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Category: Meet Your Guard

The Vermont National Guard and Senegalese Armed Forces engineers are renovating the firing range through their State Partnership Program relationship.

April 20, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Doner

MOUNT ROLLAND TRAINING SITE, Senegal — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Doner, a 12H construction supervisor with Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command, who is also a native of Underhill, Vt., currently living in Starksboro. Doner and his unit worked with the Senegalese Army to build and repair a firing range in Senegal.

The Vermont National Guard and Senegalese Armed Forces engineers are renovating the firing range through their State Partnership Program relationship.

April 20, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Sgt. John Medenwald

MOUNT ROLLAND TRAINING SITE, Senegal — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Sgt. John Medenwald, a 12N equipment operator with Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command, who is also a native of Amery, Wis., and currently lives in North Ferribugh, Vt. Medenwald and his unit worked with the Senegalese Army to build and repair a firing range in Senegal.

The Vermont National Guard and Senegalese Armed Forces engineers are renovating the firing range through their State Partnership Program relationship.

April 20, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Staff Sgt. Charles Mudgett

MOUNT ROLLAND TRAINING SITE, Senegal — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Staff Sgt. Charles Mudgett, a 91L construction equipment repairer with Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command, who is also a native of Fletcher, Vt., currently living in Fairfield. Mudgett and his unit worked with the Senegalese Army to build and repair a firing range in Senegal.

The Vermont National Guard and Senegalese Armed Forces engineers are renovating the firing range through their State Partnership Program relationship.

April 17, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Staff Sgt. Ryan Maskell

MOUNT ROLLAND TRAINING SITE, Senegal — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Staff Sgt. Ryan Maskell, a heavy equipment operator with Detachment 1, Garrison Support Command, who is also a native of Highgate, Vt. Maskell and his unit worked with the Senegalese Army to build and repair a firing range in Senegal

March 30, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Maj. Scott Brochu

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Maj. Scott Brochu, a logistics readiness officer with the 158th Fighter Wing, who is a native of South Burlington, Vt., and currently lives in Essex, Vt. Brochu has served in the Vermont National Guard for 26 years.

Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Bond, maintenance analyst, 158th Fighter Wing poses for a photograph.

March 30, 2018

Meet Your Guard: Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Bond

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Bond, a maintenance analyst, with the 158th Fighter Wing, who is also a native of Colchester, Vt., and now lives in Milton. Bond has served in the Vermont Air Guard for nine years.

Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Riley, vehicle operations and ground transportation, 158th Fighter Wing, poses for an official photograph.

March 30, 2018

Meet your Guard: Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Riley

CAMP JOHNSON, Vt. — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Riley, a vehicles operations/ground transportation specialist, with the 158th Fighter Wing, Logistics Readiness Squadron, who is also a native of Colchester, Vt. Riley works as a full time supervisor for the Vehicle Operations Section of the Logistics Readiness Squadron.

1st. Lt. John C. Helme, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) poses for a photograph. (Courtesy Photo)

Feb. 16, 2018

Meet your Guard: 1st Lt. John Helme

CAMP JOHNSON, Vt. — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on 1st Lt. John C. Helme, a signal officer, with 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), who is also a native of Barre, Vt., and currently lives in Burlington, Vt. Helme teaches math at Colchester Middle School.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Yulia Benson, bandsman, 40th Army Band, Vermont Army National Guard plays during a concert.

Feb. 16, 2018

Meet your Guard: Staff Sgt. Yulia Benson

BURLINGTON, Vt. — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Staff Sgt. Yulia Benson, a 42R band musician, with 40th Army Band, 86th Troop Command, Garrison Support Command, who is also a native of Kazan, Russia, and currently lives in Milton, Vt. Benson has served in the Vermont National Guard for 11 years and works full time in the guard.

Sgt. Peter Shepardson, wheeled-vehicle mechanic, Bravo Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, Vermont Army National Guard, poses for a photo. (Courtesy Photo)

Feb. 16, 2018

Meet your Guard: Sgt. Peter Shepardson

CAMP JOHNSON, Vt. — This edition of Meet Your Guard focuses on Sgt. Peter Shepardson, a 91B wheeled-vehicle mechanic, with Bravo Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), who is also a native of Essex Junction, Vt., and currently lives in Westford, Vt. Shepardson has served in the Vermont National Guard for three years.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard 2026

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Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
An Idaho Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crew conducts water bucket training near Lucky Peak Reservoir May 20, 2026. Idaho National Guard aviation crews conducted the training alongside Idaho Department of Lands personnel May 19-20 in preparation for the 2026 fire season. The Idaho Department of Lands experts employed reflective panels to simulate active fires and communicated with Army National Guard pilots to maximize the efficiency of each 530-gallon bucket of water dropped. In addition to the fleet of Black Hawks and crews standing by to support seasonal wildland firefighting efforts, Orchard Fire and Emergency Services is providing initial and refresher Wildland Firefighter 2 training to Idaho National Guard members. To date, more than 250 Idaho Guardsmen have completed the qualification course, ensuring they are ready to work fire lines in support ground operations. Photo by Mike Freeman.
Idaho Guard Trains for Wildfire Response
By Mike Freeman, | June 1, 2026
BOISE, Idaho – Idaho National Guard aviation crews conducted water bucket training alongside Idaho Department of Lands personnel May 19-20 in preparation for the 2026 fire season.The Idaho Department of Lands experts employed...
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Company B, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, conduct preliminary marksmanship instruction with an M240B machine gun during the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team annual training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, May 30, 2026. Soldiers assigned to the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct annual training to sharpen warfighting skills and strengthen unit readiness through realistic, mission-focused training. This training period reinforces the brigade’s commitment to developing capable leaders, building cohesive teams and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Photo by Sgt. Jacob Tucker.
Georgia Guard Brigade Strengthens Readiness, Warfighting Skills
By Spc. Ayanna Tillman, | June 1, 2026
FORT STEWART, Ga. – The 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, comprising more than 4,000 Soldiers across the Georgia Army National Guard, is conducting annual training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as the brigade prepares for its...
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Hawaiʻi National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package assist the city and county of Honolulu first responders in search and recovery efforts during flood impacted zones in Waialua, Hawaiʻi, March 21, 2026. Gov. Josh Green activated the Hawaiʻi National Guard to assist in recovery efforts following record rainfall and flash flooding caused by a Kona Low weather system. Photo by Spc. Daniel Barcenas.
Hawaiʻi Guard Concludes Statewide Storm Response
By Rachel Blaire, | June 1, 2026
OAHU, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi National Guard concluded a multi-month, statewide response at the end of May after supporting communities affected by a series of powerful Kona Low storms and severe weather events in March and...
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