Articles
Photo of U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Sdankus, assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, standing in front of the Command Section building on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Japan, March 26, 2025.

April 3, 2025

Bridging Skies and Seas

The ocean churned beneath the incoming helicopters, their rotors slicing through the humid Pacific air. Special operations forces stood at the edge of open ramp doors, seconds from making their drop into the sea. This wasn’t just a drill; it was a test of their ability to execute under the most demanding conditions, where split-second decisions meant the difference between success and failure.

U.S. Army Spc. Caleb Hunter, Maine National Guard, leads team U.S.A. with the flag over his shoulder during the opening ceremony of the CISM 2025 World Winter Military Games

March 24, 2025

U.S. Winter Team arrive to CISM World Games 2025 in Switzerland

The 2025 Conseil International Du Sport Militaire (CISM) will be held in Switzerland this year. The United States team arrived for the World Military Games where they will compete in a slew of winter games that range from nordic to alpine skiing, biathlon, and climbing.

Photo of, From left: Japan Air Self Defense Force Capt. Nakanishi, U.S. Air Force Lt. Mike Watson and Royal Australian Air Force FLTLT Ryan pose for a photo in front of an F-35A Lightning II on the flight-line for exercise Cope North 2025 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 19, 2025.

March 7, 2025

Cope North 25 Strengthens Trilateral Airpower and Interoperability

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE — For the first time, F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Japan, the United States, and Australia conducted trilateral training operations, enhancing joint capabilities and interoperability. Representing the United States’ fifth-generation fighter presence, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 134th Fighter Squadron deployed a portion of its fleet for the exercise.

U.S. Army Sgt. David Coburn (Ret), Vermont National Guard holds two photos of his time as a heavy equipment operator in Vietnam.

March 7, 2025

Hardwick Native Reflects on Service from Vietnam to Vermont

For retired Army Sergeant David Coburn, service has always been a part of life—whether on foreign soil, in the hills of Vermont, or at home as a dedicated firefighter.

Staff Sgt. Noah Lukan, a Cyber Communications specialist assigned to the 148th Communications Squadron, 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, participated in a cold-water immersion as part of the Air National Guard's cold weather operations course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., Feb. 7, 2025. Students participated in a six-day, five-night Field Training Exercise where they traveled on foot in subzero temperatures, using land navigational skills, to build camps featuring either a 10-man Arctic tent or thermal shelters made from materials found in nature. Students were comprised of mostly Security Forces specialists, but also included a Maintenance Group Commander, Physician Assistant, Cyber Communications Specialist, and a Public Affairs Specialist. The course taught service members to conduct mission-essential tasking in extreme cold environments.

Feb. 11, 2025

Air National Guard Conducts Arctic Training in Minnesota

CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. — 70 Air National Guard airmen gathered at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8, 2025, to train and conduct mission-essential tasks in extremely cold temperatures, during the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course (CWOC).

Capt. Matthew Purdy (right), who is currently serving as project engineer on the Canandaigua VA Medical Center project, participates in a site tour of the project.

Feb. 4, 2025

Army officer gaining engineering experience at Canandaigua VA Medical Center project

Capt. Matthew Purdy has had an interest in engineering and how things work since he was a preschooler. That lifelong interest has led him to his current role as a project engineer on the Canandaigua VA Medical Center project in upstate New York.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard, poses for photo with Vermont secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Lindsay Kurrle (left) and Dr. Bettyjo Bouchey, UVM Chief Officer for Professional and Continuing Education at the Army Aviation Support Facility.

Jan. 14, 2025

Vermont National Guard and University of Vermont sign partnership agreement to enhance career development for service members

The Vermont National Guard signed a partnership agreement with the University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education (UVM PACE) to bolster career development for service members at the Army Aviation Support Facility in South Burlington on Jan 14.

Airmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing take off in an aircraft that will bring them to their deployed location, from the Burlington International Airport.

Jan. 13, 2025

Vermont Air National Guard Deploys to Japan

More than 200 Airmen, along with equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft from the Vermont Air National Guard recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance regional security and strengthen interoperability with joint and allied forces.

Photo of U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Hayden Lessor, from the Low Observable Maintenance Shop, Vermont Air National Guard, standing for a photo with his family while attending the Joining Forces event at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Jan. 8, 2025

VTANG Airman Represents Vermont at White House for Joining Forces

It’s not every day a member of the Vermont Air National Guard walks the halls of the White House, let alone shares a moment with the First Lady of the United States. For Tech. Sgt. Hayden Lessor of the 158th Fighter Wing, that moment became reality when he represented Vermont and the VTANG at the annual Joining Forces event.

Vermont National Guard Press Release

Dec. 6, 2024

Vermont National Guard hosts 2024 Operation Santa's Convoy

The Vermont National Guard will escort Santa Claus on a lighted convoy around the state on December 19.

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 Lt. Col. Rolando Aguilar, Fairchild RC-26 Metroliner program manager for the 147th Reconnaissance Wing, Texas National Guard, participates in an interview during a 9/11 media-day event at Pentagon crash site Aug. 23, in Arlington, Va. Aguilar was one of several Guard members who gave interviews about their involvement with the 9/11 attacks.
Retired Texas Air National Guard Pilot Recalls Protecting Air Force One on 9/11
By Air Force 2nd Lt. Vincent Pfeifferling, | Sept. 11, 2026
ARLINGTON, Va. — Retired Air Force Col. Rolando Aguilar, a former Texas Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, remembers the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 — a day off that turned into a scramble to intercept an inbound...
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard, exchange unit patches with a member of the Indian Air Force Helicopter Display Team on the flight line during the Egypt International Airshow at El Alamein International Airport, Egypt, Sept. 9 2026. EIAS 2026 brings together aviation defense partners to foster cross-cultural military relationships and strengthen regional security cooperation across North Africa and the Middle East. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Tia Hambrick.
Texas Air National Guard Strengthens Egypt Partnership at Airshow
By | Sept. 11, 2026
AL ALAMEIN, Egypt — U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the Texas Air National Guard, alongside forces from U.S. Air Forces Central, joined international military leaders, civil aviation authorities and defense representatives...
Airmen assigned to the 155th Communications Squadron adjust VHF and UHF radio antennas during a disaster response exercise in Yutan, Nebraska, Sept. 2, 2026. The antennas support a cross-band communications system that allows radios from different teams and responding agencies to communicate with one another, helping establish an interoperable communications network during large-scale emergency response operations. Photo by Master Sgt. Jessica Kind.
Nebraska Guard Strengthens Disaster Response Readiness
By Master Sgt. Jessica Kind, | Sept. 10, 2026
YUTAN, Neb. – About 250 Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen gathered at the Atlas Readiness Center Sept. 1-3 for an annual joint field training exercise designed to strengthen the Guard’s ability to respond to...
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