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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100915-A-1182G-059

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.

National Guard News

High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site instructors and staff brief Charlie Duke, NASA astronaut, before a training flight July 8, 2024, in Gypsum, Colorado. Duke was one of 12 astronauts to walk on the moon during NASA’s Apollo missions. NASA is partnering with HAATS to apply rotary wing skills to lunar landing operations in support of the Artemis mission set.

NASA Apollo, Artemis Missions Cross Paths at Colorado Guard Site

By Capt. Remington Henderson, | July 26, 2024

GYPSUM, Colo. - The Colorado National Guard’s High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site hosted Charlie Duke, one of only 12 NASA astronauts to have walked on the moon, July 8.HAATS, based in Gypsum, Colorado,...

An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft performs a low pass over Malacky Air Base, Slovakia, July 22, 2024. The aircraft were flown by U.S. Air Force pilots and were the first F-16s to be delivered from Lockheed Martin to Slovakia.

Indiana Guard Helps Deliver F-16s to Slovak Partners

By Indiana Air National Guard | July 26, 2024

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Two F-16 Fighting Falcons piloted by U.S. Air Force Col. Eduardo Castaneda, 122nd Fighter Wing, and Capt. Sean Williams, Defense Contract Management Agency in Greenville, South Carolina, landed at 8:10...

Two F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighting Wing soar above St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, during exercise Caribbean Fox July 22, 2024. Caribbean Fox provides a dynamic training experience for the warfighter to maintain readiness to integrate, operate and dominate air superiority across the full spectrum of conflict.

South Carolina Air Guard Showcases ACE Concepts

By 2nd Lt. Nicole Szews, | July 26, 2024

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands - The South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing conducted Exercise Caribbean Fox at St. Croix July 16-24, focusing on mastering Agile Combat Employment concepts to prepare for any...