An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Articles
News | March 10, 2017

2017 Chief of National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship

By Spc. Avery Cunningham 172nd Public Affairs Detachment

The 2017 Chief, National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship was held at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, from March 3 to March 10. The competition included 120 National Guardsmen from 23 different states. Competitors ranging from novice to experienced professionals participated in the week-long championship.

“Biathlon is a winter Olympic sport that combines Nordic skiing with marksmanship,” said U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Elmer, biathlon coordinator, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont National Guard.

The races vary in length and amount of shooting. The first two races are individual races and are followed by two team events with four group members.

The sprint race is the first race and determines the start order for the pursuit race. It’s a ten-kilometer race for the men and a seven and a half kilometer race for the women and each competitor has to shoot prone and standing, said Elmer.

The pursuit race is a twelve and a half kilometer race for the men and a ten-kilometer race for the women, and consists of shooting prone twice and shooting standing twice, said Elmer.

The first group race is the relay race. The men ski seven and a half kilometers and the women ski six kilometers and shoot prone and standing before tagging off to their teammate, said Elmer.

The patrol race is a 15-kilometer race and members have to stay within 15 seconds of each other. The team includes three shooters and a patrol leader. After each two and a half kilometer loop, the team moves to the range, but only one athlete fires. There are three laps in which the athletes take turns shooting, firing prone first, then standing for the second lap, and then finally prone for final lap, said Elmer. The race, however, was shortened to ten kilometers this year due to weather and time constraints.

The individual races test a service member’s ability to move and shoot on their own, but the team races further expand on the skill set by introducing teamwork and more communication. The military emphasizes, shoot, move and communicate; the three basic skills required of any service member, and the biathlon delivers exemplary training in each one.

”The biathlon is important to the National Guard because it provides high quality marksmanship under stress and great physical fitness training and the athletes learn great leadership skills, focus, and the skills required to have a good training plan teach them how to make plans and prepare to be leaders,” said Elmer.

The sport not only helps to improve a service member’s skills, but also sets them apart as well.

“It’s an excellent opportunity if you’re looking for ways to better yourself and really put yourself above your peers and take the chance to really do something different,” said Spc. Lisa Roberts, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 174th Air Defense Artillery, Ohio National Guard. “You’re going to get a lot from it and you’re going to challenge yourself in many different ways.”

The opportunity is even better for service members who show amazing skill in the sport.
The biathlon development team trains all year long and participates in various races.

“We race all around the world in military competitions,” said Tech. Sgt. Travis Voyer, biathlon trainer, 158th Fighter Wing, Logistics Readiness Squadron, Vermont National Guard. “Not only do we get to race throughout the country but we also race internationally and we call it friendship through sport. Athletes get to race against other countries and meet other military members throughout the world.”

The dedication of the members of the development team shows through their accomplishments and ability to field Olympic athletes.

“We’ve had 24 Olympic athletes since the National Guard took over the program in 1973, and any time the National Guard has an Olympian it helps bring attention to what the guard does for the country,” said Elmer.

The biathlon is more than just a sport for service members to enjoy. It’s a way to connect with people around the country and the world. It’s a way to show off the National Guard and its abilities. The biathlon provides training that produces great service members with exceptional skills that are applicable in any scope of field outside the sport.

“For anyone that is interested, just try to get in contact with your state’s team, express your interest, and see what options they have for you,” said Roberts. “A lot of teams are going to be willing to help get you on that team even if you’re brand new to the sport.”

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard - April 2025

The above YouTube video link may not work on all government computers. Read the transcript of MG Gregory Knight's full State of the Guard here.

National Guard News
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Blayne Flickinger, a medical technician assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th medical group, takes the vitals of a local resident during the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program: Operations Healthy Tennessee at Rhea County Middle School, Evensville, Tenn., July 10, 2025. The IRT Program is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) initiative that provides real-world, hands-on training opportunities for military units while delivering critical services to American communities in need.
Ohio Guard Participates in Operation Healthy Tennessee 2025
By Staff Sgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren, | July 16, 2025
EVENSVILLE, Tenn. - Ohio Air National Guard members arrived July 9 in Tennessee to participate in Operation Healthy Tennessee, an initiative that offers the public no-cost medical, dental, optometry, nutritional education,...

U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard, conduct civil disturbance operations (CDO) training at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, Calif., June 11, 2025. California Army National Guardsmen in their Title 10 duty status train for crowd control and de-escalation techniques in alignment with legal rules for using the appropriate level of force. U.S. Northern Command is supporting federal agencies by providing military forces to protect federal functions, personnel, and property in the greater Los Angeles area. On June 7, the Secretary of Defense directed USNORTHCOM to establish Task Force 51 to oversee Title 10 forces supporting this mission.
California Guard's 79th IBCT Activated as Brigade for First Time in History
By Staff Sgt. Amber Peck, | July 16, 2025
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – In a historic first, more than 2,000 Soldiers from the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were mobilized under Title 10 federal orders to support federal agencies in the...

A UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the New York National Guard's A Company, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, prepares to lift an M-119 howitzer belonging to the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery during a training exercise at Fort Drum, New York, June 8, 2025. The 258th Field Artillery's C Battery will be part of a 246-Soldier New York Army National Guard contingent serving as the Opposing Force, or OPFOR, at the National Training Center from July 25 to August 3.
NY Army Guard Serves as Opposing Force at Training Center
By Eric Durr, | July 15, 2025
LATHAM, N.Y.  –  Two hundred forty-six New York Army National Guard Soldiers will go to Fort Irwin, California, the home of the Army’s National Training Center in the Mojave Desert, starting July 15.The Soldiers will serve...