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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 2026

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Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
President Donald Trump awards the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson during a White House ceremony in Washington, D.C., March 2, 2026. Richardson was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Sept. 14, 1968, while he was a Staff Sgt. serving as the Lima Platoon Leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during action in the vicinity of Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)
President Trump Awards Medal of Honor to Retired Guard Soldier
By National Guard Bureau | March 6, 2026
WASHINGTON — In a White House ceremony on March 2, 2026, President Donald J. Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson, U.S. Army, for his heroic actions on September 14, 1968, while...
In June 2021, an MQ-9 participated in the concept-to-theory Establish Fury Exercise at the 188th Wing, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Arkansas Airmen Sharpen Information Warfare Skills During Exercise
By Staff Sgt. Joshua Coombes, | March 6, 2026
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – Several Arkansas Guard Airmen from Ebbing Air National Guard Base’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group recently participated in The One True OMEN, or TOTO, III...
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Pau, an information technology specialist assigned to the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, operates a high-frequency radio while participating in exercise Arctic Connect at the Alaska National Guard’s Joint Operations Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 3, 2026. Arctic Connect is high-frequency radio communications exercise conducted across Alaska, designed to validate select Alaska Organized Militia units’ ability to communicate with the Alaska National Guard’s Joint Operations Center and with each other. Photo by Alejandro Peña.
Exercise Arctic Connect Validates Communication Across Alaska
By Dana Rosso, | March 6, 2026
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – In a state where communities are separated by vast terrain, and severe weather can isolate regions without warning, resilient communications are essential. More than 30 radio...
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