Virginia National Guard

29th Division Band supports Yorktown museum opening
April 3, 2017 — Soldiers of the 29th Division Band provided ceremonial detail for the dedication ceremony of the American Revolution Museum April 1, 2017, in Yorktown, Virginia. The Virginia National Guard Soldiers, along with Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, were on hand to celebrate the recently-opened museum. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and Col. Thierry Casanova, representing the embassy of France to the United States, were among the many distinguished guests at the historic event... MORE

Sec. Moran recognizes Va. Guard federal active duty service
March 29, 2017 — Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 29th Infantry Division March 19, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The medals recognized the Soldiers who served in specialized teams on federal active duty overseas. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, was also on hand to recognize the Soldiers and present his challenge coin to Soldiers for outstanding duty performance. Both Moran and Williams also thanked family members for their outstanding support during the deployment... MORE

Eyes on the Sky: 29th ID Soldiers enhance theatre capabilities
January 25, 2017 — Air Defense capabilities are constantly upgrading to stay ahead of emerging threats. Soldiers are trained on a variety of systems and equipment at the Air Defense schoolhouse, but for many this training will be their only experience with a majority of the systems, especially for Soldiers serving in Division-level units. When Soldiers with the 29th Infantry Division Air Missile Defense Team were granted a chance to implement their training on the latest radar systems here, members of the unit saw it as a chance for the unit’s Sentinel Radar team to embrace the rare opportunity and lead the way for divisions to follow as they participate in Operation Spartan Shield... MORE

29th Infantry Division begins mission in the Middle East
December 21, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division assumed command as U.S. Army Central’s intermediate division headquarters, Task Force Spartan, during a transfer of authority ceremony Dec. 19, 2016, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait... MORE

29th Infantry Division trains with First Army for upcoming deployment
December 5, 2016 — The 29th Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion completed a one-week Mission Rehearsal Exercise with First Army at Fort Hood, Texas, Dec. 2... MORE

29th Infantry Divison trains with First Army for upcoming deployment

29th ID Soldiers build tent structure for training exercise
November 13, 2016 — The art of war is complex, and involves thinking one step ahead of the adversary. That’s why deploying Soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division recently banded together to build a complex, self-sustaining, expeditionary platform, called the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter, commonly referred to as “DRASH,” as part of an upcoming certification exercise... MORE

29th Infantry Division departs for federal active duty
November 1, 2016 — Virginia and Maryland government officials and national and state military leaders joined family, friends and fellow Soldiers in sending off the 29th Infantry Division as they departed for federal active duty Oct. 30, 2016, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. More than 450 Virginia and Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th are mobilizing for duty in the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield, and this will be the largest number of troops they have led since World War II... MORE

Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division to mobilize on federal active duty
October 19, 2016 — More than 450 Virginia and Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division are mobilizing for federal active duty in the Middle East and will conduct a departure ceremony at 11 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2016, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The 29th ID is mobilizing to provide mission command for more than 18,000 United States Army Central/Third Army Soldiers supporting Operation Spartan Shield and theater security cooperation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. This will be the largest number of troops the 29th ID has led since World War II. If needed, the 29th ID would be prepared to conduct contingency operations and command forces to respond to any threats in the CENTCOM area of responsibility... MORE

29th Infantry Division Soldiers begin federal active duty
August 2, 2016 — Senior leaders from state government and the Maryland and Virginia National Guard joined family members, friends and fellow Soldiers in bidding farewell to approximately 80 Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division as they began federal active duty Aug. 1, 2016, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers will provide mission command in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve... MORE

29th ID leads multinational exercise, Saber Strike 16
July 11, 2016 — More than 20 Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division traveled to Europe to participate in Saber Strike 16 June 4-22, 2016, in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania... MORE

Brig. Gen. Blake C. Ortner, commanding general of the Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division and exercise director of Saber Strike 16, speaks with Lt. Gen. Raimonds Graube, the Latvian Chief of Defence, June 9, 2016, in Valka-Valga, a border town between Latvia and Estonia.

Epperly promoted to brigadier general during Fort Belvoir ceremony
March 7, 2016 — Col. John M. Epperly, Deputy Commanding General, Maneuver, of the Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division was promoted to brigadier general March 5, 2016, at the Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club... MORE

29th ID tested at Warfighter 16-2
November 26, 2015 — More than 400 Maryland and Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the 29th Infantry Division joined with National Guard and active duty Soldiers from around the country, as well as active duty and Air National Guard Airmen, for a nine-day warfighter exercise Nov. 13-22 at Camp Atterbury, Ind... MORE

Lt. Gen. Michael Tucker (left), First Army commanding general, speaks with Brig. Gen. Blake Ortner, commanding general of the Virginia Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division, during the Warfighter Exercise 16-2 Nov.18, 2015, at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

29th ID trains for Warfighter Exercise during annual training
August 12, 2015 — The 29th Infantry Division conducted final testing and integration of its computer systems and section operations July 11-24, 2015, at Fort Pickett, Va., in preparation for a warfighter exercise to be held at Camp Atterbury, Ind., later in the year. The November exercise, similar to a final exam, will test the full capabilities of the division and its ability to operate as a command headquarters... MORE

29th ID Soldiers support Operation Inherent Resolve
July 13, 2015 — Ten Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division are currently mobilized in Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S. Central Command efforts as members of Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, Syria. They are operating as an engineer team conducting construction project management and contracting efforts throughout the area of operations and as an administrative team supporting personnel actions for Army forces deployed to forward positions throughout the region... MORE

en Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division are currently mobilized in Southwest Asia providing engineer and administrative expertise in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S. Central Command efforts as members of Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, Syria.

29th ID, Va. Guard commemorate 71st anniversary of D-Day
June 16, 2015 — Senior leaders of the 29th Infantry Division and members of the 29th Division Band joined thousands of Americans, French and citizens of other Allied countries at ceremonies commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy at events June 6, 2015, in Bedford, Va., Yorktown, Va., and on the beaches of Normandy, France... MORE

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category