Articles
Two members of Senegal's National Fire Brigade examine a Vermont National Guard fire response vehicle on July 12, 2021 at Camp Johnson, Vermont. From July 11-21, delegates from Senegal’s National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers) visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

July 22, 2021

Senegalese National Fire Brigade visits Vt. for emergency capability demos

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — From July 11-21, delegates from Senegal’s National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers) visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

Spc. Ali Alahar poses for the camera during his annual training period.

July 16, 2021

From Iraq to Vermont – One National Guardsman details his long road to military service

COLCHESTER, Vt. — For 24-year-old Vermont Army National Guard Specialist Ali Aljarah, military service means being prepared to deploy, “as the only way to protect and serve my country to help stop harm from being caused anywhere in the world.”

158th Fighter Wing fire fighters respond to a structural roof fire.

July 14, 2021

VTANG Fire Department assists with Winooski fire response

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard fire department responded to a small apartment building fire in Winooski early Wednesday morning. “The crews assisted with fire control, search, salvage and overhaul. The fire had spread throughout the walls and reached the attic. This made things exponentially more difficult for on scene crews to mitigate,” said Brannon Sotor, Vermont Air National Guard installation fire chief. “All personnel on scene worked seamlessly to bring the fire under control.”

Soldier moves supplies at Strategic National Stockpile Warehouse

July 13, 2021

Vermont Guardsmen transition pandemic support missions at the Strategic National Stockpile

COLCHESTER, Vt. — As members of the Vermont National Guard’s pandemic response force disassembled and stored an emergency medical surge facility recently used as a mass vaccination site, termination of Vermont’s COVID-19 state of emergency has led to a shift in priorities for Soldiers and Airmen supporting the State’s Strategic National Stockpile.

The commander of Kosovo Force (KFOR), Italian Maj. Gen. Franco Federici, welcomes the U.S. Army's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) as they assume responsibility for Regional Command East, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Alvarez)

July 11, 2021

Vermont Soldiers arrive in Kosovo

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — Greetings from Kosovo! After spending about two weeks at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Soldiers mainly from the Vermont National Guard once again packed up and moved out! We give a huge ‘thank you!’ to the full-time staff at JMRC for all their help preparing us for our mission in Kosovo. As we took the beautiful bus ride back to Nuremberg, Germany, we realized we were ready to fly to Pristina, Kosovo for our Kosovo Force (KFOR) 29 mission.

Airmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, board a C-130 Hercules at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vt., July 13, 2021. Airmen, aircraft and support equipment from the Vermont Air National Guard depart to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for a three-week exercise, known as Red Flag—an exercise providing pilots, aircrew and operators a realistic training environment to prepare them for any combat environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri)

July 9, 2021

200 Airmen to train at Red Flag

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — Airmen, aircraft and support equipment from the Vermont Air National Guard will begin departing on July 14, from the 158th Fighter Wing to train at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This three-week exercise, known as Red Flag, provides pilots, aircrew and operators a realistic training environment to prepare them for any combat environment.

Col. William Wagner (center) accepts the guidon for the 124th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) from Brig. Gen. James Pabis (left) during the 124th RTI's change-of-command ceremony March 6, 2021, at Camp Johnson, Vermont. The 124th RTI is home to the Army Mountain Warfare School, Information Operations Battalion, Officer Candidate Scchool, and the Basic Leaders Course. Also pictured is Command Sgt. Maj. John Digby III (right), the 124th RTI command sergeant major. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

July 7, 2021

New commander details 124th RTI's pandemic responses

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Operations at the Vermont National Guard’s 124th Regional Training Institute are gradually returning to the pre-COVID normal according to the Institute’s newly appointed commander, Col. William Wagner.

Albanian soldiers suppress simulated opposing forces during crowd control training as part of KFOR 29 at Hohenfels, Germany, June 26, 2021. Allies and partners take part in KFOR 29 training in order to increase interoperability and prepare the unit for peace support, stability and contingency operations in Kosovo in support of civil authorities. NATO has been leading the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo since June 1999 to ensure a secure, stable and multi-ethnic Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Enrique Moya)

July 2, 2021

VTARNG Soldiers arrive in Germany

HOHENFELS, Germany — Only weeks after a grueling year of COVID-19 support to Vermont and a month long mission to Washington, D.C. for Operation Capitol Response, over 900 Soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard are now deployed across the globe in support of various missions fulfilling our federal missions.

Lt Col. Matthew Wignall, battalion commander, stands with Col. Ricky Kue, battalion surgeon, both with 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Avalanche, during a site visit in Southwest Asia. The 3-172 IN (MTN) has reached 87 percent of its deployed force being COVID-19 vaccinated. (Photo courtesy of 3-172nd Infantry (Mountain))

June 28, 2021

Vaccination rates soar for deployed infantry battalion

SOUTHWEST ASIA — The Jericho, Vermont, based 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) surpasses the average COVID-19 vaccination rate while deployed.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Dearborn, a Vermont Army National Guard instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School, is awarded the Soldier's Medal by Vermont Governor Phil Scott on June 18, 2021 at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. Between Feb. 28-March 1, 2020, Dearborn assisted with the rescue of two individuals at the Stowe Mountain ski area. One the military’s highest honors, the medal is awarded only for acts of heroism not involving conflict with an armed enemy. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

June 22, 2021

Vermont Guardsman Receives Soldier’s Medal for 2020 rescue

JERICHO, Vermont — On Feb. 29, 2020, Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Dearborn, a Vermont National Guard instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School, responded to an emergency call from State Police to assist in the rescue of two skiers lost at night, in deteriorating weather near the Stowe Mountain ski area.

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. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, conduct an “Elephant Walk” as the final exercise during an Air Combat Command Combat Readiness Inspection, April 26, 2026, in Swanton, Ohio. Combat Readiness Inspections are designed to test a unit’s capabilities, effectiveness and efficiency. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker.
Ohio Guard Fighter Wing Deemed Mission Ready
By Staff Sgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren, | April 28, 2026
SWANTON, Ohio – In a relentless demonstration of speed, skill and vigilance, about 1,000 members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing successfully completed a six-day Combat Readiness Inspection, or CRI, April...
A UH-60L medevac helicopter assigned to the D.C. Army National Guard Aviation Battalion lands near the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences during a training exercise in Bethesda, Maryland, on April 10, 2026. The training provided medical school applicants and first-year medical students with instruction in medical evacuation procedures and tactical combat casualty care. Photo by Master Sgt. Arthur M. Wright.
DC Guard Conducts Medevac Training with Medical Students
By Ayan Sheikh, | April 28, 2026
BETHESDA, Md. – The thrum of rotor blades cut across a clear sky as a UH-60L Medevac Black Hawk assigned to the District of Columbia National Guard descended onto a training field in Bethesda, kicking up dust and drawing a...
An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing, comes in for a landing at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 20, 2023. The aircraft was the first of the fighters to arrive at the base since conversion to the F-16 began in April 2023. Photo by Master Sgt. William Hopper.
Indiana Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing Completes F-16 Conversion
By Master Sgt. William Hopper, | April 28, 2026
BAER FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. – The Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing has successfully completed conversion to new F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, earning the right to regain active combat certification...
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