29th Infantry Division

Known as the Blue and Gray Division, the 29th Infantry Division is an Army National Guard operational-level headquarters located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Its wartime mission is to provide mission command to subordinate brigades and forces tailored for an assigned mission. It is one of eight divisions in the Army National Guard.

Its origins date back to World War I and is most known for its participation in the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach in World War II.

In 2016 and 2017 the 29th ID mobilized Soldiers to participate in Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve, both in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

The Virginia Army National Guard's 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment and the 29th Infantry DIvision Band are aligned under the 29th.

Other units comprising the 29th Infantry Division include the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Florida and Alabama, the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team from North Carolina and West Virginia, the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade from Maryland and Virginia, the 226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Alabama, the 113th Sustainment Brigade from North Carolina and the 142nd Fires Brigade from Arkansas.

29th ID News

, Sgt. Cassandra Lyons, the supply sergeant for Alpha Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, poses in her office March 2, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Holden Russell)
229th BEB NCO felt destined for military service
March 5, 2021
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – As a kid, Sgt. Cassandra Lyons grew up playing with G.I Joes, so it wasn’t that surprising when she joined the Virginia National Guard her junior year of high school.   “I felt almost destined to be in the military,” she explained. “I had an interest in the comradery the organization provides.”
Spc. TreyVon Meekins, assigned to the Virginia National Guard's Bravo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
VNG Soldier supporting COVID fight says he joined to help community
Feb. 18, 2021
RICHMOND, Va. -- Growing up, Spc. TreyVon Meekins was an honor roll student, participated in extracurricular activities and was an active member of his church. He says faith always played an important role in his life and has shaped his personal values and commitment to service.   He found the National Guard a few years after high school. After caring for his ailing grandmother until her death in 2013, he worked in the civilian sector until making the decision to enlist in the Virginia Army National Guard.
Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine present thank you letters to Col. Chris Samulski, commander of the Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Feb. 8, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Governor Ralph Northam and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton joined Kaine and Warner in thanking VNG troops for supporting civilian law enforcement for the 59th Presidential Inauguration.
VNG completes mission in Washington, D.C.
Feb. 11, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The last group of Virginia National Guard personnel assisting civilian law enforcement with security operations at the 59th Presidential Inauguration and the days before and after the event departed Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2021.
29th Infantry Division patch
29th Infantry Division to deploy to Middle East in Spring 2021
Feb. 4, 2021
FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division has received a mobilization order for federal active duty in the Middle East, according to an announcement made Feb. 4, 2021, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. In Spring 2021, more than 500 Soldiers of the 29th will begin a 10-month long deployment in the Central Command Area of Operations as Task Force Spartan to provide leadership, command, control and in-depth staff analysis for Operation Spartan Shield. While based at Fort Belvoir, Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division live all throughout Virginia and Maryland.
Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Whaley, who is currently serving as the NCOIC for Task Force Dogwood, the Virginia National Guard team supporting the state’s COVID-19 response, was selected for the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy Fellowship Program and will spend two years as an instructor at the USASMA in Fort Bliss, Texas.
Virginia Guard SGM chosen for U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy Fellowship Program
Feb. 3, 2021
RICHMOND, Virginia - A Virginia Army National Guard sergeant major has been selected for the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy Fellowship Program and will spend two years as an instructor at the USASMA in Fort Bliss, Texas.

29th ID Organization

Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division
https://www.facebook.com/29thID/

Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division
https://www.facebook.com/HHBN29ID

  • Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters and Support Company
  • Fort Belvoir-based Operations Company
  • Cheltenham, Md.- based Signal Company (Maryland National Guard)
  • Laurel, Md.- Intelligence and Sustainment Company (Maryland National Guard)
  • Troutville-based 29th Division Band

Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
 https://www.facebook.com/2ndBattalion224thAviation/

  • Sandston-based Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
  • Sandston-based Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
  • Sandston-based Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
  • Sandston-based Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
  • Chesterfield-based Detachment 2, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment
  • Chesterfield-based Detachment 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment
  • Sandston-based Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion
  • Sandston-based Detachment 26, Operational Support Airlift Command
Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
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