Articles

Oct. 13, 2021

Vermont Guard Soldiers introduce students to heavy equipment

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.

Oct. 6, 2021

VTANG Partners with USDA for Rabies Vaccine Study

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.

Oct. 6, 2021

Joint Task Force Coyote continues COVID-19 vaccination clinics

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.”

Oct. 1, 2021

Vermont National Guard force protection officers practice active shooter response

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.

Sept. 23, 2021

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

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.

Sept. 21, 2021

Vermont, North Macedonia officials discuss expanding state partnership

The Vermont National Guard hosted a press conference Sept. 21 with North Macedonia Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska, Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lindsay Kurrle to discuss new steps toward increased cooperation between the state and the new NATO ally.

Sept. 16, 2021

Training is Critical: Current Vermont Deployments are Proof

Training in the Army prepares Soldiers for a variety of circumstances and events. Vigilant Guard is a training event that puts to test our response to domestic emergencies. The Joint Readiness Training Center at Folk Polk, Louisiana, trains Soldiers to operate in a combat environment. Vermont Soldiers conducted pre-mobilization training at Fort Bliss and Fort McGregor prior to their deployments, focusing on a variety of elements Soldiers would most likely face on deployment. All the jobs and specialties in the Army are put to the test to make sure Soldiers are ready for whatever missions they may face. Our current deployments across the world are clear evidence as to why training is so important.

Sept. 15, 2021

Vermont National Guard continues pandemic support at Medical Countermeasures Warehouse

Soldiers and Airmen of the Vermont National Guard continue to support delivery of Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-19 vaccines from the State of Vermont’s Medical Countermeasures Warehouse.

Sept. 1, 2021

158th religious affairs team hones combat skills

Airmen with the 158th Chaplain office participated in the second annual Deployed Security Operations Chaplains Course at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, Aug. 24-26.

Aug. 28, 2021

Vermont Guard engineers provide input for new crew-served weapon's scope

Annual training for the Vermont Army National Guard’s Head and Headquarters Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion (Mountain) was a bit different this year as Soldiers were trained to use the new Family of Weapons Sight-Crew Served (FWS-CS) mounted on M2 .50 caliber heavy machine guns. During four days of live fire, from Aug. 17-20, those involved were asked to provide "Soldier Touchpoints," feedback used to refine the FWS-CS prior to an Army-wide deployment starting in 2023.

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.

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...