Articles
The Vermont National Guard has a new substance abuse prevention coordinator. In January 2022 John Brutzman was hired for the position. Brutzman is also an M-Day Solider with six years in service. Brutzman works at the Vt. Guard Behavioral Health Office at Camp Johnson. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua Cohen)

May 4, 2022

Meet Vt. Guard’s new substance abuse prevention coordinator

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Eliminating the stigma around seeking mental health services is a goal for John Brutzman, the Vermont Guard’s new substance abuse prevention coordinator. “When I started this job, I would often hear that a solider could get trouble for seeking psychological health services, it’s just not the case, and I would like to see that stigma eradicated,” he said.

A Vermont Air National Guard member says goodbye prior to his departure from the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, Thursday, April 28th, 2022. The ceremony recognizes the sacrifices of Airmen and their families ahead of the 158th fighter wing’s deployment to Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri)

April 29, 2022

VTANG honors deploying Airmen, families

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard held a deployment ceremony April 28 to recognize the sacrifices of Airmen and their families ahead of the 158th Fighter Wing’s deployment to Europe.“There are not words to tell you how immensely

Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Soldiers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York and Vermont took part in a Level II MFH Train-the-Trainer certification course from 4-15 April 2022, Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vt. The event marked the first time the Vermont National Guard hosted training that enabled MFH soldiers to return to their states as Level I MFH instructors. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

April 26, 2022

Vt. Guard hosts Level II Military Funeral Honors Train-the-Trainer certification

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — From April 4-15, 12 Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Soldiers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York and Vermont took part in a Level- II MFH Train-the-Trainer certification course at Camp Johnson in Colchester. This marked the first time the Vermont National Guard has ever hosted this certification course.

U.S. Staff Sgt. Andrew Fryburg, chief instructor at the 24th Regimental Training Institute’s modular training battalion was presented with the Master Instructor Badge on April 19, 2022, by Col. William Wagner, RTI Commanding Officer. Fryburg is the first Vermont National Guard RTI instructor to have attained the Master Instructor Badge which requires 500 hours of study. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

April 20, 2022

Vt. Guardsman earns master instructor badge

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Staff Sgt. Andrew Fryburg, chief instructor at the 124th Regimental Training Institute’s modular training battalion was awarded the Master Instructor Badge on April 19, 2022. During the ceremony, Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, remarked, “there are fewer that 100 Master Instructors across the Army, so that should give you an idea of the scope of this undertaking and the significance of the award, you are building the future leaders of the US Army.”

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marcel Emond, a crew chief assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing, walks in front of a Vermont Air National Guard F-35 Lightning II aircraft April 13, 2022 at Burling Air National Guard Base, Vermont. Emond has been training as a crew chief at the 158th Fighter Wing in Burlington for just over a year as part of the 115th Fighter Wing's transition to the F-35. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cameron Lewis)

April 18, 2022

Airmen lead the way in F-35 transition for 115th Fighter Wing

Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vt. — In preparation for the arrival of the F-35 in spring of 2023, approximately 25 Wisconsin Air National Guardsmen have volunteered to be the first Airmen to receive advanced training at U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard facilities.

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.

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TAG's State of the Guard 2026

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Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
Airmen from the 146th Airlift Wing, 152nd Airlift Wing and the 302nd Airlift Wing train alongside CAL FIRE ground crews during their annual Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, recertification training at McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif., April 20, 2026. The MAFFS is a roll on and off system that enables a military C-130 aircraft to become a firefighting air tanker that can spread thousands of gallons of fire retardant, aiding ground crews to supress wildfires. The training ensures that aircrews and support personnel remain qualified to operate the MAFFS system and fly into hazardous fire areas at any time of year. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber.
California Guard Conducts Training Ahead of Wildfire Season
By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber, | April 22, 2026
McCLELLAN AIR TANKER STATION, SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Airmen with the 146th Airlift Wing began their annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, recertification and training April 20, in preparation to support aerial...
Exercise Cope Thunder 26-1 participants pose for a group photo after the opening ceremony at Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 6, 2026. Cope Thunder provides a unique platform to integrate U.S. and Philippine Air Forces and enhance interoperability through bilateral fighter training, subject matter expert exchanges and key leadership engagements. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Garner.
US, Philippine Airmen Strengthen Partnership in Cope Thunder
By Staff Sgt. Jordan Garner, | April 22, 2026
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines – U.S. Pacific Air Forces and Philippine Air Force members participated April 6-17 in Exercise Cope Thunder 26-1, aimed at strengthening partnerships and supporting the Philippine Air Force’s...
Two Oklahoma National Guardsmen replace a drone’s battery during Exercise Lightning Strike at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 15, 2026. The Oklahoma National Guard, in partnership with Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, hosted Exercise Lightning Strike, a domestic exercise scenario of an EF5 tornado. At the center of the exercise is the integration of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) across various scenarios, enabling real-time data sharing, improved situational awareness and more effective coordination among participating agencies. Exercise Lightning Strike brings together a wide range of agencies to operate within a shared framework, reinforcing the Guard’s role in supporting civil authorities during domestic incidents and natural disasters. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Ackah-Mensah)
Oklahoma Guard Hosts Exercise Lightning Strike
By Sgt. Dannielle Rayon, | April 22, 2026
MUSKOGEE, Okla. – The Oklahoma National Guard, in partnership with the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, recently hosted Exercise Lightning Strike, a domestic training exercise using drones to respond to a simulated...
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