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 | April 20, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Doner

Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command

Name: Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Doner
Military Specialty: 12H Construction Supervisor
Years of Service: 24
Unit: Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command, 
Deployments: 2004-2006 Kuwait
Hometown: Underhill, Vt
Current Town: Starksboro, Vt
High School/Graduation Year: 1982 

Q. Why did you join the Vermont National Guard? 
A. To learn something different and get different skills.

Q. What do you do in the Vermont National Guard?
A. Horizontal construction/vertical construction.

Q. What do you do for civilian work?
A. Plumbing and heating.

Q. What do you think is the greatest benefit of being in the National Guard?
A. Being part of something bigger and better than myself.

Q. How has being a National Guard member benefited you in your local community and job?
A. The training I received from the military has helped me at my job.

Q. What is your most memorable military moment?
A. Being part of Task Force Green Mountain. 

Q. How long have you lived in Vermont?
A. 53 Years

Q. What is your favorite aspect of living or working where you do?
A. The four seasons.

Q. What has surprised you about the Vermont National Guard?
A. To be given the opportunity to do missions like going to Senegal to work with their military.

Q. What is your favorite part about serving in the VT National Guard?
A. Training other Soldiers on what we can do.

Q. How many push-ups did you get on your last physical fitness test?
A. 35


Q. What made you volunteer for this Senegal Mission?
A. To be part of a mission to bring different people together and work together.

Q. Is this your first time here going to Senegal? 
A. Yes, this is a great opportunity to build a range with the Senegalese Army.

Q. What is your mission in Senegal?
A. To build an operational range.

Q. Why do you think your mission in Senegal is important?
A. To be part of two different countries working together.

Q. What do you want to take away from this trip?
A. The opportunity to bring different people together to compete a mission/task.

Q. How do you think this mission helps the Vermont National Guard?
A. Being able to train with the Senegal Army.

Q. How do you feel about being able to train with the Senegal Army?
A. I want to learn from them.

Q. What are some differences between Senegal and Vermont?
A. The climate and language.

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
Alaska Air National Guard pararescuemen assigned to the 212th Rescue Squadron prepare to hoist an injured snowmachiner from a heavily wooded, mountainous area near Cooper Landing, Alaska, Feb. 21, 2026. The mission marked the first search and rescue operation conducted by the 210th Rescue Squadron using the HH-60W Jolly Green II. Courtesy photo.
Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Injured Snowmachiner
By Dana Rosso, | Feb. 27, 2026
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guard personnel conducted a rescue mission Feb. 21 after receiving a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers through the Alaska Rescue Coordination...

Soldiers of the 120th Regional Support Group, Maine Army National Guard, make final preparations at the armory in Sanford, Maine, before beginning their convoy to Rhode Island, Feb. 26, 2026. The Maine National Guard mobilized to assist in Rhode Island following a significant winter storm that brought heavy snowfall and widespread impacts to the region. The primary mission will be to haul snow from critical infrastructure areas, roadways and public spaces and help Rhode Island agencies expedite recovery efforts and restore normal operations throughout the city of Providence. Photo by Lt. Col. Margaret St. Pierre.
Maine Guard Mobilizes to Support Rhode Island Blizzard Response
By Lt. Col. Margaret St. Pierre, | Feb. 26, 2026
AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine National Guard mobilized Feb. 26 to assist in the state of Rhode Island following a significant winter storm that brought heavy snowfall and widespread impacts to the region.With assistance from the...

The Agile Cyber Training Environment, or ACTE, is a self-contained, portable cyber training and development platform, invented by U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Taylor Gow on Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. With the core capabilities to test, train and develop, the ACTE provides hands-on training environments anywhere, anytime, and was accepted into the Department of the Air Force Spark Tank 2026 competition. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Taylor Gow.
Massachusetts Guardsman Invents Portable Cyber Training, Development Platform
By Senior Airman Julia Ahaesy, | Feb. 26, 2026
OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Senior Master Sgt. Taylor Gow saw a gap in cyber readiness and created a solution of a self-contained, portable cyber training and development platform that lets Airmen train anywhere,...