Articles
U.S. Air Force Col. Caputo (center) is pinned on the rank of brigadier general by her daughter, U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet , Lilly Caputo, and her son Cal Caputo.

July 25, 2025

Vermont Air National Guard Leader Promoted to Brigadier General

U.S. Air Force Col. Laura P. Caputo pinned on the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony at Camp Johnson on July 25, 2025, marking a significant milestone in a distinguished career spanning more than three decades of service.

More than 6,000 visitors showed up to an open house hosted by the Vermont Air and Army National Guard in 2024.

July 1, 2025

Vermont National Guard Open House Returns This Fall with Expanded Parking, Military Exhibits, and Family Fun

The Vermont National Guard will host an Open House at the Vermont Air National Guard Base on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A visual map of the F-35 Independence Day flyover path.

June 26, 2025

Vermont Air National Guard F-35 Independence Day Flyover

In celebration of Independence Day, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing will conduct a regional flyover on July 4, honoring the spirit of the holiday and the enduring support of communities across Vermont and upstate New York.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, operating High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle turrets armed with two M2A1 .50 Cal machine guns and two M240 machine guns fire rounds during a combined arms live-fire night exercise as a part of Immediate Response 25.

June 4, 2025

Vermont Guard Soldiers prove lethality along NATO allies at Immediate Response 25

KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia — U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard participated in a combined arms live-fire exercise, May 29-31, 2025, during Immediate Response 25.

U.S. Air National Guard civilian firefighters, assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, pose in front of the fire truck that was the first on scene.

June 4, 2025

First to the Flames

As the sun began to set over the Green Mountains on May 2, 2025, Firefighter Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, found herself in the dayroom of the station, sitting next to the radio.

U.S. Soldiers with the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, and Austrian Land Forces assemble brazier charges used to breach wire barriers as part of Immediate Response 25 during DEFENDER 25

June 1, 2025

Vermont National Guard cross-train U.S. infantrymen and Austrian Land Force personnel on various demolition techniques

KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia — U.S. Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard cross-train U.S. infantrymen and Austrian Land Force personnel on various demolition techniques, June 1-3, 2025, during Immediate Response 25, a large-scale, joint exercise with NATO Allies and Partners at the Krivolak Training Area, Krivolak, North Macedonia, taking place May 26 to June 9, as part of DEFENDER 25, the U.S. Army’s premier large-scale deployment exercise in Europe.

A couple of Italian host nation employees with Army Field Support Battalion-Africa conduct inventory of basic issue items at the equipment configuration and hand-off area in Komotini, Greece, during DEFENDER 25, May 19. The 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s AFSBn-Africa deployed a team from Leghorn Army Depot, Italy, to Komotini for DEFENDER 25. There, the team is receiving over 700 Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 tactical vehicles and major end items from multiple APS-2 sites, including Leghorn and sites in Germany and the Netherlands, and issuing the APS gear to Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers from the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) deployed to Europe for DEFENDER 25.

May 19, 2025

Infantry APS-2 set, more issued to Vermont Army National Guard in Greece for DEFENDER 25

KOMOTINI, Greece — When the Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers touched down in Greece at 1 a.m. May 18 for DEFENDER 25, they were traveling light. The Soldiers from the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) were carrying a couple of bags each – the typical allotted baggage allowance most commercial airline companies permit.

Vermont Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the adjutant general of Vermont, salutes Col. Michael Blair after taking command of the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing from Col. Daniel Finnegan, outgoing commander of the 158th, during a change of command ceremony

May 3, 2025

158th FW Welcomes New Commander

Col. Michael Blair assumed command of the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing during a change of command ceremony on May 3 at 1:00 p.m.

U.S. Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing return from deployment

April 22, 2025

Green Mountain Boys Return Home

Hundreds of Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing have returned home to Vermont following a months-long deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Over the coming weeks, additional Airmen, equipment, and F-35 Lightning II aircraft will continue to arrive home as the deployment concludes.

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Landon Potvin, an operations support specialist assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, pauses his duties to take an environmental portrait for an airman spotlight story

April 15, 2025

Service Beyond the Base

An Airman with the Vermont Air National Guard's Communications Squadron makes noise on the basketball court, mentoring the youth about skills essential on and off the court.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard 2026

Note: the above YouTube video link may not work on all government computers. 

Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
New York Guard Soldiers participate in a 12-mile ruck during the New York Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition 2026, at Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor, New York, March 26, 2026. Photo by Sgt. Maximilian Boudreaux.
Two Military Police Company Soldiers Named New York Guard Best Warriors
By Sgt. Richelle Cruickshank, | April 7, 2026
CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. – Two Soldiers from Buffalo’s 105th Military Police Company have been named winners in the New York Army National Guard’s 2026 Best Warrior competition.Spc. Trevor Lock took first place in the...
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Kelly, the senior enlisted leader of the Illinois Army National Guard, presents the Illinois Army National Guard’s 2026 Soldier of the Year award to Polish Territorial Defense Forces Soldier Mateusz. Competitors from the Illinois National Guard and the Polish Territorial Defense Force, partnered through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, participated in the 2026 Illinois Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition held March 26-29, 2026, at the Marseilles Training Area. Photo by Sgt. Haesi Fanizzo.
Polish Soldier Wins Illinois National Guard Best Warrior Competition
By Sgt. Haesi Fanizzo, | April 6, 2026
MARSEILLES, Ill. – Polish Territorial Defense Forces Soldier Mateusz, whose rank and surname have been omitted to comply with the Polish Territorial Defense Forces policy, traveled across the Atlantic to compete recently in...
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Karen Mitchell, member of the Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program, Missouri Air National Guard, prepares to fold a ceremonial flag, March 26, 2026, in St. Louis. Mitchell has served 42 years in the Missouri Air National Guard. Photo by Master Sgt. Stephanie Mundwiller
Missouri Guardsman Renders 6,500 Military Funeral Honors
By Staff Sgt. Whitney Erhart, | April 6, 2026
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Karen Mitchell has stood before grieving families approximately 6,500 times during her 18 years with the Missouri Military Funeral Honors Program, rendering...
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