Articles
Results:
Category: 86th IBCT (MTN)

Command Sgt. Maj. Melinda Crosby, incoming command sergeant major for the 186th Brigade Support Batallion, 86th Infantry Combat Team (Mountain), speaks with her son, Marcus, prior to the change of responsibility ceremony in Northfield, Vermont, Dec. 4, 2021. Crosby succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. Allen King, who is retiring after 38 years of service. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Dec. 23, 2021

Newest 186th command sergeant major seeks to grow Soldiers’ potential

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The newest command sergeant major for the 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), might not have served beyond her first enlistment if not for a couple of non-commissioned officers who saw her potential and the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Now, Command Sgt. Maj. Melinda Crosby wants to help bring out the potential in the Soldiers in her unit.

U.S. Soldiers with the 172nd Cavalry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, provide security for a traffic control point, in Washington, D.C., Jan 23, 2021. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women have been authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical missions in support of federal and District authorities leading up and through the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Denis Nuñez)

Dec. 17, 2021

The Vermont National Guard in 2021: Looking back on a busy year

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — In 2021 the Vermont National Guard fully engaged both federal and state missions. Overseas deployments and Joint Task Force Coyote, a critical component of the State’s response to the COVID-19, resulted in a high operational tempo, one not experienced in past years.

Col. Randall Gates presents his wife, Lou, with a certificate of appreciation during his retirement ceremony at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Nov. 30, 2021. Gates, the Vermont National Guard's director of military support, served as an enlisted Soldier for 11 years and a commissioned officer for 27. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Nov. 30, 2021

Vermont Guard bids farewell to director of military support

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Col. Randall Gates retired from the Vermont Army National Guard on Nov. 30, ending a 38-year military career. Prior to his retirement Gates was the Director of Military Support.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Vermont National Guard gathered to witness the Change of Command ceremony for the Command Chief Warrant Officer of The Vermont National Guard, in Colchester, Vermont, Nov 7, 2021. Outgoing Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Woodworth says farewell as he hands the reigns to incoming Chief Warrant Officer 5 Scott Beaulieu. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Denis Nuñez)

Nov. 19, 2021

Vermont Guard's senior chief warrant officer retires

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Chief Warrant Officer 5 James M. Woodworth will retire from the Vermont National Guard on Nov. 23, after more than 40 years of service.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Vermont National Guard gathered to witness the change of responsibility ceremony for the Vermont National Guard command chief warrant officer in Colchester, Vermont, Nov 7, 2021. Outgoing Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Woodworth said farewell as he handed the reigns to incoming Chief Warrant Officer 5 Scott Beaulieu. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Denis Nuñez)

Nov. 12, 2021

New command chief warrant officer appointed for Vermont National Guard

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Chief Warrant Officer 5 Scott Beaulieu succeeded Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Woodworth as the Vermont National Guard’s command chief warrant officer in a change of responsibility ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters here Nov. 7, 2021.

The Vermont National Guard sent a contingency of five soldiers along with Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard, to France celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I. Each state that had National Guard representation in World War I were invited back to France to celebrate the anniversary. National Guardsmen visited monuments, cemeteries, villages, battle sites, trenches, museums, and attended ceremonies as part of their visit. The Center for Military History provided guides throughout the trip.

Nov. 10, 2021

On Veterans Day, 572nd Soldiers recognize Rutlanders' contributions

RUTLAND NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY, Vermont — As the nation marks Veterans Day, the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion of the Vermont Army National Guard would like to pay special respects to the Rutlanders who answered the call of duty in what came to be called “the war to end all wars.”

U.S. Army Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard who served with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar Province between 2005-2006 were authorized to display the 2nd Marine Division unit insignia on their uniforms. Nov. 10, 2021, marks the Marine Corps' 246th birthday.

Nov. 10, 2021

Vermont Guard reflects on Marine Corps’ 246th birthday

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Each year on Nov. 10 the United States Marine Corps celebrates the day in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing two battalions of Marines as a landing force for the recently formed Continental Navy. This year marks 246 years of Marine Corps service to the nation.

Soldiers with Task Force Avalanche, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain), receive mailed donations in Southwest Asia in September. The task force has been deployed since March and had a small contingent in Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge. (Army National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Nathan Rivard)

Oct. 26, 2021

Task Force Avalanche Soldiers receive mailed donations

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Soldiers with Task Force Avalanche, 3rd Battalion, 172 Infantry Regiment (Mountain), added mail room duties to their assignments throughout the month of September.

Pfc. Eli Nielsen, a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic assigned to Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, Vermont National Guard, inspects an aircraft interior at the Army Aviation Support Facility, South Burlington, Vermont, on Oct. 12, 2021. Nielsen is also a member of the Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

Oct. 21, 2021

Biathlon opportunities attract Washington native

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

This image contains cropped photos of Vermont and Austria mountain ranges, with blended Vermont and Austrian flags, to represent the newly announced State Partnership Program initiative between Vermont and Austria, announced by the Defense Department Oct. 15, 2021. (Vermont Army National Guard photo illustration by Marcus Tracy)

Oct. 15, 2021

Vermont National Guard to add Austria as third State Partner

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard will welcome the Republic of Austria as the third member of their State Partnership Program.

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.

Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
President Donald Trump awards the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson during a White House ceremony in Washington, D.C., March 2, 2026. Richardson was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Sept. 14, 1968, while he was a Staff Sgt. serving as the Lima Platoon Leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during action in the vicinity of Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)
President Trump Awards Medal of Honor to Retired Guard Soldier
By National Guard Bureau | March 6, 2026
WASHINGTON — In a White House ceremony on March 2, 2026, President Donald J. Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson, U.S. Army, for his heroic actions on September 14, 1968, while...
In June 2021, an MQ-9 participated in the concept-to-theory Establish Fury Exercise at the 188th Wing, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Arkansas Airmen Sharpen Information Warfare Skills During Exercise
By Staff Sgt. Joshua Coombes, | March 6, 2026
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – Several Arkansas Guard Airmen from Ebbing Air National Guard Base’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group recently participated in The One True OMEN, or TOTO, III...
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Pau, an information technology specialist assigned to the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, operates a high-frequency radio while participating in exercise Arctic Connect at the Alaska National Guard’s Joint Operations Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 3, 2026. Arctic Connect is high-frequency radio communications exercise conducted across Alaska, designed to validate select Alaska Organized Militia units’ ability to communicate with the Alaska National Guard’s Joint Operations Center and with each other. Photo by Alejandro Peña.
Exercise Arctic Connect Validates Communication Across Alaska
By Dana Rosso, | March 6, 2026
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – In a state where communities are separated by vast terrain, and severe weather can isolate regions without warning, resilient communications are essential. More than 30 radio...
More