Articles

Oct. 26, 2021

State Partnership Program helps Guard build enduring relationships

ARLINGTON, Virginia — With the recent additions of the Vermont National Guard partnership with Austria and New Hampshire National Guard with Cabo Verde, the State Partnership Program now includes just under half the world’s nations.

U.S. Army Sgt. Claire Johnson, a flight paramedic with C Company 3rd regiment 126th Aviation (Air Ambulance), provides explanations for medical equipment carried on the M997A3 ambulance to students in the health profession visiting Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont, Oct. 25, 2021. The Guard hosted students from the Center for Technology in Essex, VT. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

Oct. 25, 2021

Vermont Guard medics host Essex Center for Technology health profession students

On Monday, Oct. 25, Vermont Guard medics hosted students enrolled in health profession courses at the Center for Technology, Essex. The Army medics staged equipment, including an M997A3 ambulance at the Camp Johnson armory

Pfc. Eli Nielsen, a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic assigned to Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, Vermont National Guard, inspects an aircraft interior at the Army Aviation Support Facility, South Burlington, Vermont, on Oct. 12, 2021. Nielsen is also a member of the Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

Oct. 21, 2021

Biathlon opportunities attract Washington native

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — Serving in a dual capacity, Pfc. Eli Nielsen’s days are fully occupied. An M-Day, 15 Tango, Black Hawk helicopter maintainer with Detachment 2, Charlie Company 1st Battalion 224th Aviation Regiment, Nielsen is also a member of the Guard’s Biathlon team.

Senior leaders with the Vermont National Guard, Austrian Defence Attache staff and personnel from the Office of the Secretary of Defense pose for a photo outside the Pentagon on Oct. 15, 2021. Austria and Vermont will become partners within the U.S. Defense Department's State Partnership Program. The pairing of Austria and Vermont was announced as part of the U.S.-Austria Defense Talks between delegations from the Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria and the DOD. (Courtesy photo)

Oct. 21, 2021

VTNG-Austria state partnership explained

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Defense Department announced on Oct. 15 a new partnership between the Vermont National Guard and the Austrian Ministry of Defence, establishing Vermont’s third state partnership in the 28-year history of the program.

This image contains cropped photos of Vermont and Austria mountain ranges, with blended Vermont and Austrian flags, to represent the newly announced State Partnership Program initiative between Vermont and Austria, announced by the Defense Department Oct. 15, 2021. (Vermont Army National Guard photo illustration by Marcus Tracy)

Oct. 15, 2021

Vermont National Guard to add Austria as third State Partner

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard will welcome the Republic of Austria as the third member of their State Partnership Program.

Students from the Center for Technology Essex operate heavy equipment under supervision from Vermont National Guard Soldiers during a visit to the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, on Oct. 12, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Oct. 13, 2021

Vermont Guard Soldiers introduce students to heavy equipment

JERICHO, Vermont — The Center for Technology Essex has partnered with the Vermont National Guard for years to offer students hands-on vocational training, but a visit to the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site on Oct. 12 marked the first chance for an entire classroom of students to attend.

Brendan Popp, Biological Science Technician with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services, releases a raccoon back into wild during a portion of the National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vermont, July 15, 2021. The goal of the NRMP is to prevent the spread of rabies in wildlife by containing and eliminating the virus. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri)

Oct. 6, 2021

VTANG Partners with USDA for Rabies Vaccine Study

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — A collective partnership that began more than 10 years ago between the Vermont Air National Guard, the Burlington International Airport and the United States Department of Agriculture continues to aid in the prevention of rabies-related deaths. This summer, the VTANG and the USDA’s National Rabies Management Program collaborated with the goal of preventing the spread of rabies in wildlife by containing and eliminating the virus.

Army Sgt. Lisa Kromer displays a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Doubletree Hotel in Burlington, Vermont, March 3, 2021. Kromer is part of the Vermont National Guard's Task Force Coyote, which recently transitioned from offering COVID testing to providing vaccinations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Josh Cohen)

Oct. 6, 2021

Joint Task Force Coyote continues COVID-19 vaccination clinics

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Recently extended until Dec. 31, the Vermont National Guard’s support to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues. According to Maj. Daniel Dykeman, officer in charge of the Guard’s COVID joint task force, “JTF Coyote is currently occupied conducting vaccination clinics to meet the needs of the State of Vermont.”

Vermont National Guard state force protection officers, mentored by Burlington Police Department patrol instructors respond to a simulated active shooter situation on September 26 at the Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, VT. The event marked the first time state force protection officers from the Army and Air Guard trained together in active shooter response. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

Oct. 1, 2021

Vermont National Guard force protection officers practice active shooter response

JERICHO, Vermont — On Sept. 26-27, the Vermont National Guard hosted a first-of-its-kind active shooter response training conducted at the Vermont Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho by state civilian force protection employees from the Vermont Army and Air National Guard as well as Air Force security forces Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing.

Soldier points out parts of new M17 pistol.

Sept. 23, 2021

Vermont Guardsman awarded $8,000 for M17 training round extraction solution

COLCHESTER, Vt. — Shortly after the U.S. Army adopted the M17 service pistol in 2017, new individual weapons qualifications requiring the use of Dummy, Drilled, Inert (DDI) practice rounds prior to attempting the live fire qualification course were implemented.

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
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gene Enriquez, State Partnership Program director with the Vermont National Guard, greets Dr. Amadou Mbaye Diouf, chief physician, during a key leader engagement in Thiès, Senegal, May 4, 2026, to discuss regional healthcare priorities and inform planning for a 2027 medical readiness exercise. The Vermont National Guard has partnered with Senegal through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2008, strengthening long-term military and civil cooperation through engagements focused on shared readiness and capacity building. African Lion 2026, or AL26, is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies. Co-led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, or SETAF-AF, from April 20 to May 8, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christy L. Sherman.
Vermont National Guard Conducts Key Leader Engagements With Senegal Partners Ahead of 2027 Medical Exercise
By Sgt. 1st Class Christy Sherman, | May 7, 2026
THIÈS, Senegal – Vermont National Guard leaders conducted a pre-deployment site survey in Thiès, Senegal, May 3-4, to assess regional healthcare capabilities and coordinate planning for Medical Readiness Exercise 2027, or...
U.S. Army Sgt. Lionel Duplessis with the Mississippi National Guard assigned to the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission poses for a photo while conducting patrol around the Jefferson Memorial in Washington March 25, 2026. About 2,500 National Guard members support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department and community partners to enhance safety and quality of life throughout the District. Photo by Sgt. Christian Brown.
Guardsmen Support US Secret Service in Shooting at National Mall
By Sgt. Sherald McAulay, | May 7, 2026
WASHINGTON – National Guardsmen assigned to Joint Task Force - District of Columbia, supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a May 4 shooting at the National Mall and provided medical care to an injured...
A technician from the Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Response Team and a member of the Maryland Air National Guard Student Flight are hoisted by a Maryland Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk during a Maryland Emergency Management Search-and-Rescue Exercise at Gunpowder Falls State Park, Maryland, April 23, 2026. State agencies, local jurisdictions and non-governmental organizations gathered in Baltimore County to test their skills through a series of immersive scenarios during the 12-hour operational period. Photo by Senior Airman Sarah Hoover.
Maryland Guard Strengthens Preparedness in Search-and-Rescue Exercise
By Maj. Benjamin Hughes, | May 7, 2026
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – The Maryland National Guard supported a massive search-and-rescue exercise spanning 20 square miles of land and water, from the Loch Raven Reservoir Dam to Gunpowder Falls State Park, along with emergency...
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