Filipino battery commander continues family military legacy
May 26, 2022 — Capt. Samuel Ignacio is the first Filipino American to serve as a battery commander in the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He started his career in 2005 as an enlisted Soldier, serving for seven years as a 42A Human Resources Specialist before earning his commission. ... MORE

Virginia artillery battalion takes responsibility for air defense mission in Iraq
March 16, 2022 — The VNG's Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took responsibility for the U.S. Central Command Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar Intercept Land-based Phalanx Weapon System mission during a transfer of authority ceremony March 13, 2022, at Al Udeid Air Force Base in Doha, Qatar... MORE

$20K bonus available for field artillery enlistments
February 8, 2022 — As 2022 began, the Virginia Army National Guard put extra emphasis into recruiting 13B Cannon Crewmembers offering a $20,000 sign-on bonus for those who enlist for six years. Currently, the hefty $20,000 bonus is only available for the 13B military occupational specialty, or MOS... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team fire a ceremonial 19-gun salute with M119A3 105mm howitzers at the inauguration of Dr. Ralph Northam as the 73rd Governor of Virginia Jan. 13, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Bryan Myhr)

Field Artillery officer continues family legacy of Army service
February 1, 2022 — In Capt. Adrian Fonville’s family, military service is tradition. Both his grandfathers served, as did his mother, father and stepfather. His is an all-Army family. Today, Fonville serves as the rear detachment commander for 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and despite his family’s affinity for military service, he didn’t join the Virginia National Guard until he was in his mid-20s. For Fonville, it was all about timing... MORE

VNG supports the Inauguration of the 74th Governor of Virginia
January 26, 2022 — More than 200 Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force personnel were on duty Jan. 15, 2022, in Richmond, Virginia, supporting the inauguration of Glenn Youngkin as the 74th Governor of Virginia... MORE

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