Thousands Of Military Personnel From Installations In Jen Kiggans’ District Were Deployed To Support The War Effort

Thousands Of Military Personnel From The Hampton And Norfolk Areas Were Deployed To Support The War In Iran

Virginian-Pilot Headline: “Virginia National Guard Units, Norfolk-Based Sailors, Pilots From Virginia Beach, Langley Supporting Iran War” [Virginian-Pilot, 3/20/26]

Virginian-Pilot: Thousands Of Sailors, Virginia National Guard Troops, Military Police, Fighter Pilots And Ground Troops From The Hampton And Norfolk Areas Were Deployed To Support The War On Iran. “Virginia National Guard troops, including engineers based in Powhatan County, military police from a Hanover County unit and F-22 fighter pilots and ground crews based at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, are deployed in support of the war on Iran. They are there along with thousands of sailors from the Norfolk-based carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, as well as the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Mahan, USS Bainbridge, USS Mitscher and USS McFaul and pilots and crews from Virginia Beach-based Carrier Wing 8. Virginia’s National Guard members are deployed at several sites in the Middle East, Major General James W. Ring, Adjutant General of the Virginia National Guard, told the House of Delegates Public Safety Committee. ‘They are all safe and doing well,’ he said. ‘We monitor them on a daily basis with the overall combat command there in CENTCOM. We also are in touch with them through secure communication, as well as their family members.’” [Virginian-Pilot, 3/20/26]

13 News Now Headline: “Hampton Roads Braces For The Impact Of Iran Attacks To Reach Home” [13 News Now, 3/1/26]

13 News Now Political Analyst Leslie Caughell: “I’m Sure We Have A Lot Of Families In Hampton Roads Who Are Not Sleeping Very Easily Tonight And Probably Haven’t Been For The Past Couple Weeks.” “13NewsNow political analyst Leslie Caughell said she believes that the United States has a clear goal with the strikes against Iran. ‘We are talking about regime change, and the president has been very clear that that is one of the pillars of what we are talking about here,’ Caughell said. ‘Even if we achieve our stated goals of regime change, you will imagine that this is something that will require a lot more American military involvement.’ With Hampton Roads being home to large Air Force, Army, and Navy installations — including the world's largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk — a prolonged conflict would mean many local service members would be away from families and deployed overseas. ‘I’m sure we have a lot of families in Hampton Roads who are not sleeping very easily tonight and probably haven’t been for the past couple weeks,’ Caughell said.” [13 News Now, 3/1/26]

13 News Now: With Hampton Roads Being Home To Large Air Force, Army, And Navy Installations — Including The World’s Largest Naval Base, Naval Station Norfolk — A Prolonged Conflict Would Mean Many Local Service Members Would Be Away From Families And Deployed Overseas.” “13NewsNow political analyst Leslie Caughell said she believes that the United States has a clear goal with the strikes against Iran. ‘We are talking about regime change, and the president has been very clear that that is one of the pillars of what we are talking about here,’ Caughell said. ‘Even if we achieve our stated goals of regime change, you will imagine that this is something that will require a lot more American military involvement.’ With Hampton Roads being home to large Air Force, Army, and Navy installations — including the world's largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk — a prolonged conflict would mean many local service members would be away from families and deployed overseas. ‘I’m sure we have a lot of families in Hampton Roads who are not sleeping very easily tonight and probably haven’t been for the past couple weeks,’ Caughell said.” [13 News Now, 3/1/26]

WHRO: Many Of The Troops In The Middle East Supporting The War On Iran Had Ties To Hampton Roads And Virginia. “Many of the troops in the region have ties to Hampton Roads and Virginia. Since last year, the Virginia National Guard 229th Military Police Company has taken command of a customs inspection mission, based at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The unit has 150 members currently mobilized, according to Mike Vrabel, spokesman for the Virginia National Guard. The Virginia Air National Guard works closely with the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Fort Eustis. There are 11 F-22 fighters from the airwing working out of Ovda Airbase, Israel. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the Virginia Air National Guard was one of several guard units operating in the region. Vrabel said Virginia would not provide further details on how many were deployed.” [WHRO, 3/2/26]

Norfolk-Based Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Was Joined By Four Norfolk-Based Destroyers, The USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, USS McFaul, And USS Mitscher. “USS Ford Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of southern Israel, near the port of Haifa. USS Ford left Norfolk in June. It was at the center of the U.S. operation in the Caribbean that included the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro. According to families of sailors on the carrier, they were scheduled to come home in March, before being abruptly shifted from the Caribbean back to the eastern Mediterranean. The carrier has had problems with the sewage system. Along with the carrier, there are four Norfolk-based destroyers in the region, which took part in the strikes — USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, USS McFaul and USS Mitscher. Trump said Monday that the strikes could go on for four to five weeks and that more U.S. forces are headed to the region. He has predicted the United States will see more deaths as the bombing campaign continues in Iran.” [WHRO, 3/2/26]

WHRO Headline: “Families Of Airmen, Sailors Brace For Long Deployments After Pentagon Reports Six Troops Died In Operation Against Iran” [WHRO, 3/2/26]

March 2026: Virginia Sen. Mark Warner Met In Norfolk And Virginia Beach With Families Who Had Sailors In The Middle East, Including On The USS Gerald R. Ford. “Sen. Mark Warner stopped in Norfolk and Virginia Beach over the weekend, where he heard behind closed doors from families who have sailors in the Middle East, including on USS Gerald R. Ford, as the U.S. continues operations against Iran. President Donald Trump has not provided a clear rationale for striking Iran, Warner said. ‘He says he respects our military if he doesn't make that explanation clear,’ he said. ‘And you think of all the families here in Hampton Roads who are worried about their loved ones, this is not an option. He has to do that.’ Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate plan to press for a vote on a war powers resolution this week. U.S. Central Command said six U.S. troops were killed in the region over the weekend. The Pentagon has not released details, including who was killed and where the strike happened. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that a fortified tactical operations center was struck. ‘In moments like that, as we remember them, and we take care of them and take care of their families, only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we do this properly,’ Hegseth said.” [WHRO, 3/2/26]