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Photo of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Gerry (left), an armament systems loader at the 158th Fighter Wing, and her sister, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laura Gerry, a munitions systems storage handler at the 158th Fighter Wing, standing together for a photo at the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, April 8, 2024.

April 10, 2024

Sisters-in-Arms

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — Within the ranks of the United States military, sharing a last name is not all that uncommon, but for U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Gerry and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laura Gerry, it's more than just a coincidence, that’s because the two are sisters.

U.S. Army Sgt. Ashley Weatherwalks, B Troop 1-172nd Cavalry, 86th IBCT (MTN), Vermont National Guard, takes part of the Arctic team in Nunavut, Canada, March 13, 2024.

March 29, 2024

Sgt. Ashley Weatherwalks: Pioneering a Path in the Vermont National Guard

Vermont National Guard — As Women's History Month draws to a close, the Vermont National Guard takes a moment to spotlight Sgt. Ashley Weatherwalks. Originating from Florida, Massachusetts, Weatherwalks is the first female Soldier in Blackjack Troop out of Bennington, Vermont, and the first female U.S. Soldier to accomplish an iteration of the Arctic exercise, Guerrier Nordique.

Photo of U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Juan J. Coleman, 158th Fighter Wing traffic management specialist, holding a photograph of his great-great-great grandfather, Rev. Joe Berry Powell, at the Vermont Air National Guard Base, Feb. 21, 2024.

Feb. 22, 2024

Vermont Airman Reflects on Heritage

Vermont Air National Guard Base — Rev. Joe Berry Powell was born into slavery in Edgecome County, North Carolina in 1853. More than 170 years later, his great-great-great grandson serves in the Vermont Air National Guard. 



Photo of the newest member of the 158th Fighter Wing, Airman Libass Mbengue, being sworn into the Vermont Air National Guard by Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont May 18, 2023.

May 23, 2023

Vermont National Guard welcomes Senegalese recruit

Vermont Air National Guard Base — The Vermont Air National Guard officially welcomed Libass Mbengue into its ranks during an enlistment ceremony, here, May 18.

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.

U.S Army Spc. Deedra Irwin, 86th Troop Command, finishes strong on the ruck portion during the Vermont best warrior competition. at Ethan Allen Firing Range, April 10, 2021.Spc. Deedra Irwin, the Vermont National Guard's Soldier of the Year, placed seventh in the U.S. Olympic Biathlon's women's 15k individual race in February 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Devin Nuñez)

Feb. 9, 2022

VTNG leaders discuss hot topics in Facebook live town hall

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Vermont National Guard senior leaders answered questions related to mental health treatment and education benefits and discussed updates within the Guard during a Facebook Live town hall event Feb. 8.

Command Sgt. Maj. Melinda Crosby, incoming command sergeant major for the 186th Brigade Support Batallion, 86th Infantry Combat Team (Mountain), speaks with her son, Marcus, prior to the change of responsibility ceremony in Northfield, Vermont, Dec. 4, 2021. Crosby succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. Allen King, who is retiring after 38 years of service. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Dec. 23, 2021

Newest 186th command sergeant major seeks to grow Soldiers’ potential

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The newest command sergeant major for the 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), might not have served beyond her first enlistment if not for a couple of non-commissioned officers who saw her potential and the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Now, Command Sgt. Maj. Melinda Crosby wants to help bring out the potential in the Soldiers in her unit.

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Abdimaik Hashi, a newly commissioned transportation officer, is currently assigned to assist the Vermont National Guard State Resilience Coordinator at Camp Johnson, Joint Force Headquarters, Colchester, VT, pictured on August 13, 2021. Hashi was previously an enlisted M1 tank crewman in the Minnesota National Guard. Hashi will drill with Task Force Patriot, a rear detachment, until his unit, G. Company 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), returns from an overseas deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

Aug. 17, 2021

A Soldier’s story: From Kenyan refugee camp to Vt. National Guard officer

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — For 2nd Lt. Abdimaik Hashi, newly commissioned in the Vermont National Guard, the road to commissioning as an officer began in 2016 when he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard. As a 19K armor crewman, Hashi initially drove M1 main battle tanks with A Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion-194th Armor Regiment.

The Vermont National Guard released on Aug. 8 the results of an organizational assessment conducted from January-April 2020 by the National Guard Bureau's Office of Complex Investigations.

Aug. 8, 2021

Vermont National Guard releases organizational assessment

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard has publicly released a 113-page assessment prepared by the National Guard Bureau’s Office of Complex Investigations at the request of VTNG Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight.

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 official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
An Indiana National Guard Soldier conducts a hoist operation while searching for flood victims in eastern Kentucky Feb. 17, 2025. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun activated four Hoosier Guard members to help with search and rescue efforts in Kentucky following record-breaking floods.
Indiana National Guard Aids Kentucky Flood Response
By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry, | Feb. 21, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS - Four Indiana National Guard Soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division’s combat aviation brigade helped their southern neighbors in Kentucky with flood relief efforts.With Indiana’s assistance, the Kentucky...
Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, right, outgoing commander for the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, was rewarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Col. Michele Edwards, the commander of the 297th Regional Support Group, Oct. 20, 2024, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Bushatz was recognized for his commitment to improving his battalion’s readiness in the two years he served as commander.
Guardsman Surmounts Combat Trauma to Command Infantry Battalion
By Maj. David Bedard, | Feb. 21, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - “I wasn’t going to leave that fight unless it was in a body bag.”Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, 297th Regional Support Group operations officer and former 1st...
Airmen conduct a long-distance ruck during the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., followed by two aerospace medical specialists wearing red hats, assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, Feb. 6, 2025. Three aerospace medical specialists provided medical education and response to 70 students from 37 Air National Guard Wings attending the course designed to prepare service members for deployments to cold weather regions.
Air National Guard Medics Keep Airmen in the Fight
By Audra Flanagan, | Feb. 21, 2025
CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - When 70 Airmen from 37 Air National Guard wings participated in a Cold Weather Operations Course, three aerospace medical technicians, or medics, and a physician assistant assigned to the Minnesota...
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