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Ortner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander On … · 2014-10-09 · Ortner becomes 29th...

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Mark Your Calendars! Oct. 14: Ground breaking for new solar energy array The Virginia National Guard will host a ground breaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2014, for a new solar array that provides power and energy security to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute on Fort Pickett, Va. The new $2.2 million, 488 kilowatt solar array will be a 100 square yard solar field consisting of nearly 2,000 individual solar panels, which will provide the RTI with nearly 80% of its daytime energy needs. This field is estimated to produce 712,000 kilowatt hour per year and will be installed adjacent to the RTI campus. The Commonwealth’s Guardian Visit http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/ for the latest news about the Virginia National Guard Col. Walter L. Mercer was promoted to brigadier general in a ceremony hosted by Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Oct. 5, 2014, at Fort Pickett, Va. With the promotion, Mercer takes command of the Virginia Army National Guard from Brig. Gen. Blake C. Ortner and will serve as the Assistant Adjutant General – Army. Ortner is now assigned as deputy commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division. Mercer most recently served as the training and operations officer for the 29th Infantry Division. “This promotion is really about all of you,” Mercer told the audience at the promotion ceremony. “I wouldn’t be here without the support, the service and the sacrifice, whether we were in uniform and served together or my neighbors and friends and church members. I wouldn’t be here today without all your help and support. Please know how much I appreciate that.” Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/06/6138/ Virginia National Guard News Headlines Virginia Guard participates in Capital Shield exercise Members of Virginia National Guard Joint Staff conducted a communications exercise Sept. 22, 2014, at the Joint Force Headquarters in Sandston, Va., in conjunction with Capital Shield 2015, an emergency preparedness exercise hosted by Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region from Sept. 22-24. Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6105/ 116th BSTB Shadow UAS detachment conducts first flight in Virginia Soldiers assigned to the Bowling Green-based Detachment 1, Company B, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted their first flight of the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial system in Virginia Oct. 4, 2014, at Fort A. P. Hill, Va. Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/06/6135/ Employer of Va. Guard officer receives ESGR award David LaGassa, vice president and head of the Capital One Military Network, accepted an award for Capital One Sept. 26, 2014, during ESGR’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Arlington, Va. Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6100/ Virginia Guard OCS graduates seven new officers In a ceremony held Sept. 27, 2014, seven officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 57B earned their commissions at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6108/ On page 2: VDF welcomes new commander Ortner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander Issue #20, Volume 6 October 10, 2014 Virgil Mercer promotes his son Col. Walter L. Mercer to brigadier general in a ceremony held Oct. 5, 2014, at Fort Pickett, Va. Mercer promoted, takes command of Va. Army Guard
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Page 1: Ortner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander On … · 2014-10-09 · Ortner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander On page 2: VDF welcomes new commander Issue

Mark Your Calendars!

Oct. 14: Ground breaking for new solar energy array

The Virginia National Guard will host a ground breaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2014, for a new solar array that provides power and energy security to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute on Fort Pickett, Va.

The new $2.2 million, 488 kilowatt solar array will be a 100 square yard solar field consisting of nearly 2,000 individual solar panels, which will provide the RTI with nearly 80% of its daytime energy needs. This field is estimated to produce 712,000 kilowatt hour per year and will be installed adjacent to the RTI campus.

The Commonwealth’s Guardian

Visit http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/ for the latest news about the Virginia National Guard

Col. Walter L. Mercer was promoted to brigadier general in a ceremony hosted by Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Oct. 5, 2014, at Fort Pickett, Va. With the promotion, Mercer takes command of the Virginia Army National Guard from Brig. Gen. Blake C. Ortner and will serve as the Assistant Adjutant General – Army. Ortner is now assigned as deputy commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division.

Mercer most recently served as the training and operations officer for the 29th Infantry Division.

“This promotion is really about all of you,” Mercer told the audience at the promotion ceremony. “I wouldn’t be here without the support, the service and the sacrifice, whether we were in uniform and served together or my neighbors and friends and church members. I wouldn’t be here today without all your help and support. Please know how much I appreciate that.”

Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/06/6138/

Virginia National Guard News Headlines

Virginia Guard participates in Capital Shield exercise Members of Virginia National Guard Joint Staff conducted a communications

exercise Sept. 22, 2014, at the Joint Force Headquarters in Sandston, Va., in conjunction with Capital Shield 2015, an emergency preparedness exercise hosted by Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region from Sept. 22-24.

Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6105/

116th BSTB Shadow UAS detachment conducts first flight in Virginia Soldiers assigned to the Bowling Green-based Detachment 1, Company B,

116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted their first flight of the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial system in Virginia Oct. 4, 2014, at Fort A. P. Hill, Va.

Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/06/6135/

Employer of Va. Guard officer receives ESGR award David LaGassa, vice president and head of the Capital One Military Network,

accepted an award for Capital One Sept. 26, 2014, during ESGR’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Arlington, Va.

Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6100/

Virginia Guard OCS graduates seven new officers In a ceremony held Sept. 27, 2014, seven officer candidates enrolled in the

Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 57B earned their commissions at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute.

Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6108/

On page 2: VDF welcomes new commanderOrtner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander

Issue #20, Volume 6 October 10, 2014

Virgil Mercer promotes his son Col. Walter L. Mercer to brigadier general in a ceremony held Oct. 5, 2014, at Fort Pickett, Va.

Mercer promoted, takes command of Va. Army Guard

Page 2: Ortner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander On … · 2014-10-09 · Ortner becomes 29th Infantry Division deputy commander On page 2: VDF welcomes new commander Issue

Brig. Gen. (Va.) Justin P. Carlitti, Sr., took command of the Virginia Defense Force from Maj. Gen. (Va.) John Taylor in a ceremony Sept. 28, 2014, at Fort Pickett. Va. Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, conducted the exchange of unit colors that signified the transfer of command. Carlitti was promoted Sept. 27 and previously served as the chief of staff for the VDF. Taylor is retiring after leading the VDF for eight years and serving in the Virginia National Guard for more than 33 years.

“I appreciate each and every one of you for what you have done while I have been the commanding general,” Taylor told the members of the VDF gathered for the ceremony. He commended them for increasing the number of assigned missions they perform for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, as well as for the increased standards, professionalism, diversity and overall quality of the force.

“This month in the 30th anniversary of the Virginia Defense Force, and I feel very honored to be a member,” Carlitti said. “There is no truer calling than what these men and women here today do, and that is protecting and serving their fellow citizens of the commonwealth of Virginia. Be proud of yourselves and the history of service of those who proceeded you.”

Carlitti also stressed the importance of having the support of families and how the members of the VDF would not be able to do their jobs without that support.

Taylor served for more than 33 years in the Virginia National Guard and retired as a colonel. He took command of the VDF in August 2006. While serving as the commander of the Virginia Defense Force, he worked full time providing contract support at National Guard Bureau conducting strategic analysis and management studies on homeland security, consequence management, homeland defense, civil support operations and reserve component force integration and modernization.

“We wish Maj. Gen. Taylor the best in his retirement and thank him for his decades of service to Virginia and our nation,” Williams said. “During his time in command of the VDF, he brought much needed focus to the organization’s mission capabilities, promoted the volunteer spirit vital to the organization’s success and greatly increased the VDF’s role in DMA’s overall response plan.”

Carlitti, a native of Syracuse, N. Y, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N. Y., with a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship. Upon graduation in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He was designated as a communications officer upon completion of the Basic School and the Basic Communication Officers Course in Quantico, Va.

“Brig. Gen. Carlitti’s wealth of military and civilian experience make him the ideal candidate to lead the Virginia Defense Force and build on the dramatic improvements made to organization under Maj. Gen. Taylor,” Williams said. “He knows the organization well, and I am confident he will maintain the same high levels

of readiness and continue to make sure the VDF continues to be an integral part of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs response capabilities.”

The VDF is an all-volunteer force authorized by the Code of Virginia and organized under the Virginia Department of Military Affairs reporting to the Adjutant General of Virginia. The members of the VDF volunteer their time for training and are only paid when called to state active duty by an authorization from the Governor of Virginia. Members of the VDF bring a wealth of skills from their civilian careers with many members having military, law enforcement, fire service or telecommunications backgrounds.

Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/02/6154/

Page 2 The Commonwealth’s Guardian October 10, 2014

The Commonwealth’s Guardian newsletter is produced by the Virginia National Guard public affairs office on a bi-weekly basis. Please send any feedback or story ideas to the public affairs office staff at [email protected].

Va. Defense Force welcomes new commanding general

MORE ON THE WEB

116th IBCT takes part in remembrance of the Battle of Point Pleasant

http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/09/6162/Photos: 116th BSTB Soldiers focus on team training

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157648408431606/Photos: VDF test communication capabilities

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157647999331800/Photos: 2-183rd Cavalry fires mortars at Fort Pickett

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157648000528828/Photos: Danish Home Guard visits Va. Guard units, facilities

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157648392558312/Photos: Camp Pendleton hosts rescue squads competition

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157648008320216/Fort Pickett on Facebook:

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http://www.twitter.com/VaNationalGuardVirginia National Guard on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/VaNationalGuard

Brig. Gen. (Va.) Justin P. Carlitti, Sr., takes command of the Virginia Defense Force from Maj. Gen. (Va.) John Taylor in a ceremony Sept. 28, 2014, at Fort Pickett, Va.


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