Virginia National Guard

Ortner selected as the Military Executive for the Reserve Forces Policy Board
March 23, 2018 — Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner has been selected to serve as the Military Executive for the Reserve Forces Policy Board in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, according to an announcement made March 21, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The position is effective April 1, 2018... MORE

Red Dragons conduct individual, squad-level training at Pickett during March drill
March 5, 2018 — Approximately 800 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted training on individual skills and squad-level tactics March 2-4, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

29th ID Soldier is jumping for gold
March 1, 2018 — As the world focused its attention on the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, one Virginia Army National Guard Soldier was setting her sights a little further, to the summer games in 2020... MORE

29th ID receives Army Meritorious Unit Commendation for 2016-2017 deployment
February 21, 2018 — Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division received the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation for its 2016-2017 deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve, Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner, the 29th ID commander, announced to a formation of 29th ID Soldiers Jan. 14, 2018, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia... MORE

Treasure trove of historic flags found in Virginia War Museum
February 21, 2018 — Thanks to a sharp-eyed employee at the Virginia War Museum in Newport News, Virginia, another treasure trove of historic flags has been found. While conducting an inventory of a seldom-used storage compartment at the museum, the museum worker quickly realized that the contents of the cabinet contained the World War I Regimental flags for the 111th Field Artillery Regiment and the 116th Infantry Regiments of the 29th Division... MORE

Gravely named as new Fort Pickett garrison commander, Scott to serve as 29th ID chief of staff
December 13, 2017 — Lt. Col. Paul Gravely will succeed Col. Preston Scott, Jr., as the Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett garrison commander, according to an announcement made Dec. 13, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Gravely currently serves as the Fort Pickett director of plans, training and security, and Jan. 7, 2018, is his effective date for command. Scott will succeed Col. Kerry Dull as the chief of staff of the 29th Infantry Division... MORE

29th Infantry Division Soldiers honored by Maryland, Virginia for overseas service
December 12, 2017 — Maryland and Virginia National Guard leadership each honored members of the 29th Infantry Division for their recent overseas deployment during ceremonies Dec. 2-3, 2017, in Maryland and Virginia. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, as well as Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, thanked the Soldiers and families of the 29th ID for their dedication, service and sacrifices over the past year at a holiday reception Dec. 2, 2017, at the Virginia Governor’s Mansion in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

29th ID Headquarters Battalion changes command at Fort Belvoir
November 7, 2017 — Lt. Col. Edward Lewis assumed command of Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division from Lt. Col. H. Cary Payne during a traditional change of command ceremony Nov. 4, 2017, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner, commanding general of the 29th Infantry Division, presided over the passing of colors that symbolizes the transfer of command from Payne to Lewis... MORE

Va. National Guard officially opens Roanoke Regional Readiness Center
August 4, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard formally opened the new Roanoke Regional Readiness Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 4, 2017, in Troutville, Virginia. Virginia 6th District Congressman Bob Goodlatte and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, joined other Virginia National Guard senior leaders and members of the Facilities Management Office in cutting the ribbon. The 29th Division Band is first unit to relocate to the new facility... MORE

29th ID Soldiers return from federal duty in Kuwait
July 25, 2017 — FORT BELVOIR, Va. — One of the final groups of Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division returned to Virginia July 25, 2017, after serving on federal active duty since November 2016. The Soldiers served in the Middle East in support of Task Force Spartan Shield as the first intermediate division headquarters under U.S. Army Central Command. Senior leaders from state government and the Maryland and Virginia National Guard greeted Soldiers when they arrived at Dulles Airport, then the Soldiers reunited with family, friends and fellow Soldiers in Maryland and Virginia. A small number of Soldiers remain at their demobilization station in Texas to finalize their transition from federal active duty to traditional Guard status... MORE

One of the final groups of Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division returns to Virginia July 25, 2017, after serving on federal active duty since November 2016.

First groups of 29th ID Soldiers return from federal duty in Kuwait
July 10, 2017 — The first groups of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division returned to Virginia July 10, 2017, after serving on federal active duty since November 2016. The Soldiers served in the Middle East in support of Task Force Spartan Shield as the first intermediate division headquarters under U.S. Army Central Command... MORE

More than 100 29th ID Soldiers return to USA from federal duty in Jordan
July 9, 2017 — More than 100 Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division returned stateside July 9, 2017, after serving on federal active duty in Jordan since September 2016. The Soldiers arrived at their demobilization station in Texas where they will spend approximately seven to 10 days for reintegration training, medical evaluation and administrative tasks to transition from federal active duty to traditional National Guard status... MORE

29th Infantry Division to transfer mission to 35th Infantry Division
July 7, 2017 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The 29th Infantry Division will hand over control of Operation Spartan Shield to the 35th Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony July 13, 2017, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The two divisions have been paired together several times throughout their storied histories. Both units celebrate their 100th anniversaries this year, and the TOA ceremony will mark another historic milestone where the two divisions have crossed paths... MORE

29th Division Band performs at ceremony honoring Medal of Honor recipient
June 24, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard’s 29th Division Band provided music June 24, 2017, in Madison, Virginia, for a ceremony dedicating a new historical highway marker honoring a U.S. Army corporal awarded the Medal of Honor for “extraordinary heroism” during a U.S. cavalry fight with Apache Indians on Jan. 24, 1877, in the Florida Mountains of New Mexico... MORE

D-Day service and sacrifice honored at events across the globe
June 8, 2017 — On the 73rd anniversary of D-Day, Soldiers, citizens and leaders took part in ceremonial events June 3-6, 2017, in Virginia, France and the U.S. Army Central Command area of operations to honor the World War II veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy along with those who gave their lives in support of the Allied invasion... MORE

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