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: Staff Sgt. Charles Mudgett

Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command

Name: SSG Charles Mudgett 
Military Specialty: 91L Construction Equipment Repairer 
Years of Service: 17
Unit: B. Co. 186th BSB
Deployments: 2005-2006, Iraq, 1-172nd Armor. 2010, Afghanistan, C-Troop 1-172 Cav.
Hometown: Fletcher, Vt.
Current Town: Fairfield, Vt.
High School/Graduation Year: 2001
College/Graduation: Vermont Technical College 2004

Q. Why did you join the Vermont National Guard? 
A. I always felt the urge to serve my Country. I liked the fact that the National Guard stayed in the community. One of my high school teachers had told me that if I was unsure about going to College the military provided direction and job training. 


Q. What do you do in the Vermont National Guard?
A. Until just recently when I switched units I had been working as a Construction Equipment Repairer for Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command at Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho. 


Q. What do you do for civilian work?
A. I work as the Production Controller for FMS-3 in North Hyde Park.


Q. What do you think is the greatest benefit of being in the National Guard?
A. Serving my Country and the State of Vermont. 

Q. How has being a National Guard member benefited you in your local community and job?
A. I have had the opportunity to service the people of Vermont during the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. I have also learned how to work as a team to accomplish any task. 

Q. What is your most memorable military moment?
A. Walking off the plane at the BTV after returning from Iraq. I was the first one off the plane and the families were all waiting on the opposite side of the tarmac behind some engineer tape. As I approached the families pushed through and started running straight at me. I stopped moving as this wall of hundreds of people over took me. 

Q. How long have you lived in Vermont?
A. My entire life.

Q. What is your favorite aspect of living or working where you do?
A. I live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. It’s a true community.


Q. What has surprised you about the Vermont National Guard?
A. How deep the relationship is between brothers in arms. It’s an extension of my family.


Q. What is your favorite part about serving in the VT National Guard?
A. I know I have done and seen things I can tell my grandkids about. 

Q. What made you volunteer for this Senegal Mission?
A. I have been a part of almost everything the Vermont Guard has been involved in. Iraq, Afghanistan, Hurricane Irene, Macedonia. Senegal is the missing piece for me. 

Q. Is this your first time here going to Senegal? If yes, what are you looking forward to? If no, what was your previous mission and what did you do?
A. Yes, I’m looking forward to leaving a positive legacy for the Vermont National Guard. When the Senegalese Army uses this range I hope they tell their soldiers, “the Vermonters helped us build this.”

Q. What is your mission in Senegal?
A. Construct a training range for the Senegalese Army.

Q. Why do you think your mission in Senegal is important?
A. To strengthen the partnership between our countries.

Q. What do you want to take away from this trip?
A. The feeling of accomplishment. 

Q. How do you think this mission helps the Vermont National Guard?
A. It allows Vermont to shine on the World stage. It also strengthens our partnership with Senegal. 

Q. How do you feel about being able to train with the Senegal Army?
A. I hope we are able to leave the Senegalese with a positive attitude about America and the State of Vermont. 

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

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. Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Soloff, an infantryman with Charlie Company, 1st Brigade, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, observes Polish Territorial Defence soldiers as they prepare range cards necessary for Javelin deployment during Javelin anti-armor ambush training at the TDF Training Center in Toruń, Poland, June 11, 2025. The Illinois National Guard and Poland are partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for mutual training and subject matter expert exchanges. Servicemembers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team spent two weeks alongside their Polish counterparts training on sniper operations, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system, combat medical care, and remote observer techniques.
State Partnership Program Enables Global, Shared ‘Peace through Strength’
By Maj. Jon LaDue, | June 27, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.  – For more than 30 years, the National Guard has helped bolster the capabilities of foreign militaries, effectively broadening the pool of partners who are willing and able to support defense and security...

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard (MANG), observes the progress of the ongoing M1117 Armored Support Vehicle refurbishment initiative at the Kahawa Barracks in Nairobi, Kenya, May 30, 2025. This collaborative initiative between MANG and the Kenya Defence Forces underscores a decade of collaboration through the State Partnership Program.
Massachusetts National Guard, Kenya Strengthen Partnership
By Senior Airman Julia Ahaesy, | June 27, 2025
NAIROBI, Kenya - In 2025, the Massachusetts National Guard and the Kenya Defence Forces commemorate a decade of collaboration through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.  Since its...

(From left) U.S. Army Col. Brian Martinus, Michigan National Guard State Chaplain; AFL Maj. Urias Zogaa, Chaplain General, Armed Forces of Liberia; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard; AFL Maj. Gen. Davidson Forleh, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia, U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William Russell, III, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Michigan National Guard; U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh, Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard; CW5 Allen Robinson, State Command Warrant Officer, Michigan National Guard; AFL Lt. Col. Francis Gbodi, Military Advisor; Armed Forces of Liberia; U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Hopkins, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Michigan Army National Guard, stand for a photo in front of a white pine – Michigan’s state tree – dedicated near the Camp Grayling chapel to symbolize the strength of the Michigan-Liberia partnership
Michigan Guard, Liberia Mark 15 Years of Partnership
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | June 27, 2025
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—The Michigan National Guard and the Armed Forces of Liberia celebrated the 15th anniversary of their partnership in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program with a...