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 | Oct. 21, 2021

Biathlon opportunities attract Washington native

By Joshua Cohen Vermont National Guard Public Affairs

Serving in a dual capacity, Pfc. Eli Nielsen’s days are fully occupied. An M-Day, 15 Tango, Black Hawk helicopter maintainer with Det. 2, Charlie Company 1st Battalion 224th Aviation Regiment, Nielsen is also a member of the Guard’s Biathlon team.

Growing up in Washington State, with exposure to outdoor winter sports, Nielsen developed an interest in Biathlon. Attending college in Montana, Nielsen said that "school and working part-time while trying to pursue Biathlon was expensive, time-consuming, and things just were not adding up.”

Participating in numerous Biathlon events, Nielsen met several members of the Vermont Guard biathletes. “I raced against the Vermont team.”

Interested in joining the military since he was young, Nielsen said “none of the team ever directly asked me if I wanted to join the Vermont Guard, but it was always out there.”

Nielsen said that “enlisting in the Guard was a kind of a no-brainer, it was a really good opportunity where I could gain skills working on helicopters, have my school tuition paid for, and I could serve the country while pursuing Biathlon with an awesome team here in Vermont.”

Nielsen said he had little military knowledge before enlisting. After signing up on June 12, 2020, he was sent to the Vermont Guard’s Biathlon training facility at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Center in Jericho.

“I was at CEATS living and training with the Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team until October when I left for basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and then advanced training at Fort Eustis in Virginia.”

“With the team at CEATS, it got to the point where I heard so many stories and pieces of advice that I was ready to go to basic training and have my own stories, my own experience.”

Nielsen said his decision to enter the military was not only for Biathlon.

“I joined for the opportunities the Guard presented, to take Biathlon to the next level of international competition, my goal is to become a member of the US Olympic Biathlon team, but that’s not the only reason, my father served as an Army Ranger and I’d like to attend Ranger School at some point.”

Vermont National Guard Biathlon Coordinator Maj. Kevin Elmer said Nielsen is a very professional and diligent Solider, "he’s always seeking to improve himself both as a Solider and biathlete.”

“Joining the Guard was a big decision for me, it took a while to weigh the options and now I am so happy that I joined, the team has a super coaching staff, however, it is a professionally military organization held to a higher standard, people on the outside can see that,” Nielsen said.

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
A Security Forces Airman responds to a simulated attack during a field training exercise at Ft. William Henry Harrison, Helena, Mont., June 2, 2025. Security Forces Squadrons from Arizona and Pennsylvania traveled to the Fort for a week of field training. The field instruction consisted of patrol movements, base security, key leader engagements, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives detection response, and simulated attacks from opposition forces.
Arizona and Pennsylvania Air Guards Train Together in Montana
By Tech. Sgt. Jayson Burns, | June 6, 2025
FORT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Mont. – More than 100 security forces Airmen from Arizona and Pennsylvania conducted five days of joint annual training in Helena, Montana, June 2-6.The defenders from the 161st Air Refueling...

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Maritza Garcia, 154th Medical Group Detachment 1 medic and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instructor, evaluates Armed Forces of the Philippines students during a medical field training exercise May 29, 2025, at Camp O’Donnell, Philippines. The training emphasized rapid response and effective medical treatment in high-pressure environments.
Hawaii Guard, Philippine Armed Forces Unite for Medical Exchange
By Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier, | June 6, 2025
CAMP O’DONNELL, Philippines - Hawaii National Guard medical professionals completed their fourth annual Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) exchange with partners from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp...

Service members from the Maine National Guard, Vermont National Guard, Armed Forces of Montenegro, and the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia pose for a group photo before beginning a cyber training exercise during Immediate Response 25 at Golubovci Air Base, Montenegro, June 2, 2025. The cyber exercise was developed and facilitated as a combined effort between the Maine National Guard and the Armed Forces of Montenegro through the State Partnership Program (SPP). The Vermont National Guard and the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, SPP partners since 1993, also participated in the exercise.
Guardsmen, Montenegro, North Macedonia Strengthen Cyber Capabilities at Immediate Response 25
By 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine and David Kennedy, | June 6, 2025
PODGORICA, Montenegro — Nearly three years after a sweeping cyberattack disrupted Montenegro’s government networks, the country has taken a powerful step forward in strengthening its digital defenses by hosting its largest...