VNG aviation battalion ends mission in Kosovo

The Virginia National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division officially ended its mission in Kosovo as Kosovo Force’s Regional Command-East welcomed their new aviation task force during a transfer of authority ceremony Oct. 11, 2022, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

The battalion mobilized as Task Force Pegasus, and they relinquished responsibility of all RC-E’s aerial operations to the 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment, Alabama National Guard, mobilized as Task Force Yellowhammer.

Leaders from Task Force Pegasus cased their unit’s colors, signifying the end of their nine-month mission, followed by leaders from Task Force Yellowhammer uncasing their unit’s colors, representing the beginning of their mission in Kosovo.“I think before we left, we wanted everybody to come back with three things they could say, which were that we made ourselves better, made the unit better, and made Kosovo better. And I think after our TOA, we can look back and say that everyone is coming back better off than they left,” said Lt. Col. Matthew C. Lewis, the Task Force Pegasus Commander.

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Lt. Col. Matthew C. Lewis and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Viera, the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment command team, case their unit’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony Oct. 11, 2022, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.