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Category: 158th Fighter Wing

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'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 photo of 1st Lt. Kelsey Flannery, an F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron of the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing, returns from a training mission from South Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vermont, Sept. 7, 2022. Flannery, who is the Air National Guard's first female F-35 pilot, made her first flight with the 158th after returning from three years of flight training. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ryan Campbell)

Sept. 8, 2022

Air Guard’s 1st female F-35 Pilot completes inaugural flight

Vermont Air National Guard — Three years of training led to one very important day. Taking off over the mountains of Vermont, history is made at 20,000 feet. The 158th Fighter Wing has been no stranger to making history. In 2019, it was the first wing in the Air National Guard to receive the F-35A Lightning II. As the only wing in the Guard to fly a fifth generation fighter, the Airmen have continuously made their mark including recently completing the first overseas Guard deployment of the F-35. Now, the latest chapter of Green Mountain Boys history has been written.

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.

A Vermont Air National Guard member says goodbye prior to his departure from the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, Thursday, April 28th, 2022. The ceremony recognizes the sacrifices of Airmen and their families ahead of the 158th fighter wing’s deployment to Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri)

April 29, 2022

VTANG honors deploying Airmen, families

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard held a deployment ceremony April 28 to recognize the sacrifices of Airmen and their families ahead of the 158th Fighter Wing’s deployment to Europe.“There are not words to tell you how immensely

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marcel Emond, a crew chief assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing, walks in front of a Vermont Air National Guard F-35 Lightning II aircraft April 13, 2022 at Burling Air National Guard Base, Vermont. Emond has been training as a crew chief at the 158th Fighter Wing in Burlington for just over a year as part of the 115th Fighter Wing's transition to the F-35. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cameron Lewis)

April 18, 2022

Airmen lead the way in F-35 transition for 115th Fighter Wing

Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vt. — In preparation for the arrival of the F-35 in spring of 2023, approximately 25 Wisconsin Air National Guardsmen have volunteered to be the first Airmen to receive advanced training at U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard facilities.

A U.S. Air Force Airman attaches a hook to aid in securing the frame of an Alaskan Small Shelter System at the Silver Flag exercise on Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, March 31, 2022. The primary focus of Silver Flag is to teach Airmen from the civil engineer, force support, and vehicle maintenance squadrons essential skills to complete operations outside of their primary duties.

April 15, 2022

158th Civil Engineers hone skills at Silver Flag

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida — Tyndall Air Force Base welcomed 14 Green Mountain Boys from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Civil Engineer Squadron to Florida for the annual Silver Flag exercise March 21 to April 1.

Photograph of Tech. Sgt. Normal Losh standing with Civil Engineering equipment outside at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington, Vermont.,

April 11, 2022

Off Duty Airman Saves Stranger's Life

Vermont Air National Guard Base — On Monday, April 4, 2022, Tech. Sgt. Norman Losh, a member of the 158th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron, sprang to action. Losh looked over and noticed an elderly gentleman who appeared to be choking and rushed to his side.

An F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares for launch during routine flying operations

March 21, 2022

VTANG night ops scheduled

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying March 22-25 and from March 29 to April 1, with two takeoff periods.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Task Force Avalanche of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, return home from deployment, in South Burlington, Vermont, Dec 9, 2021. Family, friends, and colleagues were present to greet the Soldiers as they arrived. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Denis Nuñez)

Feb. 16, 2022

Adjutant general issues biannual update: Feb. 2022

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the state adjutant general, released the Vermont National Guard's legislative update on Feb. 14.

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Soldiers with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, 86th Troop Command, Garrison Support Command, Vermont National Guard, performed hoist training with Black Hawk helicopters, Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vermont, Aug. 7, 2020.

Vermont Army Aviation Soldiers Ready for Overseas Mission

By Capt. Mikel Arcovitch, | Feb. 2, 2023

COLCHESTER, Vt. - Aviation Soldiers from Company C, 3-126 Army Aviation, 86th Troop Command, Garrison Support Command, Vermont Army National Guard, will conduct air ambulance missions across their area of responsibility.“This...

Capt. Anthony McClain, the Illinois National Guard director of diversity and inclusion, smiles for a portrait in front of the Illinois National Guard Joint Force Headquarters on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Ill., Dec. 29, 2022. McClain strives to help the Guard achieve a more inclusive organizational culture.

Illinois Guard Diversity Leader Fosters Inclusive Culture

By Sgt. Trenton Fouche, | Feb. 2, 2023

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fort Jackson in South Carolina was a long way from the south side of Chicago where Army Capt. Anthony McClain grew up. The intensity of basic combat training and drill sergeants yelling in his face didn’t...

A fighter aircraft integrated avionics specialist assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, prepares to install an AN/ASQ-236 radar pod Jan. 25, 2023. The 148th Fighter Wing has been designated as the Air National Guard’s Center for Excellence for all F-16 fighter aircraft.

Air Guard Updates 148th Fighter Wing F-16s with Radar Pods

By Audra Flanagan, | Feb. 1, 2023

DULUTH, Minn. – Subject matter experts from Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command, the Air National Guard, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Reserve Test Center and the 148th Fighter Wing exercised...

Tech. Sgt. Jerad Easterling, from the 172nd Operations Group, center, marshals a truck carrying medical personnel away from the tail of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on Jan. 28, 2023, in Jackson, Mississippi. This was part of a large-scale readiness exercise to test the capabilities of Mississippi Air National Guard Airmen in a contested environment.

172nd Airlift Wing Conducts Readiness Exercise

By Airman 1st Class Shardae McAfee and Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Rivera, | Feb. 1, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. – Airmen from the 172nd Airlift Wing participated in large-scale readiness exercise Jan. 27-29, testing their ability to operate in a deployed environment under various threats.“The LRE is a comprehensive...

Attendees of the National Guard Arctic Interest Council observe the 133rd Contingency Response Flight, Minnesota Air National Guard, operating in extreme cold during the NG-AIC’s quarterly meeting at the Camp Ripley Training Center Jan. 25, 2023. The NG-AIC is a collaboration among states with arctic interests, capabilities, and resources to address the rapidly changing arctic environment.

National Guard Leaders Join Multi-state Arctic Event

By Balinda O’Neal, | Feb. 1, 2023

CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - In the Arctic, steel becomes brittle at -22 degrees Fahrenheit, continuous connectivity at the bandwidth needed for modern military operations lags, and more than 80% of Alaska communities are not...