Vermont National Guard News

Sisters-in-Arms

DoD News — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 21:11:00 GMT

Within the ranks of the United States military, sharing a last name is not all that uncommon, but for U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Gerry and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laura Gerry, it's more than just a coincidence, that’s because the two are sisters.

Sgt. Ashley Weatherwalks: Pioneering a Path in the Vermont National Guard

Sgt. Denis Nunez — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:32:00 GMT

As Women's History Month draws to a close, the Vermont National Guard takes a moment to spotlight Sgt. Ashley Weatherwalks. Originating from Florida, Massachusetts, Weatherwalks is the first female Soldier in Blackjack Troop out of Bennington, Vermont, and the first female U.S. Soldier to accomplish an iteration of the Arctic exercise, Guerrier Nordique.

Vermont Airman Reflects on Heritage

DoD News — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 22:02:00 GMT

Rev. Joe Berry Powell was born into slavery in Edgecome County, North Carolina in 1853. More than 170 years later, his great-great-great grandson serves in the Vermont Air National Guard.   

Vermont Guard Hosts 4th Annual Multicultural Event

Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 19:16:00 GMT

The Vermont National Guard gathered together over drill weekend to celebrate the 4th annual multicultural event, November 5th, at the 158th Fighter Wing.

Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Wins Excellence in Diversity Award

1st Lt. Nathan Rivard — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Vermont National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight was selected as recipient for the Fiscal Year 2022 Individual Army National Guard – National Guard Excellence in Diversity Award.

Vermont National Guard welcomes Senegalese recruit

DoD News — Tue, 23 May 2023 20:26:00 GMT

The Vermont Air National Guard officially welcomed Libass Mbengue into its ranks during an enlistment ceremony, here, May 18.

Air Guard’s 1st female F-35 Pilot completes inaugural flight

Master Sgt. Ryan Campbell — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 17:39:00 GMT

Three years of training led to one very important day. Taking off over the mountains of Vermont, history is made at 20,000 feet. The 158th Fighter Wing has been no stranger to making history. In 2019, it was the first wing in the Air National Guard to receive the F-35A Lightning II. As the only wing in the Guard to fly a fifth generation fighter, the Airmen have continuously made their mark including recently completing the first overseas Guard deployment of the F-35. Now, the latest chapter of Green Mountain Boys history has been written.

Adjutant general issues biannual update: Feb. 2022

DoD News — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 20:32:00 GMT

Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the state adjutant general, released the Vermont National Guard's legislative update on Feb. 14.

VTNG leaders discuss hot topics in Facebook live town hall

Don Branum — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 22:43:43 GMT

Vermont National Guard senior leaders answered questions related to mental health treatment and education benefits and discussed updates within the Guard during a Facebook Live town hall event Feb. 8.

Newest 186th command sergeant major seeks to grow Soldiers’ potential

Don Branum — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT

The newest command sergeant major for the 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), might not have served beyond her first enlistment if not for a couple of non-commissioned officers who saw her potential and the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Now, Command Sgt. Maj. Melinda Crosby wants to help bring out the potential in the Soldiers in her unit.

A Soldier’s story: From Kenyan refugee camp to Vt. National Guard officer

Joshua Cohen — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 21:39:19 GMT

For 2nd Lt. Abdimaik Hashi, newly commissioned in the Vermont National Guard, the road to commissioning as an officer began in 2016 when he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard. As a 19K armor crewman, Hashi initially drove M1 main battle tanks with A Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion-194th Armor Regiment.

Soldiers, Airmen discuss structural competence, cultural humility

Don Branum — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 19:27:48 GMT

The Vermont National Guard invited Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila, a member of the Vermont Governor’s Racial Equity Task Force, to conduct a workshop on structural competence and cultural humility at the 158th Fighter Wing in South Burlington, Aug. 13.

Vermont National Guard releases organizational assessment

Joshua Cohen — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 12:00:00 GMT

The Vermont National Guard has publicly released a 113-page assessment prepared by the National Guard Bureau’s Office of Complex Investigations at the request of VTNG Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight.

Remembering the Code Talkers

2nd Lt. Robert Dornfried — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 14:38:30 GMT

National Navajo Code Talkers Day is Aug. 14, 2021. As the observance approaches, we should take a moment to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of the nearly 25,000 Native Americans who served in the Armed Forces during WWII. In the words of Signal Officer Maj. Howard Connor, “Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.”

Anshan native trades Qianshan Mountain for Green Mountains

Duffy Jamieson — Fri, 21 May 2021 17:29:42 GMT

Spc. Mike Liu, a native of Anshan, China, joined the Vermont Army National Guard through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, which allows non-U.S. citizens with certain skills to enlist and apply for citizenship.

Vermont Army Guard becomes first state authorized to recruit women into all units

Maj. J. Scott Detweiler — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 19:43:00 GMT

Women may now join any combat arms unit in the Vermont Army National Guard, following authorization by National Guard Bureau issued today. The Vermont Army National Guard is the first in the nation to open all combat arms units within its organization to the recruitment of women.

Women make history in Vermont ANG

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Campbell — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:00:00 GMT

The 158th Fighter Wing has made history: For the first time, three female Airmen from the wing have taken top honors in the Vermont Air National Guard’s annual Airman of the Year awards.

Bicultural, Bilingual, Proud: Soldier reflects on her dual heritage

AIR FORCE TECH. SGT. RYAN CAMPBELL — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:58:58 GMT

Spc. Marisol Gameros, who was assigned to the Vermont National Guard at the Naval Observatory in D.C., was the first person in her family born in the United States. She returned with her family to Mexico six months after being born, to Tuxpan, Mayarit, the same town her parents had initially left.

158th Fighter Wing NCO receives NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award

DoD News — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:06:00 GMT

The special emphasis program manager for the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing received the 2021 Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the state adjutant general announced March 26.

Vermont Guardswomen hold book reading for local day care

Don Branum — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:26:52 GMT

Guardswomen with the Vermont National Guard showcased military uniforms and equipment while holding a virtual book reading event for children at a local day care center March 18 as part of Women’s History Month.