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 | Feb. 3, 2022

Schedule released for Vermont National Guard Olympic biathletes

By Don Branum Vermont National Guard Public Affairs

Vermont National Guard Olympic biathletes will compete in televised events Feb. 5-16, with possibilities to compete on Feb. 18 and 19, National Guard Biathlon training officials announced Feb. 3.

Most events will be televised live in the early morning hours on NBC Sports and on www.peacocktv.com, with rebroadcast on USA Network later in the day.

Vermont National Guard biathletes were named Jan. 11. Spc. Deedra Irwin will make her Olympic debut on the U.S. Women’s Biathlon Team. Spcs. Sean Doherty and Leif Nordgren will compete on the U.S. Men’s Biathlon Team, with Spc. Vaclav Cervenka available as an alternate.

“I couldn’t be more proud. I know all of the hard work and dedication our athletes and coaches put in every day,” said Maj. Kevin Elmer, the National Guard Biathlon coordinator. “Now they will get to represent their country at the pinnacle of athletic competition.”

Irwin called her selection to the U.S. Women’s Biathlon Team surreal.

“You dream about something and chase it with everything you’ve got,” she said. “Now, to be able to compete in the Olympics ... I am just so honored, and I can’t wait to compete in Beijing.”

The full schedule of televised events and Vermont National Guard biathletes is below. All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

Feb. 5: Irwin and Doherty are likely to appear on NBC Sports and Peacock at 4 a.m. and on USA Network at noon. The full list of competitors will be announced Feb. 4.

Feb. 7: Irwin will compete in the women’s individual 15k at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock and at 9:40 a.m. on USA Network.

Feb. 8: Doherty and Nordgren will compete in the men’s individual 20k at 3:30 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock and 4:35 a.m. on USA Network.

Feb. 11: Irwin will compete in the women’s 7.5k sprint at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock, 11:30 a.m. on USA Network, and 11:35 p.m. on NBC Primetime.

Feb. 12: Doherty and Nordgren will compete in the men’s 10k sprint at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock and on USA Network.

Feb. 13: If they place in the top 60 in their sprint races, Irwin, Doherty and Nordgren will compete in the women’s 10k and men’s 12.5k pursuits, respectively, at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock. USA Network will carry the women’s 10k at 4 a.m. and the men’s 12.5k at 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 15: Doherty and Nordgren will compete, and Cervenka may compete, in the men’s 4x7.5k relay at 2:45 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock and at 11 a.m. on USA Network.

Finally, the men’s 15k mass start will be shown Feb. 18 at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock and 7 p.m. on USA Network, and the women’s 12.5k mass start will be shown Feb. 19 at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports/Peacock and USA Network.

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
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Engel, Warrant Officer 1 Courtney Topper, Warrant Officer 1 Jacob Shumway, Warrant Officer 1 Alex G. Sama, chief of logistics for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and Maj. Edward K. John pose for a photo during a Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program engagement in Michigan, December 2024. The Michigan National Guard hosted two Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces representatives for a weeklong visit focused on logistics, facility management and sustainment operations, including engagements with the 246th Transportation Battalion and the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Lansing. The exchange strengthened military-to-military cooperation and reinforced the growing partnership between Michigan and Sierra Leone. Photo by 1st Lt. Paige Bodine.
Michigan National Guard Hosts Sierra Leone to Strengthen New Partnership
By 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine, | Dec. 19, 2025
LANSING, Mich.— The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and Sierra Leone recently marked another significant step forward in the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, or SPP.The...

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, 96th Troop Command, Washington Army National Guard fill sand bags in Sedro Woolley, Wash., Dec. 11, 2025. More than 300 Washington National Guard members provided flood relief support to citizens in Skagit County since Dec. 10, 2025. Photo by Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon.
National Guard Responds to Historic Flooding in Western Washington
By Joseph Siemandel, | Dec. 19, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As rivers overtopped banks and levees failed across western Washington, the Washington National Guard launched one of its largest and fastest flood responses in recent memory, mobilizing approximately 300...

Members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, along with volunteers from the Salvation Army and the Alaska National Guard Child and Youth Program, hosted families from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok during Operation Santa Claus 2025 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 14, 2025. Operation Santa Claus, a longstanding annual Alaska National Guard community outreach program, has provided gifts, toys, backpacks and books to children in remote Alaskan communities since 1956. The program partners with the Salvation Army and numerous volunteers to spread holiday cheer and continue its tradition of support. This year’s event supported families who were displaced following Typhoon Halong and provided an opportunity for continued engagement with impacted Western Alaska communities. Photo by Alejandro Peña.
Operation Santa Comes to Anchorage, Spreads Holiday Cheer for Western Alaskans
By Maj. David Bedard, | Dec. 19, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — For nearly 70 years, the Alaska National Guard has worked with partner agencies to spread holiday cheer to rural Alaskan communities through Operation Santa.   For the first time in...