86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain)

The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) is composed of seven battalions made up of nearly 1,800 Vermonters and 4,250 total Soldiers. The brigade includes units in six states, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Colorado. The brigade's mission is to provide a crewed, trained, and ready mountain ICBT capable of deploying anywhere in the world, under any climactic conditions, to conduct decisive action when directed by appropriate command authority. On order, the 86th ICBT (MTN) provides a trained and ready force capable of responding in support of civil, federal, and domestic response as directed by the state adjutant general and governor.

Soldiers with Task Force Avalanche, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain), receive mailed donations in Southwest Asia in September. The task force has been deployed since March and had a small contingent in Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge. (Army National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Nathan Rivard)

Oct. 26, 2021

Task Force Avalanche Soldiers receive mailed donations

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Soldiers with Task Force Avalanche, 3rd Battalion, 172 Infantry Regiment (Mountain), added mail room duties to their assignments throughout the month of September.

Pfc. Eli Nielsen, a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic assigned to Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, Vermont National Guard, inspects an aircraft interior at the Army Aviation Support Facility, South Burlington, Vermont, on Oct. 12, 2021. Nielsen is also a member of the Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

Oct. 21, 2021

Biathlon opportunities attract Washington native

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — Serving in a dual capacity, Pfc. Eli Nielsen’s days are fully occupied. An M-Day, 15 Tango, Black Hawk helicopter maintainer with Detachment 2, Charlie Company 1st Battalion 224th Aviation Regiment, Nielsen is also a member of the Guard’s Biathlon team.

This image contains cropped photos of Vermont and Austria mountain ranges, with blended Vermont and Austrian flags, to represent the newly announced State Partnership Program initiative between Vermont and Austria, announced by the Defense Department Oct. 15, 2021. (Vermont Army National Guard photo illustration by Marcus Tracy)

Oct. 15, 2021

Vermont National Guard to add Austria as third State Partner

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard will welcome the Republic of Austria as the third member of their State Partnership Program.

Students from the Center for Technology Essex operate heavy equipment under supervision from Vermont National Guard Soldiers during a visit to the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, on Oct. 12, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Oct. 13, 2021

Vermont Guard Soldiers introduce students to heavy equipment

JERICHO, Vermont — The Center for Technology Essex has partnered with the Vermont National Guard for years to offer students hands-on vocational training, but a visit to the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site on Oct. 12 marked the first chance for an entire classroom of students to attend.

Soldiers with the Vermont National Guard's Headquarters Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion (Mountain), adjust a new Family of Crew Served Sight Systems at the Camp Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont. From Aug. 16-20, Soldiers provided feedback that will be used to further refine the optic prior to full-rate production in 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua Cohen)

Aug. 28, 2021

Vermont Guard engineers provide input for new crew-served weapon's scope

JERICHO, Vermont — Annual training for the Vermont Army National Guard’s Head and Headquarters Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion (Mountain) was a bit different this year as Soldiers were trained to use the new Family of Weapons Sight-Crew Served (FWS-CS) mounted on M2 .50 caliber heavy machine guns. During four days of live fire, from Aug. 17-20, those involved were asked to provide "Soldier Touchpoints," feedback used to refine the FWS-CS prior to an Army-wide deployment starting in 2023.

  • Leadership

    Col. Leonard Poirier

  • History
  • Units

    VERMONT

    1st Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment
    3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment
    572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion 
    186th Brigade Support Battalion 

    CONNECTICUT

    1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment

    MASSACHUSETTS

    1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment

    COLORADO

    1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment