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
Montana Army National Guard Soldiers return to Helena, Montana, Aug. 24, 2026, after supporting wildfire suppression efforts in Washington. The Montana Guard crew flew more than 40 hours, completed 89 water-bucket drops and delivered approximately 178,000 gallons of water in support of firefighting operations. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Devin Doskey.
Montana Guard Chinook Crew Returns From Washington Wildfire Mission
By Senior Master Sgt. Devin Doskey, | Aug. 25, 2026
HELENA, Mont. — A Montana Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook crew returned home Aug. 24 after helping battle wildfires in Washington, delivering nearly 178,000 gallons of water during more than 40 hours of flight...
U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard medical personnel move patients to a hardened shelter during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 10, 2026. Northern Strike is an Army-sponsored, joint, multinational exercise held at Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability to fight and win. Photo by 1st Lt. Elise Wahlstrom.
Air Guard Medics Train for Drone Threats at Northern Strike
By Tech. Sgt. Tristan Viglianco, | Aug. 25, 2026
ALPENA, Mich. — More than 100 active-duty and Air National Guard medics from seven units trained to provide expeditionary medical care under the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) during Northern Strike 26-2 at the...
Soldiers from the Montana Army National Guard’s 631st Chemical Company analyze a simulated chemical agent inside a training facility during Northern Strike 26-2 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, in August 2026. The exercise validated the unit’s readiness to assess and mitigate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Courtesy photo.
Montana Guard Chemical Company Tests Readiness at Northern Strike
By Capt. Andrew Gagne, | Aug. 25, 2026
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 631st Chemical Company participated in Northern Strike 26-2 at Camp Grayling Aug. 2-14, conducting a company-level field training exercise designed to...
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