Vermont adjutant general releases statement on Afghanistan > Vermont National Guard > News & Press Releases For The Vermont National Guard

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U.S. 1st Lt. Ana Monteiro, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment (1-101st), Massachusetts Army National Guard, goes down a slide with an Afghan girl at Arian School during a humanitarian aid drop of school supplies on Nov. 10, 2010, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Monteiro and other Soldiers of the 1-101st have 'adopted' the mostly girl school by providing three more classrooms and donating school supplies several times since May

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U.S. 1st Lt. Ana Monteiro, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment (1-101st), Massachusetts Army National Guard, goes down a slide with an Afghan girl at Arian School during a humanitarian aid drop of school supplies on Nov. 10, 2010, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Monteiro and other Soldiers of the 1-101st have 'adopted' the mostly girl school by providing three more classrooms and donating school supplies several times since May.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Swayer Alberi the Brigade Medical Operations Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Mountain (MTN), Task Force Wolverine, from Eden, Vt., and with Maj. Lora Bowens a nurse practitioner with the 86th IBCT (MTN), TF Wolverine, from Saint Albans, W.Va., discuss what medical materials are needed at the birthing center with the head doctor of the Women's Birthing Center, Charikar, Parwan province, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2010. Alberi and Bowens are both members of the Female Engagement Team (FET) that visit the Birthing Center to address some concerns they may have. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kristina Gupton/Released)

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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Swayer Alberi the Brigade Medical Operations Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Mountain (MTN), Task Force Wolverine, from Eden, Vt., and with Maj. Lora Bowens a nurse practitioner with the 86th IBCT (MTN), TF Wolverine, from Saint Albans, W.Va., discuss what medical materials are needed at the birthing center with the head doctor of the Women's Birthing Center, Charikar, Parwan province, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2010. Alberi and Bowens are both members of the Female Engagement Team (FET) that visit the Birthing Center to address some concerns they may have. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kristina Gupton/Released)

U.S. 1st Lt. Ana Monteiro, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment (1-101st), Massachusetts Army National Guard, swings with an Afghan girl at Ariana School during a humanitarian aid drop of school supplies on Nov. 10, 2010, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Monteiro and other Soldiers of the 1-101st have 'adopted' the mostly girl school by providing three more classrooms and donating school supplies several times since May.

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101110-A-5816L-048

U.S. 1st Lt. Ana Monteiro, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment (1-101st), Massachusetts Army National Guard, swings with an Afghan girl at Ariana School during a humanitarian aid drop of school supplies on Nov. 10, 2010, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Monteiro and other Soldiers of the 1-101st have 'adopted' the mostly girl school by providing three more classrooms and donating school supplies several times since May.

U.S. Army Maj. Lora Bowens, a nurse practitioner with 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), 86th IBCT (MTN) Task Force Wolverine and a Saint Albans, W.Va., resident, writes down a list of medical supplies that are needed by the Women's Birthing Center, Charikar, Parwan province, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2010. Bowens is a member of the Female Engagement Team (FET) who visits the Women's Birthing Center to address some concerns the women may have within the center. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kristina Gupton/Released)

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100915-A-1182G-046

U.S. Army Maj. Lora Bowens, a nurse practitioner with 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), 86th IBCT (MTN) Task Force Wolverine and a Saint Albans, W.Va., resident, writes down a list of medical supplies that are needed by the Women's Birthing Center, Charikar, Parwan province, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2010. Bowens is a member of the Female Engagement Team (FET) who visits the Women's Birthing Center to address some concerns the women may have within the center. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kristina Gupton/Released)

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont –

Like you, I've been watching the situation in Afghanistan over the past 48 hours. If you deployed to Afghanistan, you may feel right now like you've somehow 'failed.' I want to assure you that nothing is further from the truth. The Vermonters who deployed to Afghanistan served with honor and distinction: our military members execute the mission they are given, no matter how challenging. You did your job and no one will ever take that away from you.

For our Service Members who gave their lives in Afghanistan, and those impacted over the 20 years of our time there, please continue to hold them and their families in our hearts.

If you or someone you know is struggling, I encourage you to reach out. Talk to me directly; talk to a mental health specialist, a battle buddy, a commander, or a first sergeant. We have resources available to you at www.vtguard.com/suicide-prevention.

Here are just a few stories of our work from 2010, if you would like to take a moment to remember with me:

Vermont Guard Soldiers jump right into their mission
Gov. Douglas visits troops, raises Vermont battle flag
Vermont National Guard unit creates relationship with school in Kabul
Vermont Guard unit adjusts to changing mission

Stay in the arena. You make a difference.

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National Guard News

A fragment of a World War II P‑38 Lightning aircraft is displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 23, 2026. The Wisconsin National Guard assisted in recovering and transporting aircraft components from Papua New Guinea as part of an effort to bring home the historic fighter that U.S. Army Air Forces Maj. Richard I. Bong flew and named

Wisconsin Guard Helps Return WWII Plane Section

By Leslie Westmont, | July 24, 2026

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin National Guard has helped return a recovered section of a P-38 Lightning aircraft more than 80 years after Wisconsin native and World War II fighter ace Maj. Richard I. Bong flew combat missions...

A U.S. Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade transports water in a water bucket over wildfires in Northern Minnesota, July 15, 2026. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency on July 12, activating the Minnesota National Guard to support civil authorities with aerial wildfire suppression operations. This joint Army and Air National Guard response showcases the state's readiness to protect life, preserve property and support Minnesota communities. Photo by Staff Sgt. Tylin Rust.

National Guard Supports Wildfire Suppression Efforts From the Midwest to West Coast

By Sgt. 1st Class Amber Peck, | July 24, 2026

ARLINGTON, Va. – National Guard units from across the country are supporting wildfire suppression operations in multiple states, providing aerial firefighting aircraft, helicopters and personnel to assist civil authorities as...

U.S. Airmen with the Air National Guard assigned to force support squadrons from Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Puerto Rico, assemble a tent during the fiscal year 2026 Home Station Readiness Training at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 17, 2026. The Home Station Readiness Training is a joint total force integration training involving the 140th Force Support Squadron, 154th Force Support Squadron, 142nd Force Support Squadron, 926th Force Support Squadron and 156th Force Support Squadron, designed to test participants expeditionary capabilities and ensure that force support personnel are prepared to perform their mission in a contested environment. Courtesy photo.

Puerto Rico Guard Airmen Build Force Support Readiness

By Master Sgt. Victor Vazquez, | July 24, 2026

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Airmen from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Force Support Squadron joined nearly 100 force support professionals from four Air National Guard units and one Air Force Reserve...