Bravo Battery 1st 111th FA "Steel Rain"

11/21/2022

Following a highly successful C-RAM mission overseas, Bravo Battery was awarded the United States Special Operations Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Military Operations in Hostile Conditions.

Bravo Battery begins demobilization this week. Please join us in welcoming Bravo Battery back to the United States!

-Steel Rain-

05/01/2022

Thank you so much to the FRG team and all the families at home who continue to support us and keep us strong! We are in this together.

- STEEL RAIN-

05/01/2022

‘They truly are citizen-soldiers.’ The National Guard’s Norfolk-based Bravo Battery traces its roots to 1828

- STEEL RAIN -

This modern-day artillery unit traces its lineage to the Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, formed in 1828. Washington’s birthday was the immediate, and deliberate, occasion of their founding.

02/16/2022

Following a highly successful mission validation exercise on the C-RAM system, the Brimstone Family had the honor of promoting well deserving Soldiers.

Please join us in congratulating these newly promoted Soldiers:

SGT Vandeventer
SGT Crosswhite
SPC Hanson
SPC Hawkins

-Steel Rain-

01/27/2022

Congratulations to Spc Rojas on his promotion. Well deserved promotion, Spc Rojas has adapted quickly and efficiently to the C-RAm mission.

-Steel Rain-

01/20/2022

Brimstone needs people willing to answer the call of being a citizen soldier. Are you ready to join our team?

-Steel Rain-

01/20/2022

We wanted to recognize some soldiers for their outstanding prefromance by promoting them.

SPC Cameron
SPC Frimpong
PFC Hanson
SPC Sears

They worked hard to stand out in these moments as we train up to move out on deployment.

-Steel Rain-

01/16/2022

Photos from Virginia National Guard's post

01/15/2022

VNG Soldiers rehearse for 19-gun salute at Governor Inauguration

Nothing like the smell of explosives early in the morning.

-Steel Rain-

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team rehearse a b...

01/15/2022

Service Announcement for families of Brimstone Soldiers. At any time if you have a family emergency don't hesitate to reach out via a Red Cross Message.

-Steel Rain-

01/15/2022

Here are some Brimstone Soldiers conducting hands on training with the C-RAM LPWS. They are motivated and eager to learn this new skillset and take on is mission.

-Steel Rain-

01/09/2022

Shout out to Spc Knutsen, Thunder Battalion took the time to recognize her for having one of the high grades point averages in the initial few weeks of this C-RAM training.

Brinestone is striving towards excellence and resilience in this new field.

-Steel Rain-

01/09/2022

Leading from the front.

-Steel Rain-

01/08/2022

Brinestone will always be ready to support and defend.

-Steel Rain-

01/04/2022

Brinestone is hard at work learning new skillsets, performing practical exercises and understanding the theory of our deployment mission. It's a change from Field Artillery but we are resilient and adaptive to new challenges. We will be ready to protect and defend.

-Steel Rain-

01/03/2022

PFC Hawkins is a great addition to the Brimstone Family.

-Steel Rain-

Meet PFC Preston Hawkins, in this week’s Soldier Spotlight! PFC Hawkins joined HHB earlier this year as a 68W, Combat Medic, but is currently assigned to Norfolk-based Bravo Battery 1st 111th FA "Steel Rain" for this year’s mobilization to the Middle East.

PFC Hawkins was born and raised in Orange County, VA where he is now a volunteer firefighter and EMT. PFC Hawkins joined the Virginia National Guard after meeting one of the former Senior Leaders in the Thunder Battalion at his firehouse. In addition to volunteering during his free time, he enjoys working out and meeting new people.

PFC Hawkins is excited to learn more about artillery on this mobilization. “Learning about the other jobs in the Battallion makes me a better medic, because I know what the other Soldier do.”

12/24/2021

From the Bravo Family to yours, Happy Holidays.

Our moral is high as we enter the holiday season. We are doing our best to find ways to celebrate and relax. Humbled by being away from our families, Bravo is still grateful to serve our nation and protect our freedoms we hold so dear.

12/22/2021

What a glorious day for Brimstone. We conducted an in depth Counter Drone Course and had some VIPs from Virginia National Guard come show their support for our mission.

12/21/2021

Today we had a visit from our Battalion Commander LTC Bailey. He stopped in and spoke to the Battery and Honored CPT Anna with a AAM for his critical leadership on a Covid Mission for the State.

Congratulations Cpt Anna

-Steel Rain-

12/17/2021

During middle of of training at Ft Bliss we paused to promote 4 soldiers today.

Congratulations to
SPC Fuster
SPC Horton, S
SPC Mcintosh
CPL Vandeventer

-Steel Rain-

12/13/2021

One Team, One Family, One Fight.

We leave together and we will come home together.

Best Battery

-Steel Rain-

12/13/2021

Photos from 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th IBCT's post

12/13/2021

Bravo had three more NCOs join our ranks. Sgt Hall, Sgt McDaniel, Sgt Toure.

-Steel Rain-

12/12/2021

1-111th FA Best Battery for 2021 goes to Bravo!

Steel Rain!

12/12/2021

Bravo Brings home the streamer.

BEST BATTERY!

Thanks to all members of this proud unit to make this happen.

Thanks to our fellow Batteries that push us in healthy competition.

Thanks to Thunder Battalion for bestowing this honor upon us.

-Steel Rain!-

12/11/2021

This past week has been a blurr with pre mobilization training. This is the the first time since 1942, Bravo Battery enters Federal Active Duty to serve in OCONUS Combat Operations.

12/10/2021

Photos from Virginia National Guard's post

12/10/2021

Rest Easy Brother. We have this watch from here.

11/30/2021

Thanks! Fox Co 429th for getting those machines ready to assist Thunder BN during our Pre Mobilization AT.

Looking forward to the training we have ahead of us on our "Road To War".

-Steel Rain-

11/28/2021

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
-G.K. Chesterton

11/25/2021

Fellow Soldier from Alpha Battery opening our Yellow Ribbon for Thunder Battalion.

11/21/2021

Here in Brimstone Battery we are true team players.

With the multiple mobilizations across the VAANG we are proud to give a Farewell to 7 soldiers going forward to support Red Dragon in their mission.

There is a tradition as a Citizen Soldier to answer the call of our nation in a moments notice. We honor these 7 Soldiers by presenting them with a Brimstone Coin. We wish them well and pray for their safety.

As we follow suit and mobilize for our own mission we will continue to support all of the Brimestone Family.

Always Forward

-Steel Rain!-

11/21/2021

Taking time to promote two soldiers. They are true assets to Brimstone. Congratulations to SFC Benson and SPC Escano.

-Steel Rain!-

11/13/2021

Photos from Virginia National Guard's post

11/13/2021

Photos from Task Force Red Dragon's post

01/30/2021

Photos from 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th IBCT's post

01/16/2021

The 16th Sergeant Major of the Army visited Thunder Battalion Soldiers and was very impressed with our dedication, professionalism, and motivation. Keep up the Fires!! Thunder 6