https://www.gamespot.com/articles/earn-the-division-2-rewards-by-playing-the-first-g/1100-6460575/

Ubisoft is preparing to launch The Division 2, even as the original The Division still enjoys a relatively active player base thanks to a steady stream of content updates and quality-of-life tweaks. To tempt players back, and perhaps to ease the transition into the sequel, the company is offering some free goodies, as well as limited-time access to older expansions.

Shields are special commendations that are granted for fulfilling specific mission objections. Every Shield you unlock will grant you rewards in The Division, including 2,000 Phoenix Credits, three Cypher keys, one exotic weapon, a patch with the Shield icon, and more. But it also grants you a tiered rank that will transfer to The Division 2. As detailed on the official blog, the higher the tier, the more rewards you'll get: