The Virginia National Guard’s Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will mobilize for federal active duty in late Fall 2021 according to an announcement made Aug. 30, 2021, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Approximately 330 Soldiers will deploy to the Central Command area of operations in the Middle East to provide personnel and site protection using the Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar System, or C-RAM.

The C-RAM was developed to protect people and installations from attack by enemy rockets, artillery and mortar fire. C-RAM capable units intercept and destroy those threats mid-flight. The C-RAM is several sub-systems working together to identify, track, engage and destroy incoming rockets, artillery and mortar threats.

Williams said the Virginia National Guard is on pace to mobilize the most Soldiers and Airmen since 2007, and the 29th Infantry Division will mobilize the most Soldiers since World War II with troops deploying from units in Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky.