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 | Jan. 27, 2018

National Guard Biathlon Regionals Held in Vermont

By Sgt. Avery Cunningham 172nd Public Affairs Detachment

National Guardsmen from 24 states competed in their respective Regional Biathlon Competitions at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. Biathlon consists of target shooting and ski racing. Competitors, ranging from novice to master, are divided into west, central, and east regions.

“Usually we have regionals at different locations, but this year they didn’t have any snow in Minnesota, so they decided to consolidate the entire country,” said U.S. Army Col. Robert Gingras, the chief of competition for the event. “They’re all racing today rather than racing separate regionals.”

The regionals consisted of two sprint races each for the men’s and women’s categories. The men complete three laps adding up to ten kilometers, shooting five shots while prone after the first lap, five shots while standing after the second lap, then finishing on the third lap. The woman’s is the same but the distance is only 7.5 kilometers.

“It’s pretty aerobically challenging,” said Spc. Joshua McDougal, a Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team member and infantryman assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). “I come from cross country running and track and field background, so I know what aerobics are about, but it uses a different muscle group for sure. So that was the biggest challenge for me.”

The challenge gives current National Guardsmen an opportunity to develop as athletes and to improve in biathlon, while also inviting biathletes to join the guard.

“Our number one mission is to develop athletes that have enough potential to make the next level within the U.S. Biathlon Association,” said Staff Sgt. Sarah Lehto, head coach for the National Guard Biathlon Program. “Our goal is to develop them to the level where they can compete internationally and be absorbed by the USBA to be a member of their national team.”

The training and competing gives goals for the guardsmen that also allows them to develop in other areas crucial for Soldiers.

“Coming out here giving yourself something to shoot for definitely gives you an edge in discipline and fitness,” said McDougal. “Alpha Company being a mountain unit there is definitely a lot of carry overs to what we do on a normal drill weekend.”

For even more photos, check out the Vermont National Guard Flickr!

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
Colorado Army National Guard crew chiefs U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Wade Shore (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Hubbard (right), High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, perform maintenance on their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, in Gypsum, Colorado, July 23, 2025. Both Soldiers participated in a dangerous nighttime rescue that set the record for the highest hoist ever conducted in Colorado, saving two hikers who had become caught in a storm and were struck by lightning. The crew flew at approximately 14,200 feet above sea level, beating the previous record of around 13,700 feet by a military aircraft in Colorado.
Colorado National Guard Aircrew Breaks Record for Hoist Rescue
By Staff Sgt. Josiah Pugh, | July 25, 2025
GYPSUM, Colo. – Members of a Colorado Army National Guard Black Hawk aircrew tested their skill and pushed their helicopter’s performance to its limits during a dangerous nighttime rescue that set the record for the highest...

An Ohio National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, does in-flight inspections during a flight to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 14, 2025. The operation highlighted collaboration between Army and Air National Guard units, strengthening inter-branch coordination that is essential for mission success in both domestic and deployed settings.
178th Wing Scores in Top 5% of Total Force in Combat Readiness Inspection
By Shane Hughes, | July 24, 2025
SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY AIR GUARD STATION, Ohio - The Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing scored in the top 5% of all Air Force wings in a Combat Readiness Inspection completed July 17 at the Springfield-Beckley Air National...

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard participate in a radio communications knowledge exchange with Djiboutian soldiers at the Djiboutian signal corps compound in Djibouti City, Djibouti, July 14, 2025. The State Partnership Program conducts military-to-military engagements in support of U.S. defense and security goals, facilitating cooperation across all levels of international civil-military affairs, and encouraging relationship building at the state level.
Kentucky Guard, Djibouti Military Partner on Cyber, Radio Exchange
By Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman, | July 24, 2025
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti - In the East Africa region where a single breached network can ripple across borders, Djiboutian soldiers and the Kentucky Army National Guard as well as other U.S. service members spent four focused...