Articles
A U.S. Air Force Airman attaches a hook to aid in securing the frame of an Alaskan Small Shelter System at the Silver Flag exercise on Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, March 31, 2022. The primary focus of Silver Flag is to teach Airmen from the civil engineer, force support, and vehicle maintenance squadrons essential skills to complete operations outside of their primary duties.

April 15, 2022

158th Civil Engineers hone skills at Silver Flag

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida — Tyndall Air Force Base welcomed 14 Green Mountain Boys from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Civil Engineer Squadron to Florida for the annual Silver Flag exercise March 21 to April 1.

U.S. Army Sgt. Avah Eaton, a paralegal specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, takes part in an inner-perimeter security patrol Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, March 2021. While deployed, Eaton served as battalion paralegal and took on additional human resource specialist tasks to assist the unit. (courtesy photo)

April 12, 2022

Vermont Soldier describes career path as 'a good unexpected'

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — For U.S. Army Sgt. Avah Eaton joining the Vermont Army National Guard brought many unexpected results. Among them, included applying for and accepting an offer to serve full-time in a human resources capacity with 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain). Recently returning from a deployment to Southwest Asia, Eaton reenlisted when offered the Active Guard Reserve position.

Photograph of Tech. Sgt. Normal Losh standing with Civil Engineering equipment outside at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington, Vermont.,

April 11, 2022

Off Duty Airman Saves Stranger's Life

Vermont Air National Guard Base — On Monday, April 4, 2022, Tech. Sgt. Norman Losh, a member of the 158th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron, sprang to action. Losh looked over and noticed an elderly gentleman who appeared to be choking and rushed to his side.

U.S. Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 172 Infantry (Mountain) Headquarters Company and C Company, Vermont National Guard, conduct mountain training with Royal Saudi Land Forces Special Forces at the RSLF Mountain Warfare School in Saudi Arabia. Between October and November 2021, approximately 70 U.S. Army Soldiers attended the training. (Courtesy photo)

April 1, 2022

Vermont Guard Soldiers hone mountain skills with Saudi Arabian Special Forces

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — For the first time, a conventional U.S. Army National Guard unit conducted training with Royal Saudi Land Forces Special Forces Instructors at the Royal Saudi Land Forces Mountain Warfare School.

Vermont Army National Guard rotary-wing pilots with 86th Troop Command conducted an aviation exchange with Senegalese Air Force pilots, March 13-19, 2022. The exchange was part of the State Partnership Program and the pilots discussed topics of aviation safety in addition to visiting Senegalese Air Force facilities. (courtesy photo)

March 30, 2022

Vermont National Guard, Senegalese air force conduct aviation exchange

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Vermont Army National Guard rotary-wing representatives with 86th Troop Command took part in an aviation exchange with Senegalese Air Force helicopter pilots as part of the State Partnership Program in Dakar, Senegal, March 13-19.

U.S. Army Military Police Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard's 172nd Law Enforcement Detachment at Fort Bliss, Texas

March 29, 2022

Vermont National Guard Military Police provide inner-base security while deployed

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — From March to November 2021, 33 Vermont National Guard Military Police Soldiers of the 172nd Law Enforcement Detachment conducted a law enforcement and inner-base security mission at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania.

An F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares for launch during routine flying operations

March 21, 2022

VTANG night ops scheduled

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying March 22-25 and from March 29 to April 1, with two takeoff periods.

Soldiers from the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, set up their bivouac site in the Arctic Circle, March 3, 2014 during Guerrier Nordique extreme cold weather training in Canada.

March 18, 2022

Vermont Guardsmen take part in combined extreme cold weather exercise in Canada

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — A small group of Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers made a cold and wintery trek into the Canadian wilderness starting at the end of February.

U.S. Army Spc. Timothy Clark, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment Mountain, Maneuver Battalion, Kosovo Force Regional Command-East, patrols near Gate 1 Jarinje in Kosovo, Feb. 3, 2022. Commanders use scout data to inform decisions and plan future missions which support a safe and secure environment for all people of Kosovo.

March 14, 2022

86th IBCT (MTN) completes KFOR mission

FORT BLISS, Texas — The 29th U.S. deployment to Kosovo Force (KFOR) is at an end, and with it comes reflection and a glance at what is next. For the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), the sky is the limit.

National Guard Soldiers from the Minnesota-based 34th Infantry Division pack a U.S. Air Force-operated C-17 in August following the completion of their mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. Deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, about 400 Soldiers from 34th ID were temporarily relocated to Kabul, Afghanistan, and have since arrived safely in Kuwait, where they are assigned. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Charles Anderson)

March 10, 2022

12 Days in August: Vermont Guardsmen reflect on Operation Allies Refuge

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — When Spc. Ryan Moon and Spc. Riley Benoit deployed to Southwest Asia with Task Force Avalanche, the mortarmen did not anticipate a 12-day mission in Afghanistan, taking part in the evacuation of thousands as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard - April 2025

The above YouTube video link may not work on all government computers. Read the transcript of MG Gregory Knight's full State of the Guard here.

Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Engel, Warrant Officer 1 Courtney Topper, Warrant Officer 1 Jacob Shumway, Warrant Officer 1 Alex G. Sama, chief of logistics for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and Maj. Edward K. John pose for a photo during a Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program engagement in Michigan, December 2024. The Michigan National Guard hosted two Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces representatives for a weeklong visit focused on logistics, facility management and sustainment operations, including engagements with the 246th Transportation Battalion and the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Lansing. The exchange strengthened military-to-military cooperation and reinforced the growing partnership between Michigan and Sierra Leone. Photo by 1st Lt. Paige Bodine.
Michigan National Guard Hosts Sierra Leone to Strengthen New Partnership
By 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine, | Dec. 19, 2025
LANSING, Mich.— The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and Sierra Leone recently marked another significant step forward in the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, or SPP.The...
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, 96th Troop Command, Washington Army National Guard fill sand bags in Sedro Woolley, Wash., Dec. 11, 2025. More than 300 Washington National Guard members provided flood relief support to citizens in Skagit County since Dec. 10, 2025. Photo by Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon.
National Guard Responds to Historic Flooding in Western Washington
By Joseph Siemandel, | Dec. 19, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As rivers overtopped banks and levees failed across western Washington, the Washington National Guard launched one of its largest and fastest flood responses in recent memory, mobilizing approximately 300...
Members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, along with volunteers from the Salvation Army and the Alaska National Guard Child and Youth Program, hosted families from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok during Operation Santa Claus 2025 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 14, 2025. Operation Santa Claus, a longstanding annual Alaska National Guard community outreach program, has provided gifts, toys, backpacks and books to children in remote Alaskan communities since 1956. The program partners with the Salvation Army and numerous volunteers to spread holiday cheer and continue its tradition of support. This year’s event supported families who were displaced following Typhoon Halong and provided an opportunity for continued engagement with impacted Western Alaska communities. Photo by Alejandro Peña.
Operation Santa Comes to Anchorage, Spreads Holiday Cheer for Western Alaskans
By Maj. David Bedard, | Dec. 19, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — For nearly 70 years, the Alaska National Guard has worked with partner agencies to spread holiday cheer to rural Alaskan communities through Operation Santa.   For the first time in...
More