Maryland Army National Guard activates first intelligence and electronic warfare battalion
Story by 2nd Lt Enjoli Saunders
BALTIMORE – The Maryland Army National Guard officially activated their first intelligence and electronic warfare battalion with a focus on large-scale combat operations against near-peer adversaries during a formal ceremony at Fort McHenry, November 3, 2024.
The newly restructured unit, known as the 629th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare (IEW) Battalion builds upon the legacy of the original 629th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, based in Laurel, Maryland.
The activation ceremony featured the music of the Maryland Army National Guard’s 229th Band and an uncasing of the unit’s guidon, a traditional Army gesture symbolizing the formal beginning or continuation of a unit’s lineage. This ritual reinforced the battalion’s enduring legacy and commitment to excellence as the battalion’s Soldiers take on an updated mission.
While its role in providing multi-domain intelligence collection capabilities remains the same, the new battalion serves as a critical division-level asset, further enabling large-scale operational effectiveness.
“As a career military intelligence officer and a former battalion commander, seeing the Maryland Army National Guard transforming, especially on the military intelligence side, is exciting,” said Maryland Army National Guard Col. Michael Bryant, commander of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion. “The historical lineage of the unit not only helps preserve the history and traditions of the unit, but it also fosters a sense of pride and continuity among service members.”
The legacy of the 629th IEW stretches back to 1985 when the 629th Military Intelligence Battalion was first organized as part of the 29th Infantry Division. Three years later, in 1988, the 629th was re-designated as the first Army National Guard Combat Electronic Warfare Intelligence (CEWI) unit, underscoring its specialized role in gathering and analyzing critical battlefield intelligence. The unit’s honors include deployments to Bosnia in 2000, followed by missions in 2005 and 2006, when it provided integral combat electronic warfare support. In 2006, the 629th MIB was inactivated, with its members and battle honors eventually consolidating into Alpha Company, 1-175th Infantry Regiment.
Nearly a decade later, in April 2016, the 629th Military Intelligence Battalion was reactivated and now occupies its predecessor’s readiness center in Laurel, Maryland. The 629th MIB was mobilized in 2020 for Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan, where it contributed to U.S. efforts in intelligence and warfare operations in an operational theater.
The activation of the 629th IEW, which is part of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, became effective on September 2, 2024.
The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, commander of the Maryland National Guard, Brig. Gen. Wesley D. Murray, 29th Infantry Division assistant division commander for support, Brig. Gen. Craig Hunter, the adjutant general’s special assistant for strategic initiatives of the Maryland National Guard, Brig. Gen. Theodore R. Scott, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 78th Troop Command, Brig. Gen. David R. Doran, assistant director for aviation, information and intelligence at National Guard Bureau, and U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Aida Borras, assistant deputy chief of staff, Intelligence Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, G2.
“Today’s activation of the 629th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion represents more than just organizational change—it’s a strategic positioning for the future fight,” said Maryland Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Andrew W. Collins, deputy adjutant general for Maryland. “This is not the battlefield of yesterday, where we had the luxury of unhurried deployment processes. Tomorrow’s fight will require us to mobilize directly from home station to theater, engaging immediately in multi-domain operations. The 629th’s new structure and capabilities are specifically designed to excel in this environment.”
