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 Mobile 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 Mobile 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 senior leaders and Soldiers participate in the 82nd D-Day Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony June 6, 2026, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, read the names of the World War II veterans present at the ceremony and placed a wreath at the memorial with Chief Master Sgt. John F. Nye, the VNG’s senior enlisted leader. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided ceremonial music for the event. The ceremony commemorated the 82nd anniversary of the allied landings in Normandy, France, during World War II, as well as the 25th anniversary of memorial’s opening.
VNG supports D-Day anniversary ceremony in Bedford
June 8, 2026
Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers participated in the 82nd D-Day Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony June 6, 2026, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. The event also marked the 25th anniversary of the memorial’s existence. 
Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team unload vehicles and equipment from railcars June 3, 2026, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The vehicles and equipment traveled from Virginia to Louisiana in support of a training rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk. The 116th MBCT is the first Army National Guard brigade to participate in a JRTC rotation as a mobile brigade combat team after formally transitioning from an infantry brigade combat team in 2025. JRTC provides U.S. military units and personnel with complex, realistic combat training, including joint and combined arms operations, force-on-force scenarios and live-fire exercises. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Clements)
116th MBCT arrives in Louisiana, begins JRTC rotation
June 5, 2026
The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team are testing their combat readiness during a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation May 31 - July 1, 2026, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. 
Virginia Natonal Guard Soldiers assigned to the Chesterfield-based Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 2-245th Aviation Regiment, conduct a departure ceremony and officially begin their federal active duty May 27, 2026, in Chesterfield, Virginia. Retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Lt. Col. Carolina Rohlfing, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, were on hand to bid the Soldiers farewell, thank them for their service and recognize the sacrifices of their families. The detachment operates and maintains a C-12 Huron, the VNG’s fixed wing capability, and is mobilizing to the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
Departure ceremony marks start of VNG fixed wing unit’s mobilization
June 4, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Chesterfield-based Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 2-245th Aviation Regiment, conducted a departure ceremony and officially began their federal active duty May 27, 2026, in Chesterfield, Virginia.
Virginia’s senior leaders honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 25, 2026, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Governor Abigail Spanberger and First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, and retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and his wife Cheryl Williams, placed memorial wreaths to honor the fallen. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, provided remarks to the crowd. Sgt. Emeana P. McDonald led the pledge of allegiance and the 29th Infantry Division Band Fife & Drum Group provided music for the ceremony. Members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to provide guest services and escort support. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Virginia remembers fallen at 2026 Commonwealth's Memorial Day Ceremony
June 3, 2026
Virginia’s senior leaders honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 25, 2026, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Governor Abigail Spanberger and First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, and retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and his wife Cheryl Williams, placed memorial wreaths to honor the fallen.
Spc. Javan Cooper, an 11B infantryman assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, conducts urban movement during the Region II Best Warrior Competition May 6, 2026, at Camp Dawson near Kingwood, West Virginia. The multi-day competition includes finalists from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia who will face a series of challenges, including multiple ruck marches, weapons proficiency tests, a written exam and essay, land navigation and an appearance board. The top competitors from the regional competition will represent the region at the national level later this year in Florida. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
Virginia Soldiers endure miles, mud, minimal sleep at Region II Best Warrior Competition
May 19, 2026
Rain, mud, exhaustion and unrelenting Appalachian terrain challenged Soldiers as they vied for the titles of Best Soldier and Best Noncommissioned Officer during the Region II Best Warrior Competition May 4-7, 2026, at Camp Dawson near Kingwood, West Virginia. Representing the Virginia Army National Guard were Spc. Javan Cooper, an infantryman assigned to the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, and Staff Sgt. Frederic Newton, a recruiter assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. 

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 Mobile Brigade Combat Team