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An F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares for launch during routine flying operations

March 21, 2022

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying March 22-25 and from March 29 to April 1, with two takeoff periods.

Soldiers from the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, set up their bivouac site in the Arctic Circle, March 3, 2014 during Guerrier Nordique extreme cold weather training in Canada.

March 18, 2022

Vermont Guardsmen take part in combined extreme cold weather exercise in Canada

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — A small group of Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers made a cold and wintery trek into the Canadian wilderness starting at the end of February.

U.S. Army Spc. Timothy Clark, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment Mountain, Maneuver Battalion, Kosovo Force Regional Command-East, patrols near Gate 1 Jarinje in Kosovo, Feb. 3, 2022. Commanders use scout data to inform decisions and plan future missions which support a safe and secure environment for all people of Kosovo.

March 14, 2022

86th IBCT (MTN) completes KFOR mission

FORT BLISS, Texas — The 29th U.S. deployment to Kosovo Force (KFOR) is at an end, and with it comes reflection and a glance at what is next. For the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), the sky is the limit.

National Guard Soldiers from the Minnesota-based 34th Infantry Division pack a U.S. Air Force-operated C-17 in August following the completion of their mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. Deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, about 400 Soldiers from 34th ID were temporarily relocated to Kabul, Afghanistan, and have since arrived safely in Kuwait, where they are assigned. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Charles Anderson)

March 10, 2022

12 Days in August: Vermont Guardsmen reflect on Operation Allies Refuge

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — When Spc. Ryan Moon and Spc. Riley Benoit deployed to Southwest Asia with Task Force Avalanche, the mortarmen did not anticipate a 12-day mission in Afghanistan, taking part in the evacuation of thousands as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Claire Johnson, a combat medic assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Vermont National Guard, sits in the cabin of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua Cohen)

March 3, 2022

Soldier Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Claire Johnson

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — When Staff Sgt. Claire Johnson, a combat medic, joined the New York Army National Guard, she did not anticipate the course her military career would take. “I originally enlisted in the New York Army National Guard when I was 17, right out of high school,” Johnson explained. “My dad was in the military, so he always pushed me in that direction, I never really knew I wanted to be in the Army, I knew I wanted to be in the medical field first.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steve Gagner, commander, Army Mountain Warfare School, 124th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), Vermont National Guard, escorts an Austrian military delegation through the AMWS at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont, Feb. 14, 2022. Austria is scheduled to be Vermont’s newest state partner under the State Partnership Program.

March 1, 2022

Vermont National Guard hosts Austrian delegation

COLCHESTER, Vt. — The Vermont National Guard hosted Austrian military members at numerous National Guard sites Feb. 14-15 as part of the State Partnership Program.

The District of Columbia National Guard will help U.S. Capitol and D.C. police at traffic control points in the nation's capital during anticipated First Amendment protests in February and March 2022. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III approved the assistance of up to 400 DCNG members and 300 Guard members from outside the District of Columbia.

Feb. 23, 2022

National Guard to back law enforcement at DC demonstrations

WASHINGTON — As many as 700 members of the National Guard will be available to help local law enforcement during First Amendment demonstrations expected in the nation’s capital.Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III approved requests from

Students at the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School’s Basic Military Mountaineer Course practice traversing in crampons and learning to stop a fall with ice axes Jan. 21, 2022. The AMWS is a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command school operated by the Vermont Army National Guard at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Vermont.

Feb. 17, 2022

Making Mountaineers: U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School

CAMP ETHAN ALLEN TRAINING SITE, Vt. – Each service member who enters the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School passes under a placard with an ominous warning from Ethan Allen himself: “The Gods of the valleys are not the Gods of

Staff Sgt. John Hampson, an instructor at the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School, demonstrates a casualty evacuation system to students at the school’s Basic Military Mountaineer Course at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Vermont, Jan. 22, 2022. U.S. and foreign service members learn basic, advanced and specialty mountain warfare skills at the school.

Feb. 17, 2022

Legacies of Excellence: Mountain Warfare School instructors

Service members from French desert commandos to U.S. Special Forces operators have sung the praises of U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School instructors.

Pictured from left, the aid station that accompanied a mobile home (which no longer exists) where the first Army Mountain Warfare School courses were run when it was established in 1983; the current AMWS building, which was built in 1987, and the new $30 million facility scheduled to house students and instructors and support courses in April 2022.

Feb. 17, 2022

Humble Beginnings: U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School

CAMP ETHAN ALLEN TRAINING SITE, Vermont — The U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School was established April 5, 1983, in a mobile home next to a tin shack on a small hill in Jericho, Vermont. The tin shack still exists, across from where a new $30 million facility is being constructed.

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National Guard News

The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command to host exercise Baltic Blitz 23 from Sept. 17-20, 2023, at Ämari Air Base, Harijumaa, Estonia. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers, 12 service members from Poland, and 30 Estonians participated in the exercise to secure simulated rail transportation systems from cyber attacks.

Maryland Guard, Estonian Partners Focus on Cyber Defense

By 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, | Sept. 21, 2023

ÄMARI AIR BASE, Estonia - The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command Sept. 17-20 to host the cybersecurity exercise Baltic Blitz 23. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two Illinois Army National...

North Carolina National Guard Capt. Ken Vilagos instructs Moldovan soldiers assigned to the 2nd Motorized Infantry Brigade during Exercise Fire Shield 23 at Bulboaca Training Center, Moldova, Sept. 13, 2023. The annual exercise between North Carolina and Moldova focuses on developing artillery and fire support capabilities.

North Carolina Guard Joins Exercise Rapid Trident in Moldova

By U.S. Army Europe and Africa | Sept. 21, 2023

WIESBADEN, Germany - North Carolina National Guard members are in Moldova for Exercise Rapid Trident Sept. 10-22 with U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s V Corps, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova, and the Romanian Armed...

Cadets with the Puerto Rico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy celebrate their graduation at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico, Sept. 15, 2023. More than 220 cadets received their high school diplomas after completing a 22-week program.

Puerto Rico Guard Youth Program Develops Future Leaders

By 2nd Lt. Eliezer Soto, | Sept. 21, 2023

PONCE, Puerto Rico - More than 220 cadets with the Puerto Rico Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduated from the 22-week educational program with their high school diplomas and certificates in vocational or technical courses Sept...

Solders from the Maryland Army National Guard's 175th Infantry Regiment conduct ambush section training for members of the Estonian Defence League, in Rutja, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia, Sept. 18, 2023. The 18 Maryland Soldiers trained over 2,000 EDL members over three days.

Maryland Guard Teaches Ambush Tactics to Estonian Partners

By 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, | Sept. 21, 2023

RUTJA, Estonia - Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard’s 175th Infantry Regiment shared their expertise in ambush tactics with members of the Estonian Defence League in Estonia. The training was conducted in...

Graphics: Patch for William Tell 2023. The Air Force’s first William Tell air-to-air competition in almost twenty years takes flight at the Air Dominance Center, Savanah, Georgia, September 11 to 15.

Air Force Announces Winners of William Tell 2023 Competition

By ACC Public Affairs Staff, | Sept. 21, 2023

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Air Force wrapped up its first William Tell Air-to-Air Competition in 19 years on Sept. 15, at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia.Airmen from across active and guard wings participated in...