Articles
Maj. Howard “Cash” Shaner, F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares for launch at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vermont, March 12, 2021. Shaner is the first ever Air National Guard F-35 pilot to graduate from the highly competitive U.S. Air Force Weapons School. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Mrs. Julie M. Paroline)

March 16, 2021

First ANG F-35 pilot graduates from USAF Weapons School

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — Nationally recognized as the first Air National Guard unit to be tasked with the F-35A Lightning II mission, Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing now welcomes another title: home of the first ANG F-35 pilot to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.

F-35 Lightning II Pilot Col. Nate Graber prepares for takeoff from Vermont Air National Guard Base in South Burlington, Vermont, May 22, 2020, as part of Operation America Strong, an Air Force effort to honor medical responders and essential workers. The Vermont ANG's 158th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office received numerous awards from the National Guard Bureau for its work covering the wing's F-35 mission. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Julie M. Shea)

March 12, 2021

158th FW recognized in National Guard Bureau 2020 Media Contest

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The 158th Fighter Wing received three first-place awards in the National Guard Bureau’s 2020 Contest, and Public Affairs Specialist Julie Paroline was named runner-up for Air National Guard communicator of the year, the Vermont adjutant general announced March 12.

New Airmen take their oaths of enlistment in a ceremony at Vermont Air National Guard Base Aug. 14, 2020. The Vermont Commission on Women spoke with Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Greg Knight and women leaders in the Vermont National Guard March 10, 2021, about what the Vermont Guard is doing to recruit and retain women within its ranks. Women comprise about 20 percent of the Vermont Air National Guard and 15 percent of the Vermont Army National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. J. Scott Detweiler)

March 12, 2021

Adjutant general, women leaders speak with Vermont Commission on Women

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Greg Knight and several women leaders within the Vermont National Guard spoke via teleconference with members of the Vermont Commission on Women March 10.

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson greets Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Stebbins during a visit to the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing in South Burlington, Vermont, Feb. 26, 2021. Hokanson, the National Guard Bureau chief, honored Vermont Soldiers and Airmen for their recent accomplishments during his visit to the Green Mountain State. Stebbins is the 158th FW command chief. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Mrs. Julie M. Paroline)

March 11, 2021

National Guard leader honors Soldiers, Airmen during visit

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Senior leaders with the National Guard Bureau in Washington recognized several Vermont National Guard Soldiers and Airmen for their accomplishments during a visit to the Green Mountain State Feb. 26.

Sgt. Christina Fontaine, with the Vermont National Guard’s medical detachment, poses for a photo at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Horton)

March 10, 2021

Behavioral health specialist embeds with Soldiers and Airmen

WASHINGTON — For many, being in the National Guard is both an honor and a sacrifice. Balancing civilian careers, family life and missions that can arise on a moment's notice can be rather challenging. Maintaining mental health and wellness is an important part of the mission, especially for a Guardsman. The Vermont National Guard leadership ensured there was a mental health resource for the mission by sending a Soldier uniquely prepared to wear more than one hat of responsibility on duty.

March 9, 2021

Revisiting the 2019 Women's Workshop

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Maj. Sarah Pahlete looks at the progress that the Vermont National Guard has made since the 2019 women's workshop and challenges that remain.

March 5, 2021

124th RTI to hold change of command

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont Army National Guard will host a virtual change of command ceremony for the 124th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) March 6 at 10 a.m.Col. William Wagner will assume command from Col. Tracey Poirier in the

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)

March 3, 2021

Task Force Coyote shifts from Covid-19 testing to vaccination

BURLINGTON, Vermont — The combined Vermont Air and Army National Guard group comprising Task Force Coyote transitioned March 3 from Covid-19 testing to providing vaccinations to the public.  

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris enters the inaugural platform at the start of the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol building

Feb. 23, 2021

Up Close at the 59th Presidential Inauguration

WASHINGTON — Many of us came out of 2020 expecting 2021 would start to show a light at the end of the tunnel. However, within the first week of January things went horribly sideways.

Army backpack with 10th Mountain Patch sits in the snow with snowshoes lying on top.

Feb. 20, 2021

Mountain Legacy 21 - 10th Mountain Division Soldiers undergo specialized training in extreme winter environment

JERICHO, Vt. — An introduction to unique winter skill sets was provided to soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division from 18-20 Feb. at the Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vt.

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
Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the CNGB, address the 148th annual conference of the National Guard Association of the United States, Indianapolis, Indiana, Aug. 29, 2026. Photo by Master Sgt. Zach Sheely.
Nordhaus, Raines Outline a National Guard Focused on the Future
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely and Master Sgt. Sarah McClanahan, | Sept. 2, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS – "Together, we need to lead boldly, and we can never be late to need." That's how Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, the 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, challenged National Guard leaders to keep pace with a...
An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60W Jolly Green II, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, flies over Southcentral Alaska during a training mission July 8, 2026. Crew of 210th Rescue Squadron and pararescuemen of 212th Rescue Squadron rescued four occupants of a Cessna 180 after an Aug. 30, 2026, crash at Montague Island. Photo by Alejandro Pena.
Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Four From Plane Crash
By David Bedard, | Sept. 2, 2026
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued four people from an Aug. 30 plane crash at a Montague Island coastal sandbar about 60 miles southeast of Seward.The Alaska...
A C-130 (MAFFS 4) from California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing performs a water drop April 24, 2025, during Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, Spring Training 2025, held at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Base in Port Hueneme, Calif. This part of the training was conducted in the Angeles National Forest near Green Valley, California, April 21-27, 2025. Training included classroom sessions, flying and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots and support personnel from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, other federal agencies and CAL FIRE. First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), U.S. Northern Command's Air Component, is the Department of War's operational lead for the aerial military wildland fire fighting response. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber.
Modular Airborne System Delivers One Million Gallons of Fire Retardant
By 1st Lt. Matthew Greiner, | Sept. 2, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, crews have surpassed 1 million gallons of fire retardant delivered during the 2026 wildfire season, marking a milestone in a joint military and civilian effort...
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