An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Effective October 1, 2024: To streamline communications, all F-35 and Air National Guard related inquiries should be routed directly to the 158th Fighter Wing contact page or by calling 802-660-5379. F-35 flying alerts (ie night flying schedules) will only be posted on the Vermont Air National Guard website.
Article View
News | Sept. 2, 2024

VTANG Trains in Austria

By Lt. Col. Meghan Smith 158th Fighter Wing

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Airmen and F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the Vermont Air National Guard will depart for Austria in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept. 4, to participate in the Airpower Air Show and a multinational training exercise the following week.

“We recognize that an early departure can affect our community, and we are grateful for their patience and support,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Blair, 158th Operations Group Commander. “Our upcoming training will strengthen international ties and ultimately benefit our national security and global stability."

Austria is the Vermont National Guard’s third partner country through the State Partnership Program, which links state National Guards with a partner nation’s military, security forces, and disaster response organizations in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship.

“Our connections through the State Partnership Program have proven instrumental in building strong, lasting relationships,” Blair said. “Training alongside the Austrian Air Force not only improves tactical proficiency, advances interoperability and military cooperation, but also deepens mutual respect and reinforces shared objectives with our European Allies.”

For more information contact Lt. Col. Meghan Smith at (802) 660-5451 or meghan.smith.5@us.af.mil.

Vermont National Guard News
Honoring Our Deployed Airmen on National Day of the Deployed
By Lt. Col. Meghan Smith | Oct. 29, 2024
More than 50 Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing are deploying this fall to support ongoing missions in the United States Central Command and United States Africa Command theaters...

Kristina Von Trapp, granddaughter of Maria Von Trapp; Capt. Kelsey
Vermont Returns to Austria for AIRPOWER24 and Maple Tiger
By Master Sgt. Ryan Campbell | Oct. 3, 2024
With four F-35A Lightning IIs flying through the Austrian mountains, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing returned to Austria for a second year of training with the Austrian and Swiss air forces...

An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, South Burlington, Vermont, is refueled via a C-130 Hercules, during a FARP (Forward Area Refueling Point) mission as part of the exercise, “Maple Thunder,” at North Auxiliary Airfield, Joint Base Charleston, North, South Carolina, January 30, 2024. Airman with the 158th FW are participating in Maple Thunder to implement the Agile Combat Employment concept. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dr. Sandeep Mulgund)
Airpower for Great Power Competition
By Dr. Sandeep "Frag" Mulgund | Sept. 10, 2024
The term great power competition is increasingly being used to describe the current global strategic landscape facing the United States and its allies. This paper examines the implications of that landscape for airpower...

An F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares to depart during a routine night training mission, Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vt., Nov. 16, 2021. Pilots assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron and Airmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing are required to conduct night operations to meet U.S. Air Force and Major Command requirements and proficiencies. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Mrs. Julie M. Paroline)
158FW Night Flying Operations
By Lt. Col. Meghan Smith | Sept. 9, 2024
The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying operations from Tuesday, September 10, to Thursday, September 12, and from Tuesday, September 17 to Wednesday, September 18 with one afternoon and one evening takeoff...

U.S. Army Spc. Trace Thompson, 11B, with the Missouri National Guard receives assistance from U.S. Army Sgt. Chadwick Larter, 79R, with the Massachusetts National Guard, in adjusting his competitor patch after receiving the welcome brief for the Army National Guard Best Warrior finals at Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont. The Best Warrior Competition tests Soldier's physical and mental prowess with a series of events; the overall winners receive either Soldier of the Year or Non-commissioned Officer of the year recognition.
Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition Finals begin in Vermont
By Mr. Marcus Tracy | Aug. 3, 2024
Competitors from across the country received their welcome briefs and equipment today for the finals of the Army National Guard’s Best Warrior competition, at Ethan Allen Firing Range...