Articles
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.

U.S. Army Spc. Vasek Cervenka, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Garrison Support Command, Vermont National Guard, competing in the 12.5 KM Pursuit Race at the 2021 Junior World Championships in Obertilliach, Austria, March 3, 2021. Cervenka hopes to compete in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China.

June 10, 2021

Vermont National Guard biathletes eye 2022 Beijing Olympics

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Three Vermont National Guard biathletes are training hard in anticipation of attending the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. If selected, VTARNG members will make up 37 percent of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team.The event

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jordan Snow, a musician with the Vermont Army National Guard's 40th Army Band, practices drumming at Camp Johnson, Vermont, June 7, 2021. Snow took part in the State's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Josh Cohen)

June 8, 2021

40th Army Band Guardsman recalls COVID-19 activations

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Staff Sgt. Jordan Snow, a musician with the Vermont Army National Guard’s 40th Army Band, signed up with expectation of continuing his military career as an M-Day Solider: one weekend each month, two weeks per year.The onset

U.S. Army Spc. Caylen De Los Reyes, an 11B Infantry Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont National Guard, moving through an obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti May 16, 2021.

June 4, 2021

Vermont National Guard Solider completes French Desert Commando Course

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — According to Spc. Caylen De Los Reyes, successfully completing the French Desert Commando Course not only improved individual readiness, the demanding training also helped the Vermont Guardsman prepare for the U.S. Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection course. 

Soldiers assigned to Headquarters Company, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, salute during their deployment ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, May 14, 2021. Family and friends gathered to support the Soldiers during the ceremony. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

June 3, 2021

Deployment ceremonies signal end of 2021 departures

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont Army National Guard conducted three deployment ceremonies in Mid-May marking completion of the departure of approximately 950 Soldiers to overseas locations in support of U.S. Europe, U.S. Africa and U.S. Central

Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, gives opening remarks during a press conference May 27, 2021. Knight, along with Lt. Gov. Molly Gray (right) and Lindsay Kurrle (left), Vermont's secretary of commerce and community development, will spend several days in North Macedonia discussing expansion of the current State Partnership Program to include economic development opportunities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

May 28, 2021

Vermont seeks to build upon partnership with North Macedonia

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the state adjutant general, will travel to North Macedonia May 29, accompanied by Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Lindsay Kurrle, the state secretary of commerce and community development, to discuss how the state might build upon the existing State Partnership Program into economic areas.

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
Pvt. Matthew Scaccia, an infantryman with the New Hamphsire National Guard's C Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), poses with his newly earned Airborne wings and Ranger tab Sept. 1 at the state military reservation in Concord. Photo by Sgt. Taylor Kurto.
New Hampshire Guardsman Completes Infantry, Ranger and Airborne Schools Before First Drill
By Sgt. Taylor Kurto, | Sept. 15, 2026
CONCORD, N.H. – Pvt. Matthew Scaccia stood at the open door of a C-130, 1,250 feet above Fort Benning, Georgia, looking toward the ground below. As the first Soldier out of the aircraft, he felt a mix of emotions.“It’s this...
Col. Glenn Finch, outgoing state command chaplain, left; Brig. Gen. Adam Curry, director of the joint staff for the Florida National Guard, center; and Lt. Col. Lance Sellon, incoming state command chaplain, conduct a changing of the stole ceremony at the Robert F. Ensslin Jr. Armory, Florida, Sept. 12, 2026. The changing of the stole signifies the transfer of spiritual leadership and pastoral care from one chaplain to the next. The ceremony was the first of its kind held by the Florida National Guard and marks the beginning of a new tradition. Photo by Staff Sgt. N.W. Huertas.
Florida Guard Chaplains Host First Changing of the Stole Ceremony
By Staff Sgt. Neysa Huertas Quinones, | Sept. 15, 2026
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Members of the Florida National Guard and guests gathered for the organization’s first Changing of the Stole ceremony Sept. 12 at the Robert F. Ensslin Jr. Armory, marking the beginning of a new Florida...
Axel, a 3-year-old Dogo Argentino and ministry dog with the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, poses for a photo during training with his handler, Sgt. Mollie Karazim, a religious affairs specialist with the Michigan National Guard. Axel, who was born deaf, uses visual cues and hand signals to communicate with Karazim and knows more than 50 commands, including several in American Sign Language. Axel will deploy alongside the battalion and continue supporting soldiers throughout the mission. Courtesy photo.
Deaf Ministry Dog to Deploy With Michigan Guard Handler
By 1st Lt. Paige Bodine, | Sept. 15, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – As the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment prepares for deployment, one member of the regiment is preparing differently and is ready to paws for nothing when it comes to supporting his Soldiers.Axel, a...
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