JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- March's Voices of the VaANG is Senior Airman Britney Phillips, 192nd Intelligence Squadron all source intelligence analyst. She shares her story about joining the Guard, her recognition at the 192nd Awards Ceremony, and her drive for excellence.
Q: What brought you to the Virginia Air National Guard?
A: I’ve always wanted to be in the military, and I honestly didn’t know that the Air National Guard existed. My intention was to potentially join the Army National Guard, but then I saw a sign that said, “Air Force National Guard.” I went in and told the recruiters I was ready to take my ASVAB and get started. The recruiters asked me if I wanted to take the practice exam and I told them If I take the practice exam, I may not join. The test was so long, especially with me being a little bit older - I joined at 33.
Q: Are you in the VaANG full-time?
A: Yes, I do this full-time. I started right before the pandemic. The 192nd was very eager for people who were really ready to go at that time.
Q: Recently, you received multiple awards at the 192nd Annual Awards Ceremony. Can you talk a little bit about that?
A: I won the Quarterly Award, the Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reserve Component, at the Air Force level, and Guardsman of the Year for the VaANG. It wasn’t anything I planned on because who says, “Hey can you give me something for what I do?”. It took doing the things I’m supposed to, and I have to give a lot of respect to my supervisors who accurately recorded what I did.
Q: How did it feel to be recognized?
A: Honestly, it was kind of surreal. As a person who joined “older”, I put a lot of pressure on myself because I want to feel like I belong here. So, if someone gives me the opportunity to work a mission, I want to do it successfully. The fact that it had that much of an impact shocked me. I know it was significant, especially to be awarded at the Air Force level. It’s also an experience that makes you think, because you have this spotlight and you are representing other people. So as a person of color, as a woman, and as a person that is older, I represent all of those things.
Q: What are your goals going forward in your Guard career?
A: I think overall it’s to make sure that whatever I choose to do, I am effective. I want to make sure I do it in excellence, and that could look like many things. I don’t want to put myself in a box, and I look forward to taking everything seriously and doing my best.
Q: Anything to add?
A: I think I’m just happy that I get a chance to inspire others along with inspiring my children. I serve with my son who is a submariner in the Navy. I’m really proud of him and I always tell him - I tell both of my kids - I’ll never tell you to do something that I won’t do. So the pressure is on, we’re doing it together.