Virginia National Guard > News - Category 29th Infantry Division

VNG pilot pops surprise proposal at JMU game
November 13, 2019 — HARRISONBURG, Va. – By the time he started walking toward the James Madison University football field, 2015 alum 1st Lt. Blake Place was already having a pretty great day. He and his fellow Soldiers, all assigned to Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, helped kick off the Nov. 9, 2019, football game with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flyover. Now, it was almost time to propose to Andrea Dargie, his girlfriend of two years. Place wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but his fellow pilots helped him out as they wound their way through the stadium toward the field. They were tailed by a cluster of family members and friends, including Dargie, who had no idea what was coming...

29th ID Band’s efforts rewarded with ASUA
November 12, 2019 — ROANOKE, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band received the Army Superior Unit Award streamer from Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, VNG Assistant Adjutant General-Army, during a ceremony Nov. 9, 2019, before the Virginia Veterans Parade in Roanoke, Virginia...

Warfighter 20-1 tests 29th ID combat readiness
October 16, 2019 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – More than 450 National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division from Virginia and Maryland, as well as Soldiers from seven other states came together to participate in a Warfighter exercise Sept. 25-Oct. 11, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania...

ESGR Boss Lift held for employers of 2-224th Aviation
October 2, 2019 — SANDSTON, Va. — More than 25 employers of Virginia National Guard Soldiers were able to experience the environments their employees work in first-hand during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Boss Lift. The event was hosted by Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division Sept. 7, 2019, near the Richmond International Airport and had employers flying through the skies of Richmond in UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and checking out the vehicles, equipment, meals and spaces where their Soldiers work...

Virginia National Guard staged, ready for possible response to Hurricane Dorian
September 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 60 Soldiers and 20 vehicles for state emergency support duty Sept. 5, 2019, in the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads areas, and they are ready to assist local and state emergency agencies respond to potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian. The Soldiers are staged with Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks for high water transportation and also have chain saws for debris reduction. The VNG also has two rotary wing aviation rescue hoist crews on standby...

Command post exercise prepares 29ID staff for Warfighter
July 3, 2019 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – More than 600 National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division from Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, South Carolina and Tennessee came together to participate in a command post exercise June 18-30, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania...

29th ID remembers D-Day, 75 years later
June 13, 2019 — FORT BELVOIR, Va. – A group of 25 National Guard Soldiers from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Kentucky assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based, 29th Infantry Division joined more than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the WWII Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day...

Bedford ceremonies mark 75th anniversary of D-Day
June 7, 2019 — BEDFORD, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen greeted World War II veterans and acted as military escorts during a roll call honoring their service at the observation of the 75th anniversary of D-Day June 6, 2019, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band performed ceremonial music, and members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to assist local law enforcement with traffic flow, parking and pre-security checks before the event...

Top Virginia National Guard units recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 29, 2019 — NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard and the 192nd Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard for high levels of readiness at the third annual Virginia Military Ball April 27, 2019, in Newport News, Virginia...

Roche takes command of 29th ID Headquarters Battalion
April 7, 2019 — FORT BELVOIR, Virginia – Lt. Col. John R. Roche assumed command of the Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division from Lt. Col. Edward W. Lewis during a change of command ceremony April 7, 2019, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Maj. Gen. John M. Epperly, commanding general of the 29th, presided over the traditional exchanging of the unit colors that represented the change of command from Lewis to Roche...

HHB, 29th ID troops take top honors at VNG Best Warrior Competition
February 26, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division took home top honors at the annual Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition Feb. 24, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Spc. Esther Alger of Front Royal was named Soldier of the Year and Sgt. 1st Class Paul Bosserman of Harrisonburg earned the title of NCO of the Year after three mentally and physically grueling days of competition against Soldiers and NCOs from six different VNG major subordinate commands...

Virginia’s Newest Ranger recognized at Washington Capitals Game
February 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Just a few days before graduating from his initial training to become an infantryman, Virginia National Guard Soldier Pfc. Gavin Asbury was offered the chance to go to Ranger School. He’d tried to show initiative during his training, had scored high on his physical fitness assessments and exceeded the standard during his training at Fort Benning. His drill sergeants noticed his success and recommended he, along with a handful of his peers, take their training to the next level and try for a spot at Ranger School...

29th ID Soldiers gain valuable experience at Warfighter exercise
November 5, 2018 — Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division prepared for future missions at a “Warfighter” exercise Sept. 28 – Oct. 12, 2018, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana...

Ferris selected as new 29th Infantry Division command sergeant major
October 26, 2018 — Command Sgt. Maj. Alan M. Ferris has been selected to serve as the new 29th Infantry Division command sergeant major, according to an announcement made Oct. 26, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Ferris succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith, Jr. who now serves as the Virginia Army National Guard command sergeant major. Ferris has served as the Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leader since Dec. 1, 2014, in a traditional Guard status, and his effective date of assignment in the new position will be Dec. 1, 2018...

Rhodes selected as 29th Infantry Division deputy commanding general
October 26, 2018 — Brig. Gen. John M. Rhodes of the Mississippi Army National Guard has been selected to serve as the 29th Infantry Division deputy commanding general for operations, according to an announcement made Oct. 26, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Rhodes succeeds Maj. Gen. John M. Epperly who served as the DCG prior to taking command of the division, and his effective date in the position was Sept. 12, 2018...

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category