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Additional information on the 29th Infantry Division: Soldiers from
29th Infantry Division traveled to Europe to participate in Saber Strike
16 June 4-22, 2016, in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania where they served
as an exercise control cell and managed many of the support functions
and tracking the training requirements for different units going through
the exercise. They helped ensure all units met their training objectives
and helped reallocate resources during the exercise to achieve training
objectives.
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, Indiana, where they received high praise for their outstanding
performance during the exercise.
Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers in the 29th Infantry
Division last served in federal active duty in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012
when they conducted two rotations assigned to NATO’s International
Security Assistance Force Joint Command Afghan National Security Force
Development Team. During that time they served as advisors and mentors
to senior Afghan leaders with the mission to provide Afghan National Army
and Afghan National Police subject matter expertise to facilitate ANSF
growth and development.
Prior to their service in Afghanistan, Maryland and Virginia Soldiers
from the 29th Infantry Division deployed overseas for peace-keeping duty
in Kosovo from August 2006 to November 2007.
Formed in 1917, the 29th Infantry Division deployed to France during
World War I and saw action in the First United States Army’s Meuse-
Argonne offensive as part of the French XVII Corps. In World War II, the
29th Division was in the first wave of troops to storm the beaches of
Normandy and begin the liberation of France.
deepest appreciation for the family members and the
critical support they provide.
“Your families will be cared for because they are
our families as well,” Ortner promised the Soldiers.
“Whatever is needed, we will provide. They will be
safe with us, and they will be cared for. You do not
need to worry.”
The 29th ID, Maryland and Virginia National
Guard have multiple support systems in place if there
are any hardships created by the mobilization, and
the Family Programs Office had personnel available
before the departure to help answer any questions or
provide assistance.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 15,000 Virginia
National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have mobilized
on federal active duty for homeland security missions
and combat operations, sustainment support and
peacekeeping in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo
and other locations around the world.
The pace of federal mobilizations for the Virginia
National Guard shows no sign of slowing down.
Approximately 1,550 Virginia National Guard
Soldiers and Airmen will start, continue or complete a
federal mobilization in 2016 in places like the Middle
East and Cuba.
Cotton Puryear is the state public affairs officer
for the Virginia National Guard. He retired from
uniformed service in 2010 after 24 years in the
active Army and National Guard including tours of
duty in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
with 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and in Kosovo
for peacekeeping operations with the Guard's 29th
Infantry Division.
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