Articles
Left to right, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont’s adjutant general; U.S. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau; Klaudia Tanner, federal minister of defense of the Republic of Austria; U.S. Ambassador to Austria Victoria Kennedy; Lt. Gen. Erich Csitkovits, training director and commandant, National Defence Academy, sign letters of intent between the Vermont National Guard and Republic of Austria July 19, 2022, Vienna, Austria. The Vermont National Guard also has partnerships with North Macedonia, since 1993, and Senegal, since 2008.

July 19, 2022

Vermont National Guard Signs Letter of Intent with Republic of Austria

VIENNA — With a stroke of the pen, the Vermont National Guard and Republic of Austria’s letter of intent formalizing their partnership under the State Partnership Program is official. On July 19, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont’s adjutant general; U.S. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau; Klaudia Tanner, federal minister of defense of the Republic of Austria; and Lt. Gen. Erich Csitkovits, training director and commandant, National Defence Academy, performed a signing ceremony in Vienna to formalize the relationship between the Republic of Austria and Vermont.

A group photo of the 15th Civil Support Team, Vermont National Guard, and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear battalion from the North Macedonia Army during a State Partnership Program engagement in Colchester, Vt., June 6-11, 2022. The engagement focused on working with civil authorities in the event of a disaster.

June 29, 2022

15th Civil Support Team Hosts State Partnership Program Engagement

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard’s 15th Civil Support Team hosted six Soldiers from North Macedonia for civil support training at Camp Johnson in Colchester, June 6 -11th. The North Macedonia Army soldiers were from a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Battalion and came to Vermont to conduct exercises with the Vermont National Guard’s 15th CST.

Chuck Brewer has been with the VT Guard for almost three years serving as Director of Psychological Health within the Guard’s Behavioral Services Office at Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont. According to Brewer, his responsibilities include ensuring Guardsmen are ready to deploy from a behavioral health perspective. (Vermont Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

June 29, 2022

Meet Your Guard: Chuck Brewer, director of psychological health

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Chuck Brewer has been with the Vermont National Guard for almost three years serving as Director of Psychological Health within the Guard’s Behavioral Services Office at Camp Johnson in Colchester.

Vermont Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight addresses guests on May 26, 2022 during a a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont. Maj. Gen. Knight was joined by Vermont’s Lt. Governor Molly Grey, Vermont Gold Star families, and veterans. The occasion marked the second time the ceremony was conducted at the Fallen Hero’s Memorial’s new site, a location accessible to the public. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Nathan Rivard)

June 1, 2022

Vermont National Guard holds Memorial Day ceremony

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — On May 26, 2022, the VTNG held a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont. The occasion marked the second time the ceremony was conducted at the Fallen Hero’s Memorial’s new site, a location accessible to the public. In attendance, Vermont’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight was joined by Vermont’s Lt. Governor Molly Gray, Vermont Gold Star families, and veterans.

Brig. Gen. David Manfredi, director of joint staff for the Vermont National Guard, speaks during his retirement ceremony May 26, 2022, at Camp Johnson, Vermont. General Manfredi retired May 26 after more than 30 years of service, including assignments as commander of the 124th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) and commander of the 3-172nd Infantry (Mountain). He deployed to Afghanistan twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Nathan Rivard)

May 27, 2022

Vt. director of joint staff retires

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard director of joint staff retired May 26, 2022, in a ceremony held at the Green Mountain Armory. Brig. Gen. David Manfredi served for 34 years both on active duty, with the 10th Mountain Division, and in the Army National Guard in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and for the past 17 years in the VTNG.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Phil Vietje, an aviation instructor with C Company, 3-126th Aviation (Air Ambulance), Vermont Army National Guard, shows Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner around a UH-72 Lakota helicopter at the VTARNG Army Aviation Support Facility in South Burlington, Vermont, on May 12, 2022. The Vermont National Guard and Austrian Defence Ministry signed a State Partnership Program agreement May 11, 2022, to strengthen interagency cooperation and mutually improve in cyber defense, information operations, military mountaineering, humanitarian and disaster assistance response, and other areas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

May 20, 2022

Vermont Guard demonstrates rotary-wing capabilities for Austrian delegation

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — On May 12, a day after representatives from the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria formally entered into a State Partner Program, Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner and staff were provided with rotary-wing flight demonstrations at Camp Johnson, the Vermont National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Colchester, Vermont.

Four U.S. Army Soldiers serving in the Vermont Army National Guard Biathlon Program received medals and recognition on May 14 at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., for their participation in the 2022 U.S. Biathlon Olympic Team. Pictured from left to right, Spc. Vasek Cervenka, Spc. Sean Doherty, Sgt. Deedra Irwin and Warrant Officer Candidate Leif Nordgren. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Marcus Tracy)

May 18, 2022

Guard Biathletes receive medals for Olympic showing

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — On May 14, four Vermont Army National Guard soldiers, members of the National Guard Biathlon Program, received medals and recognition for their participation on the US Biathlon Olympic Team during the 2022 Olympics held last February in Beijing.

Leaders from Vermont, the Vermont National Guard, and the Republic of Austria gathered in Montpelier for a signing ceremony officially beginning a partnership between the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria through National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. The Republic of Austria is the third partner nation with the Vermont National Guard through the State Partnership Program. Vermont also works and trains with North Macedonia and Senegal.

May 11, 2022

Vermont National Guard, Austria formally recognize partnership

MONTPELIER, Vermont — Representatives from the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria formally entered into a partnership May 11 at 2 p.m. Though work between the Austrian military and the Vermont National Guard is not new, the ceremony marked the formal beginning under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.

U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, perform a live-fire training lane, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, July 16, 2020. The live-fire range was conducted as part of their annual training.

May 10, 2022

Vermont Guard to support training exercise Swift Response 22

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — More than 120 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will participate in training exercise Swift Response 22 in North Macedonia from May 11 to 17. Exercise Swift Response is an annual U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercise that takes place this year in Eastern Europe, the Arctic High North, Baltics, and Balkans from May 2-24.

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.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard 2026

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Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
Soldiers from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, conduct a basket lift with a role player and canine during the 2026 Search and Rescue Exercise in the San Antonio area May 18-21. The 36th Combat Aviation Brigade plays a critical role in disaster response exercises by providing rapid aerial response, personnel transport and coordinated aviation support alongside civilian agencies, strengthening interagency partnerships essential to lifesaving operations. Photo by Capt. Jasmine Mathews.
Texas Guard Strengthens Search, Rescue Readiness
By Capt. Jasmine Mathews, | May 29, 2026
SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Military Department participated in the 2026 Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) May 18-21, marking twelve years of interagency partnership.SAREX focuses on disaster response preparedness for search and...
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing takes off for a training flight during Checkered Flag 26-2 and the Weapons System Evaluation Program-East at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 29, 2026. Tyndall’s location adjacent to the Gulf Range Complex makes it one of the few installations in the United States capable of supporting large-scale air combat training, building the aircrew proficiency and readiness required for critical 4th- and 5th-generation fighter integration and live-fire exercises. Photo by Master Sgt. Kregg York.
Ohio Air Guard Enhances Combat Airpower at Checkered Flag
By Master Sgt. Kregg York, | May 29, 2026
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – In a contested environment, air superiority depends on more than advanced technology. It also requires the training and experience to use that technology effectively — a focus for the Ohio...
U.S. Air Force pararescuemen assigned to the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing conduct rappel operations during an Air Combat Command Combat Readiness Inspection at Fort Drum, New York, May 14, 2026. Combat Readiness Inspections are designed to assess a unit’s ability to quickly mobilize, deploy and carry out mission-essential tasks in challenging and contested environments. Photo by Staff Sgt. Sarah McKernan.
New York Air Guard Conducts Combat Readiness Exercise
By Tech. Sgt. Sean Madden and Tech. Sgt. Kevin Donaldson, | May 29, 2026
FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. –  More than 1,000 Airmen assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing completed a five-day combat readiness exercise, testing every element of the unit’s operations, personnel recovery...
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