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Category: 158th Fighter Wing

Maj. Howard “Cash” Shaner, F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares for launch at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vermont, March 12, 2021. Shaner is the first ever Air National Guard F-35 pilot to graduate from the highly competitive U.S. Air Force Weapons School. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Mrs. Julie M. Paroline)

March 16, 2021

First ANG F-35 pilot graduates from USAF Weapons School

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — Nationally recognized as the first Air National Guard unit to be tasked with the F-35A Lightning II mission, Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing now welcomes another title: home of the first ANG F-35 pilot to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.

F-35 Lightning II Pilot Col. Nate Graber prepares for takeoff from Vermont Air National Guard Base in South Burlington, Vermont, May 22, 2020, as part of Operation America Strong, an Air Force effort to honor medical responders and essential workers. The Vermont ANG's 158th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office received numerous awards from the National Guard Bureau for its work covering the wing's F-35 mission. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Julie M. Shea)

March 12, 2021

158th FW recognized in National Guard Bureau 2020 Media Contest

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The 158th Fighter Wing received three first-place awards in the National Guard Bureau’s 2020 Contest, and Public Affairs Specialist Julie Paroline was named runner-up for Air National Guard communicator of the year, the Vermont adjutant general announced March 12.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris enters the inaugural platform at the start of the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol building

Feb. 23, 2021

Up Close at the 59th Presidential Inauguration

WASHINGTON — Many of us came out of 2020 expecting 2021 would start to show a light at the end of the tunnel. However, within the first week of January things went horribly sideways.

Sgt. Kevin LaPierre receives his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Lt. Col. Sarah Davis Feb. 3, 2021, at Camp Johnson, Vermont. Recipients of the vaccines second dose commonly experience mild flu-like symptoms including soreness and mild fever. LaPierre is a fueler with the Vermont National Guard's 186th Brigade Support Battalion. Davis is a registered nurse and the officer in charge of immunizations for the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Medical Group. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Feb. 5, 2021

Vermont Guard delivers 2nd vaccine doses, prepares for town hall Q&A

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Medics with the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Medical Group delivered first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Johnson, Vermont, Feb. 3 while answering questions and dispelling rumors and conspiracy theories.

Mr. Brannon Soter stands for a portrait at the 158th Fighter Wing fire department.

Feb. 2, 2021

158th Fighter Wing welcomes 1st civilian fire chief

Vermont Air National Guard — In November 2020, Brannon Soter was welcomed as the first civilian, “Title 5” fire chief in the history of the fire department at the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard.

Pilots, crew chiefs and maintainers assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, launch 10 F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the wing during January drill.

Jan. 14, 2021

158th Fighter Wing departs for training in Florida

Vermont Air National Guard — Airmen, aircraft and support equipment from the 158th Fighter Wing depart this week to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida to participate in a weapon system validation exercise.

Col. Adam Rice (left), vice wing commander of the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, presents a flag flown in the F-35A Lightning II to WWII veteran Lenny Roberge, Vermont’s oldest living veteran, outside his nursing home in South Burlington, Vt., Dec. 22, 2020. In order to honor Roberge, Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing had a flag flown in an F-35 during a combat training sortie over the mountains of Vermont and New York. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

Dec. 31, 2020

Airmen honor Vermont’s oldest living veteran

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — Honor. This is a word that is ingrained into the ethos of men and women who have ever served in the U.S. military. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that when Airmen of the 158th Fighter Wing learned that Vermont’s oldest living veteran, 106-year-old Lenny Roberge who served in WWII, wanted to visit the Vermont Air National Guard, they were excited and started making plans for his visit in November.

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.

James Sides stands for a portrait in front of an F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vermont, Dec 3, 2020. Sides was recently named Air National Guard security forces flight level civilian supervisor of the year for 2020. Sides is a security operations supervisor with the 158th Security Forces Squadron.

Dec. 3, 2020

Vermont ANG civilian wins national award

Vermont Air National Guard — James Sides, a 158th Security Forces Squadron civilian security operations supervisor, was recently named Air National Guard security forces flight level civilian supervisor of the year for 2020.

The Vermont Air National Guard is scheduled to begin two weeks of night flying operations starting Dec. 1-5 and Dec. 8-11. Nighttime takeoffs will occur between 4:30-6:30 p.m. and nighttime landings will occur between 6-8 p.m.

Nov. 24, 2020

Vermont ANG to conduct night flying operations

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Air National Guard is scheduled to begin two weeks of night flying operations here Dec. 1-5 and Dec. 8-11. Nighttime takeoffs will occur between 4:30-6:30 p.m. and nighttime landings will occur between 6-8 p.m.

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
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chadley Simms, infantryman, 1st Battalion-157th Infantry (Mountain), Colorado Army National Guard uses handheld counter-unmanned aerial system equipment to neutralize a simulated drone threat during a drone warfare familiarization course at a Fort Carson, Colorado, training range, April 15, 2025. The course, led by the Drone Warfare Cell, part of the Multi-Domain Special Operations Cell at 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), COARNG, paired traditional guard members with special forces to build interoperability and strengthen joint UAS threat response capabilities. (U.S Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Melissa Escobar-Pereira)
Colorado Army Guard’s Drone Warfare Cell Reshapes Warfighting
By Melissa Escobar-Pereira, | June 17, 2025
WATKINS, Colo. - As the battlespace continues to evolve, so too must the tools and training of those who fight within it. Among the quiet forces reshaping U.S. warfighting readiness is a specialized group called the Drone...
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Garret Carstensen, 716th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, helps Sgt. Luis Romero don protective equipment before carrying out an EOD clearance of a simulated weapons of mass destruction chemical lab June 9, 2025, at AJ Dock, Juneau, Alaska, as part of Exercise ORCA 25. The exercise is a full-scale all-hazards chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives joint and interagency training exercise testing and evaluating the operational capability of the whole-of-government emergency management system. (Alaska National Guard photo by Maj. David Bedard)
Alaska National Guard Leads Exercise ORCA 2025
By Maj. David Bedard, | June 17, 2025
JUNEAU, Alaksa - Dressed in hazardous material protective suits, two Airmen from the Virginia National Guard slowly crept into a quiet building June 9 at AJ Dock on Juneau’s shore.Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support...
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, maneuver through the trenches during Exercise Baltic Viking near Alūksne, Latvia, June 8, 2025. Large-scale Combat Operations involve extensive military engagements, coordinated strategies, and significant resource deployment across vast areas. The U.S. military participates in multinational training and exercises across Europe to increase lethality and strengthen partnerships with NATO allies and regional security partners.
Baltic Viking Enhances Michigan Guard Support for NATO, Latvia
By Staff Sgt. Joseph Novak, | June 17, 2025
CAMP ADAZI, Latvia — U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Michigan Army National Guard recently conducted training with soldiers from NATO Multinational...
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