229th Brigade Engineer Battalion

01/09/2026

NOTICE: Page deactivation and photo archive transition

In accordance with Army Directive 2025-25, which streamlines and clarifies Army social media use for organizations, this page will no longer be updated or monitored as of Jan. 9, 2026.

Additionally, this page will be archived and become inaccessible on Feb. 28, 2026.

To preserve public access to historical imagery, the photo archive for the 229th BEB and 116th BSTB is being transferred to Flickr and will be available at: https://vngpao.info/229th-BEB

To keep up with the Virginia National Guard, follow our official page or visit our website at va.ng.mil for the latest updates and information.

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07/14/2025

Maj. Joshua L. Favaro takes command of the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Lt. Col. William C. Pearson during a ceremony July 13, 2025, at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Col. Arthur S. Moore, 116th IBCT commander, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Pearson to Favaro. Command Sgt. Maj. Donald W. Spring Jr., the 229th senior enlisted leader, was keeper of the colors for the ceremony.

07/10/2025

A message to the force from Brig. Gen. Charles B. Martin, the Virginia Army National Guard's land component commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy M. Hawley, the Virginia Army National Guard's command sergeant major.

Click here to read it on our website: https://va.ng.mil/Army-Guard/VAARNG-Transformation-Message/

06/26/2025

Here is the 116th IBCT XCTC “Hero Video” shot by Henry Power and Jared Hollingsworth and edited by Henry Power. Read more about XCTC at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/24/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a breach through a wire obstacle during an infantry live-fire range June 23, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Engineer squads from the 229th were attached to infantry units during tactical operations to provide hasty breaching capabilities.The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/24/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct training with an M68A2 mine clearing line charge June 22, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
The MICLIC is a rocket-propelled explosive line charge used to clear minefields and create a breach in static obstacles. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/20/2025

Issue #12 of the 2025 Commonwealth's Guardian bi-weekly newsletter is available for download in PDF format at https://vngpao.info/VNGNews2025Issue12.

In this issue:

116th to field test new MBCT organization
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp

29th ID Soldiers participate in Normandy D-Day commemoration
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/28mdmpfr

VNG military installation renamed to honor World War II hero
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/2p8hkye7

DMA Employees recognized during appreciation luncheon
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/3e2hx7m4

Civic Leader Appreciation Day showcases VAARNG to educators
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/3ks63zbr

192nd Mission Support Group holds realignment ceremony
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/yyf5escm

VNG helps commemorate D-Day 81 in Bedford
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/2p9cms7v

VNG commemorates D-Day 81 in France, Bedford
~ Photo collection on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/yckj7aae

116th IBCT conducts XCTC rotation
~ Photo collection on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/2f68jay5

Sky’s the limit: 200th Combat Weather Flight
~ Read more at https://vngpao.info/5n99ts7w

VNG flights crews, aircraft support Fort Lee DZ reopening
~ Photos on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/bdmjukym

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06/12/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, construct berms to safeguard ammo handling and fuel points, June 11, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/12/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a route clearance lane with the Panther Mine-Resistant Vehicle and Buffalo Mine Protected Route Clearance Vehicle June 11, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The Soldiers employed the Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II to train on explosive interrogation and disruption of suspected improved explosive devices and mines on the roadway. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp.

06/10/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Blackstone-based Detachment 1, Delta Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct Teal 2 unmanned aerial system initial qualification training June 5, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Chief Master Sgt. John F. Nye, the VNG Command Senior Enlisted Leader, visited the training to talk with Soldiers and learn more about the UAS capabilities. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal. Read more at https://vngpao.info/4a5nr2vp. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)

03/11/2025

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct combined arms, force-on-force training during a situational training exercise March 10, 2025, at Fort Walker, Virginia. Horizontal engineers and Sappers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based Alpha Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th IBCT built and fortified defensive positions while an opposing force provided by infantry Soldiers from the Woodstock-based, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th IBCT conducted an attack with attached Sappers. The exercise was just one phase of Operation Big Burma, a three-phase training plan which took place during the unit’s March drill weekend and trained Soldiers on defensive engineering, offensive patrolling and breaching and company grade task force engineering.

View more photos on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC59n6

02/28/2025

Content on this platform is being reviewed, removed and archived to align with the President's executive orders and Department of Defense priorities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5400.17. For any questions regarding social media policies, please refer to “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes” guidance available on the DOD web site at https://vngpao.info/4mj56vjp.