RICHMOND, Va. –
The Virginia National Guard will celebrate the official return of the 29th Division Artillery at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Virginia War Memorial, located at 621 S. Belvidere Street in Richmond, Virginia.
The ceremony will mark the return of the historic unit more than 20 years after it was deactivated.
The 29th Division Artillery, or DIVARTY, is a brigade-level headquarters with the capability to plan and control the fires assets of an infantry division. As a subordinate command of the Virginia Army National Guard, it will be aligned with three field artillery battalions from Virginia, Florida and Georgia for training. The headquarters will be based in Bowling Green, Virginia, with an authorized strength of more than 200 Soldiers.
The 29th DIVARTY was deactivated in 2005 due to Army-wide force structure changes, but evolving operational requirements have brought it back to the force.
“The new 29th DIVARTY will continue the proud lineage of its namesake from World War II that provided artillery for the 29th Infantry Division from the beaches of Normandy to Victory in Europe Day,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Fair, executive officer for the 29th DIVARTY.
Recruitment for the new unit is already underway. Earlier this year, Pvt. Tariq Rahaman became the first Soldier to enlist into the newly reactivated unit during a ceremony at Defense Supply Center Richmond. More information about Rahaman and his enlistment can be found here: https://vngpao.info/2p98t74j.