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 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. The 29th ID 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.

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.

The 29th Infantry Division exercises training and readiness oversight over the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Florida and Alabama, the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Kentucky and Virginia, 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.

The Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division Headquarters returned to the United States in March 2022 after a 9-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility as the headquarters of Task Force Spartan, which exercises command and control of Operation Spartan Shield. Task Force Spartan is a unique, multi-component, total Army organization, made up of active Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve support units and is led by a National Guard division headquarters on a rotational basis. 

In its role as Task Force Spartan, the 29th ID commanded two brigades and four battalion-level task forces. Units supporting Operation Spartan Shield provide capabilities such as aviation, logistics, force protection and information management. They also facilitated theater security cooperation activities such as key leader engagements, joint exercises, conferences, symposia, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response planning. Read more about the 29th’s mobilization at https://go.usa.gov/xzw3F. 

Visit the 29th Infantry Division on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/29thID/


2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment
 
The Virginia National Guard's Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, mobilized as Task Force Pegasus, officially ended its mission in Kosovo during a transfer of authority ceremony Oct. 11, 2022, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

During Task Force Pegasus’ rotation, over 1,700 flight hours and 275 aerial missions were completed, five multinational multi-ship flights, and 14 MedEvac missions, two of which required the use of a hoist and countless hours of training. Read more about Task Force Pegasus at https://ngpa.us/22186. 

More 2-224th news: https://ngpa.us/23176 

29th Division Band

The 29th ID Band received the Superior Unit Award for training excellence during Training Year 2019. 

More 29th Division Band news: https://ngpa.us/23177

29th ID News

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted an exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan focusing on noncommissioned officer and junior officer development Feb. 17-21, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense‘s State Partnership program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG conducts officer and NCO development exchange in Tajikistan
Feb. 25, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted an exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan focusing on noncommissioned officer and junior officer development Feb. 17-21, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
A Virginia National Guard assists with commodity distribution Feb. 18. 2025, in Southwest Virginia. he VNG conducted 17 missions Feb. 14-18 in Southwest Virginia, distributing more than 1,735 cases of water and nearly 1,170 cases of food, assisting with the evacuation of 94 civilians and 27 pets and conducting nearly 160 welfare checks. Soldiers also cleared 15 trees and other debris.
VNG continues support to Southwest Virginia, stages for possible snow response
Feb. 19, 2025
The Virginia National Guard has approximately 25 Soldiers on duty supporting response operations Feb. 19, 2025, in Southwest Virginia and has about 65 Soldiers and Airmen staged in Bowling Green, Sandston, Lynchburg, Emporia, Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct route reconnaissance training Feb. 8, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The training tested the proficiency level of the platoons, explained Capt. Ian A. Kilpatrick, troop commander. The training was designed to push the platoons, testing Soldier stamina and identify any weaknesses that may occur out in the field, so they are better prepared for future missions.
Saber Soldiers conduct route reconnaissance training
Feb. 17, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted route reconnaissance training Feb. 8, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepare for possible winter storm response operations Feb. 10, 2025, in Warrenton, Virginia. Approximately 50 VNG Soldiers are staged and ready at VNG facilities along the I-95 and Route 29 corridors as well as the Southwest Virginia area in order to support the response. Members of the Virginia Defense Force provided administrative and logistics support for the Soldiers in Warrenton and at other staging locations.
VNG Soldiers staged, ready for winter weather response
Feb. 11, 2025
Approximately 65 Virginia National Guard Soldiers are staged and ready Feb. 11, 2025, at VNG facilities along the I-95 and Route 29 corridors as well as the Southwest Virginia area in order to support the response to winter weather which is expected to impact Virginia.
Col. Arthur S. Moore will succeed Col. Jared D. Lake as the commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team according to an announcement made Jan. 23, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Lake’s next assignment as Joint Force Headquarters - Virginia chief of the joint staff was announced Feb. 10. Both assignments are effective July 1.
Moore to succeed Lake as 116th IBCT commander
Jan. 27, 2025
Col. Arthur S. Moore will succeed Col. Jared D. Lake as the commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team according to an announcement made Jan. 23, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.

The Shield Newsletter

29th ID Organization

Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division
https://www.facebook.com/29thID/
https://twitter.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 C, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment
  • Chesterfield-based Detachment 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment
  • Sandston-based Detachment 2, Bravo Company, 248th Aviation Support Battalion
  • Chesterfield-based Detachment 1, Company C, 2-245th Aviation Regiment 
Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team