VT Guard News

572nd BEB kicks-off annual training
June 13, 2017 — The 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, kicked off annual training with a bang on Tuesday. Soldiers from the unit participated in various live-fire ranges with fragmentation grenades, Mark 19 40mm grenade machine guns, M4 carbines, M249 light machine guns and M240B machine guns... MORE

Mechanics support warfighter exercise
June 10, 2017 — Two U.S. Soldier Mechanics with Echo Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Spc. Kale Raymond, a power-generation equipment repairer, and Spc. Kyle Spaulding, a wheeled vehicle mechanic, worked behind the scenes to support the brigade’s warfighter exercise, a tactical operations drill designed to train brigade staff. In addition to supporting the exercise as the only mechanics, the two provided support for the advanced echelons (ADVON) in their battalion... MORE

Different units cooperate to sustain the 86th IBCT Warfighter Exercise
June 9, 2017 — More than 600 Soldiers are involved with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), 10th Mountain Division, during its warfighter exercise at Fort Drum, New York, June 3-18. It is a feat to address the logistics of sustaining a large force while operating in the field, but brigade Soldiers from the 1157th Forward Support Company, Colorado National Guard, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, Vermont National Guard, and active-duty Soldiers from Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, 10th MTN DIV, all came together to make it happen... MORE

572nd BEB conducts first tactical operations exercise as a battalion
June 7, 2017 — The newly reconstituted 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, participated in a brigade Warfighter exercise at Fort Drum, New York, June 3-18. The Warfighter serves as a good starting point for the new battalion and allows them to work with their attachments and units, like Echo Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, and new additions from outside the state like Charlie Company from Connecticut and Delta Company from Colorado... MORE

Low-density MOS Training
March 5, 2017 — Approximately 100 medics from the guard were present for the training weekend. This training was especially important because medics are required to renew their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification every two years, among other certifications... MORE

Live demolition training
February 11, 2017 — The morning started in the classroom where Soldiers manually put together the explosive C4 devices as a team. Each unit member had the opportunity to participate and put training into practice... MORE

Vermont Brigade dons 10th Mountain Division Patch
October 15, 2016 — The Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) aligned with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) during a re-patch ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont, Oct. 15... MORE

The Adjutant General's Combat Marksmanship Competition
September 11, 2016 — Over 300 Vermont Guardsmen participate in the Adjutant General’s Combat Marksmanship Competition held on Sept. 10 and 11 at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt. There are four areas of competition: combat rifle, pistol, machine gun, and sniper. These competitions test guardsmen on how fast they can react to pop-up targets, memorize items, adjust weapons systems under stressful situations, and fire their designated weapon, which are all basic marksmanship skills... MORE

Security Forces remain vigilant
July 29, 2016 — The Vermont National Guard Force Protection, the Vermont State Guard and Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 86th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 86th Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, provides security during Vigilant Guard 2016. This exercise runs from July 22, 2016, to August 2, 2016. Vigilant Guard is a national level emergency response exercise, sponsored by the National Guard and NORTHCOM, which provides National Guard units an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with regional civilian, military, and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events... MORE

High-intensity training during vigilant guard 2016
July 28, 2016 — When training to respond to an emergency, high intensity hands-on training is imperative to improve skills. A simulated building collapse surrounded by broken concrete included casualty actors, crushed and overturned vehicles, 185-pound mannequins with realistic-like injuries, and various other placed obstacles create an intense learning environment at Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vt, July 28, 2016. This training was planned not only for the Vermont National Guard, but civilian entities and military units from various states. This scenario is just one of many planned to take place during Vigilant Guard 2016... MORE