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Category: 86th IBCT (MTN)

Sept. 23, 2022

State tuition benefit opens career pathways

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Staff Sgt. Joseph Poley is expanding his career options thanks to a law passed in May that provides Guardsmen with up to $16,000 in tuition benefits for Vermont state colleges. Poley, a paralegal NCO with the Vermont National Guard’s Staff Judge Advocate office, said he learned about the new state tuition benefit while discussing financial aid options with Capt. Axel Larson, the Vermont National Guard’s education service officer.

Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont Adjutant General, hosted 12 members of the Vermont Legislature for a tour of the Ethan Allen Firing Range on Sept. 20, in Jericho, Vermont. Legislators received an information brief from range control, visited the new Army Mountain Warfare School facility, observed AMWS training, and met with members of the Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Mikel Arcovitch)

Sept. 22, 2022

Vermont National Guard holds distinguished visitor day for legislators

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont’s adjutant general, hosted 12 Vermont legislators during a tour of the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont, on Sept. 20, 2022. Legislators received a brief from Range Control, a tour of the new Army Mountain Warfare School, and the National Guard Biathlon program.

Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, presents a coin to Ralph McClintock during the POW/MIA Day observance at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed the third Friday of September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who were missing in action. McClintock, one of 83 Sailors aboard the U.S.S. Pueblo when North Korean forces captured the ship, was held hostage by the North Korean army for 11 months. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Sept. 16, 2022

Vermont Guard honors MIAs, former POWs

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard and Vermont State Guard held a ceremony Sept. 16 at Camp Johnson, Vermont, to honor former prisoners of war and those missing in action, including three former POWs from World War II and a former POW who was captured by North Korea in 1968.

A vermont Army National Guard Soldier fire his M-17 during the individual pistol competition at the Vermont Adjutant General's 2022 Combat Marksmanship Competition held at the Ethan Allen Firing Range September 10-11, in Jericho Vermont. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Alvarez)

Sept. 14, 2022

Vermont Guard holds annual TAG Match

JERICHO, Vermont — Every year the Vermont Adjutant General hosts the Combat Marksmanship Competition for Soldiers and Airmen at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont. This year's competition was held Sept. 10-11. Commonly called the TAG Match, it is open to all members of the Army and Air National Guard with the intention of promoting marksmanship proficiency. The participants are able to compete for pistol and rifle badges that can be worn on their uniforms. The most coveted of these is the Governor’s Twenty tab, which is worn on the left sleeve above their unit patch.

John Brutzman, the substance abuse prevention coordinator for the Vermont National Guard, plants flags in front of the Vermont Veterans Memorial at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 8, 2022. Brutzman, a native of Montclair, New Jersey, also serves as a suicide prevention coordinator. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Sept. 9, 2022

Vt. citizen Soldier honors those lost to suicide

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — “Twenty-two a day” is a phrase many veterans use to talk about suicide awareness within the veteran community. It’s a number John Brutzman, the Vermont National Guard’s substance abuse prevention coordinator, is working to decrease.

The Vermont Army National Guard’s 186th Brigade Support Battalion completed their annual training at the Army National Guard Sustainment Training Center at Camp Dodge, Iowa, July 31-Aug. 13. The Sustainment Training Center provides training for more than the medics of the 186th. There’s training for all the elements of the BSB, supply and distribution, forward support, maintenance, and other technical training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Larissa Woods)

Aug. 29, 2022

186th BSB conducts annual training at Camp Dodge, Iowa

CAMP DODGE, Iowa — The Vermont Army National Guard’s 186th Brigade Support Battalion completed its annual training at the Army National Guard Sustainment Training Center (STC) at Camp Dodge, Iowa, July 31-Aug. 13.

U.S. Army Soldiers of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, participate in a stress shooting exercises at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt., Aug. 13, 2022.

Aug. 15, 2022

Vermont Guardsmen Demonstrate Readiness Under Stress

JERICHO, Vermont — Vermont National Guard Soldiers navigated obstacles, completed fitness tasks and engaged targets during a live-fire exercise conducted by Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) on Aug. 13.

Vermont Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight addresses guests on May 26, 2022 during a a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont. Maj. Gen. Knight was joined by Vermont’s Lt. Governor Molly Grey, Vermont Gold Star families, and veterans. The occasion marked the second time the ceremony was conducted at the Fallen Hero’s Memorial’s new site, a location accessible to the public. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Nathan Rivard)

June 1, 2022

Vermont National Guard holds Memorial Day ceremony

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — On May 26, 2022, the VTNG held a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont. The occasion marked the second time the ceremony was conducted at the Fallen Hero’s Memorial’s new site, a location accessible to the public. In attendance, Vermont’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight was joined by Vermont’s Lt. Governor Molly Gray, Vermont Gold Star families, and veterans.

Brig. Gen. David Manfredi, director of joint staff for the Vermont National Guard, speaks during his retirement ceremony May 26, 2022, at Camp Johnson, Vermont. General Manfredi retired May 26 after more than 30 years of service, including assignments as commander of the 124th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) and commander of the 3-172nd Infantry (Mountain). He deployed to Afghanistan twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Nathan Rivard)

May 27, 2022

Vt. director of joint staff retires

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard director of joint staff retired May 26, 2022, in a ceremony held at the Green Mountain Armory. Brig. Gen. David Manfredi served for 34 years both on active duty, with the 10th Mountain Division, and in the Army National Guard in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and for the past 17 years in the VTNG.

U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, perform a live-fire training lane, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, July 16, 2020. The live-fire range was conducted as part of their annual training.

May 10, 2022

Vermont Guard to support training exercise Swift Response 22

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — More than 120 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will participate in training exercise Swift Response 22 in North Macedonia from May 11 to 17. Exercise Swift Response is an annual U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercise that takes place this year in Eastern Europe, the Arctic High North, Baltics, and Balkans from May 2-24.

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
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Miguel Munguia, 163rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, California Air National Guard, dons mission-oriented protective posture level two gear because of a simulated Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threat during the wing’s combat readiness inspection, Exercise Grizzly Talon, at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., March 15, 2026. This inspection is a vital tool for assessing the unit's ability to execute mission essential tasks effectively in an era when air superiority can no longer be guaranteed. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julianne Sitterding.
California Air Guard Sharpens Combat Readiness During Grizzly Talon
By Senior Master Sgt. Julianne Sitterding, | March 23, 2026
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – The California Air National Guard’s 163rd Attack Wing conducted a nine-day combat readiness inspection, testing and validating the Wing’s ability to perform its mission in contingency and...
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Rudershausen, right, with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, jumps out of the window of a building while Sgt. 1st Class Sean Kelly, also with the Pennsylvania Army Guard, provides overwatch as the pair competes in the Lithuanian Land Forces Best Infantry Squad Competition in Rukla, Lithuania, March 4, 2026. Pennsylvania Army Guard Soldiers placed second among foreign teams during the multinational competition. The Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania have partnered through the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program since 1993, conducting joint training and exchanges that strengthen military cooperation and interoperability between the two forces. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tessa Whittlesey
Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers Place 2nd in Lithuania Land Forces Best Infantry Squad Competition
By Sgt. 1st Class Amber Peck, | March 20, 2026
RUKLA, Lithuania – U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard competed alongside NATO allies in the Lithuanian Land Forces Best Infantry Squad Competition, placing second among foreign teams and marking the first...
Senior Airman Kaylee Hess, an aeromedical evacuation technician with the 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, stands in front of a C-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing while holding a folded litter in Cheyenne, Wyo., March 5, 2026. Hess was named the 2025 Outstanding Aeromedical Evacuation Crew Member of the Year. Photo by Master Sgt. Jon Alderman.
Wyoming Airman Earns National Aeromedical Evacuation Award
By Master Sgt. Jonathon Alderman, | March 20, 2026
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — What began as a step into the unknown has led Senior Airman Kaylee Hess to national recognition.Hess, an aeromedical evacuation technician with the 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 153rd Airlift Wing,...
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