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Vermont National Guard Logo Press Releases
Press Release | April 12, 2019

Vermont Army National Guard Packs for JRTC Rotation

The Vermont Army National Guard will be loading rail cars in Burlington as we prepare for our Joint Readiness Training Center Rotation in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Rail operations will take place at the Burlington Rail Yard from April 12-April 18, 2019.

Most of the traffic created by bringing equipment and vehicles to the rail yard will be done very early in the morning to prevent any additional traffic to the Burlington area.

“JRTC is the Super Bowl of training events for infantry brigade combat teams and is how the Army generates increased readiness for select brigades,” said Col. Nathan Lord, commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (MTN). “Vermont’s Mountain Brigade’s stellar reputation earned in combat and through multiple trips to JRTC in the past is why we were selected. I acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices families and employers are making as our country asks more and more of our citizen-Soldiers.”

JRTC is the largest training exercise available for IBCTs. More than 5,000 Soldiers from 18 states and territories will participate in the exercise. JRTC simulates a deployed environment where Soldiers are put into high stress situations.

National Guard News
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Carrie Perez, left, director of Army personnel management at the National Guard Bureau, and French army Lt. Gen. Frédéric Gout, head of the French army’s personnel branch, salute during a wreath presentation at the World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington during a ceremony marking the longstanding alliance between the two countries, Feb. 24, 2026. The wreath presentation recognized service members’ sacrifices for both countries and specifically honored Ferdinand Capdevielle and Kiffen Rockwell – two Americans killed in World War I while serving with French forces. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy.
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By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, | Feb. 25, 2026
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Justified Accord 2026 exercise logo designed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa public affairs office. Justified Accord 2026 is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa. The exercise runs February 23 – March 13, 2026, across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, this joint, all-domain exercise integrates about 1,500 personnel to build readiness against shared security threats. Graphic by Brian Andries.
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A small unmanned aircraft system operator course is being conducted at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Feb. 19-28, 2026. The 10-day course is being conducted by the 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute and teaches students how to properly operate small drones in large scale combat scenarios. Photo by Sgt. Kayden Bedwell.
National Guardsmen Train in Pennsylvania to Use Small Drones
By Sgt. Kayden Bedwell, | Feb. 25, 2026
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – National Guard Soldiers from various backgrounds, skillsets and military occupational specialties attending a 10-day small unmanned aircraft system operator course, or sUAS, are learning how to...