Department of Defense

The 29th Infantry Brigade was organized in the Hawaii Army National Guard (HARNG) in January 1959. The original elements of the Brigade consisted of the Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the 1st and 2d Battle Groups, 299th Infantry. These units of the new Brigade were formed primarily from the 299th Regimental Combat Team, the 298th AAA Battalion, and the 120th Signal Support Company.

In April 1963, the Brigade reorganized with the conversion of the battle group into three separate infantry battalions under brigade control. The Brigade reorganized again in November 1965 with one of the infantry battalions of the Brigade providing the nucleus for a support battalion and the 227th Engineer Battalion reorganized into the 227th Engineer Company and 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery. In December 1967, Troop E, 19th Cavalry, was added to the Brigade base.

The Brigade was called to active duty for the Vietnam War on 13 May 1968 through 13 December 1969. The 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry, United States Army Reserve; 227th Military Intelligence Detachment from Arizona; and the 40th Aviation Company from California joined the Brigade at Schofield Barracks. Twenty-nine individuals gave their lives in the service of their country while on active duty during the mobilization.

In October 1972, the Brigade was designated a round-out brigade to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks. The Brigade served as a round-out brigade until 30 September 1986. In October 1986, the Brigade was reorganized and designated as the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate). The Brigade served as the round-up separate brigade to I (US) Corps. In 1993, the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was designated as one of the fifteen Enhanced Army National Guard (ARNG) Brigades. The Brigade was to become the only multi-state and multi-component enhanced brigade.

In September 1995, the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, California ARNG; Battery E, 1st Battalion, 216th Air Defense Artillery, Minnesota ARNG; and Troop F, 82d Cavalry, Oregon ARNG were added to the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate) replacing the deactivated 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry and Troop E, 19th Cavalry.

On 16 August 2004, the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was called to active duty to support the Global War on Terrorism. The Brigade mobilized at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, then formed at Fort Bliss, Texas. On 2 October 2004 the Brigade deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and assumed the Security Forces Mission in theater. Units of the 29th Brigade Combat Team served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. Eighteen Soldiers gave their lives in service to their country during this mobilization.

On 1 September 2006, the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade became the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). The 29th IBCT comprised of the Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company; 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry, Arizona ARNG; 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry, USAR; 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery; 29th Brigade Special Troops Battalion; and 29th Brigade Support Battalion.

In August of 2008, the 29th IBCT was called upon again to serve in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade mobilized at Fort Hood, Texas and teamed with the 45th Fires Brigade from the Oklahoma ARNG, forming “Task Force Lava Thunder.” The 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry and the 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry performed convoy security escort missions into Iraq. The 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery, 29th Brigade Support Battalion, and the 29th Brigade Special Troops Battalion were responsible for Camp Command Cell and security operations in Kuwait. Three Soldiers gave their lives in service to their country during this mobilization.

Upon the Brigade’s return home in the fall of 2009, the 29th IBCT was again reorganized, replacing the 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry with the 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry from the Guam ARNG.

On 1 September 2014 the 29th Brigade Special Troops Battalion was deactivated and reorganized as the 227th Brigade Engineer Battalion. Then on 1 September 2016 the 29th IBCT added a third Infantry Battalion 1-297th Infantry from Alaska ARNG.

During the summer of 2012, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 29th IBCT mobilized twelve Security Force Assistance Advisor Teams (SFAT) that deployed across Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The SFAT is a team organized of subject matter experts: commanders, officers, and senior non-commissioned officers – whose mission was to enable the Afghan security forces to lead independent operations.

During the period 5 November 2018 to 22 July 2019, the Headquarters 29th IBCT mobilized to provide mission command over multinational operations throughout Kosovo, strengthening the United State’s interoperability with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance partners and supporting the U.S. Army Europe’s lines of effort in the Balkans region.