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Category: 86th IBCT (MTN)

The commander of Kosovo Force (KFOR), Italian Maj. Gen. Franco Federici, welcomes the U.S. Army's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) as they assume responsibility for Regional Command East, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Alvarez)

July 11, 2021

Vermont Soldiers arrive in Kosovo

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — Greetings from Kosovo! After spending about two weeks at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Soldiers mainly from the Vermont National Guard once again packed up and moved out! We give a huge ‘thank you!’ to the full-time staff at JMRC for all their help preparing us for our mission in Kosovo. As we took the beautiful bus ride back to Nuremberg, Germany, we realized we were ready to fly to Pristina, Kosovo for our Kosovo Force (KFOR) 29 mission.

Albanian soldiers suppress simulated opposing forces during crowd control training as part of KFOR 29 at Hohenfels, Germany, June 26, 2021. Allies and partners take part in KFOR 29 training in order to increase interoperability and prepare the unit for peace support, stability and contingency operations in Kosovo in support of civil authorities. NATO has been leading the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo since June 1999 to ensure a secure, stable and multi-ethnic Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Enrique Moya)

July 2, 2021

VTARNG Soldiers arrive in Germany

HOHENFELS, Germany — Only weeks after a grueling year of COVID-19 support to Vermont and a month long mission to Washington, D.C. for Operation Capitol Response, over 900 Soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard are now deployed across the globe in support of various missions fulfilling our federal missions.

Lt Col. Matthew Wignall, battalion commander, stands with Col. Ricky Kue, battalion surgeon, both with 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Avalanche, during a site visit in Southwest Asia. The 3-172 IN (MTN) has reached 87 percent of its deployed force being COVID-19 vaccinated. (Photo courtesy of 3-172nd Infantry (Mountain))

June 28, 2021

Vaccination rates soar for deployed infantry battalion

SOUTHWEST ASIA — The Jericho, Vermont, based 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) surpasses the average COVID-19 vaccination rate while deployed.

U.S. Army Spc. Vasek Cervenka, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Garrison Support Command, Vermont National Guard, competing in the 12.5 KM Pursuit Race at the 2021 Junior World Championships in Obertilliach, Austria, March 3, 2021. Cervenka hopes to compete in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China.

June 10, 2021

Vermont National Guard biathletes eye 2022 Beijing Olympics

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Three Vermont National Guard biathletes are training hard in anticipation of attending the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. If selected, VTARNG members will make up 37 percent of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team.The event

U.S. Army Spc. Caylen De Los Reyes, an 11B Infantry Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont National Guard, moving through an obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti May 16, 2021.

June 4, 2021

Vermont National Guard Solider completes French Desert Commando Course

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — According to Spc. Caylen De Los Reyes, successfully completing the French Desert Commando Course not only improved individual readiness, the demanding training also helped the Vermont Guardsman prepare for the U.S. Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection course. 

Soldiers assigned to Headquarters Company, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, salute during their deployment ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, May 14, 2021. Family and friends gathered to support the Soldiers during the ceremony. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

June 3, 2021

Deployment ceremonies signal end of 2021 departures

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont Army National Guard conducted three deployment ceremonies in Mid-May marking completion of the departure of approximately 950 Soldiers to overseas locations in support of U.S. Europe, U.S. Africa and U.S. Central

Col. Justin Davis, director operations for the Vermont Army National Guard, delivers remarks at the sendoff ceremony for Task Force Mansfield at Camp Johnson, Vermont, May 18, 2021. The Soldiers in Task Force Mansfield are among the last of more than 1,000 slated to deploy to Europe and the Middle East in support of federal missions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

May 19, 2021

Vermont ARNG holds sendoff for Task Force Mansfield

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont Army National Guard held a sendoff ceremony May 18, 2021, at Camp Johnson, Vermont, for Soldiers assigned to Task Force Mansfield and the 172nd Public Affairs Detachment. The Soldiers among the last of about 1,000 to deploy to U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command to support federal missions.

Soldiers with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry, stand at attention during a sendoff ceremony Jan. 29, 2021, at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site parade field in Jericho, Vermont. The 3-172nd, part of the Vermont National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of operations for about a year starting in February. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Jan. 29, 2021

Vermont Army Guard holds sendoff for 3-172nd Infantry

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Third Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain), 86th Brigade Infantry Combat Team (Mountain) held a sendoff ceremony Jan. 29 at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site Parade Field in Jericho, Vermont. 

Approximately 100 Vermont National Guardsmen will deploy to Washington, D.C., to support inauguration efforts the week of Jan. 18, 2021. In this photo, the American flag flies at half-staff over the U.S. Capitol Jan. 11 in honor of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was killed during the riot Jan. 6.

Jan. 14, 2021

Vermont Guard to support D.C. response, inauguration

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Approximately 100 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will support operations in Washington D.C. ahead of the Presidential Inauguration.The Vermont Soldiers are predominantly from 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry, 86th Infantry

An Army specialist with 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment of the Vermont Army National Guard conducts their annual Spur Ride at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, Sept. 6, 2020. The soldiers were tested on mission essential tasks as they completed a 6.5-mile ruck march. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Cpl. Gillian McCreedy, 172nd Public Affairs Detachment, Vermont National Guard)

Dec. 21, 2020

2020 in Review

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard has adapted to provide community support and relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 while continuing to fulfill state and national missions.

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
Colorado Army National Guard crew chiefs U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Wade Shore (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Hubbard (right), High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, perform maintenance on their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, in Gypsum, Colorado, July 23, 2025. Both Soldiers participated in a dangerous nighttime rescue that set the record for the highest hoist ever conducted in Colorado, saving two hikers who had become caught in a storm and were struck by lightning. The crew flew at approximately 14,200 feet above sea level, beating the previous record of around 13,700 feet by a military aircraft in Colorado.
Colorado National Guard Aircrew Breaks Record for Hoist Rescue
By Staff Sgt. Josiah Pugh, | July 25, 2025
GYPSUM, Colo. – Members of a Colorado Army National Guard Black Hawk aircrew tested their skill and pushed their helicopter’s performance to its limits during a dangerous nighttime rescue that set the record for the highest...
An Ohio National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, does in-flight inspections during a flight to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 14, 2025. The operation highlighted collaboration between Army and Air National Guard units, strengthening inter-branch coordination that is essential for mission success in both domestic and deployed settings.
178th Wing Scores in Top 5% of Total Force in Combat Readiness Inspection
By Shane Hughes, | July 24, 2025
SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY AIR GUARD STATION, Ohio - The Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing scored in the top 5% of all Air Force wings in a Combat Readiness Inspection completed July 17 at the Springfield-Beckley Air National...
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard participate in a radio communications knowledge exchange with Djiboutian soldiers at the Djiboutian signal corps compound in Djibouti City, Djibouti, July 14, 2025. The State Partnership Program conducts military-to-military engagements in support of U.S. defense and security goals, facilitating cooperation across all levels of international civil-military affairs, and encouraging relationship building at the state level.
Kentucky Guard, Djibouti Military Partner on Cyber, Radio Exchange
By Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman, | July 24, 2025
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti - In the East Africa region where a single breached network can ripple across borders, Djiboutian soldiers and the Kentucky Army National Guard as well as other U.S. service members spent four focused...
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