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Category: 86th IBCT (MTN)

Marine Pfcs. Preston Toledo and Frank Toledo, both Navajo Code Talkers and cousins, relay orders in the Navajo language on a field radio. They were attached to a Marine artillery regiment in the South Pacific. This photo was taken July 7, 1943.

Aug. 4, 2021

Remembering the Code Talkers

RUTLAND NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY, Vermont — National Navajo Code Talkers Day is Aug. 14, 2021. As the observance approaches, we should take a moment to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of the nearly 25,000 Native Americans who served in the Armed Forces during WWII. In the words of Signal Officer Maj. Howard Connor, “Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.”

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

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard 2026

Note: the above YouTube video link may not work on all government computers. 

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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