229th MPs begin customs operations during federal duty
The Virginia National Guard’s Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group took responsibility for a U.S. Central Command customs operations mission from the Missouri National Guard’s 1175th MP Company, 205th MP Battalion during a transfer of
authority ceremony July 6, 2025, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. More than 100 Soldiers assigned to the 229th arrived in the CENTCOM area of operations and began conducting customs operations by July 4.
“The 229th MP Company has demonstrated a consistently high level of professionalism, adaptability and effectiveness throughout the first few weeks of this deployment,” said the 229th’s 1st Lt. Austin Smith, currently the CENTCOM Customs commander. “They have successfully balanced a demanding operational tempo with a commitment to building positive relationships with all units requesting CENTCOM Customs operational support.”
Prior to arriving in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, the 229th MPs finished training and preparing for their mission at Fort Bliss, Texas.
The 229th Military Police Company takes responsibility for a U.S. Central Command customs operations mission during a ceremony July 6, 2025, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.