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Category: Diversity & Inclusion

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 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.

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.

Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, presents Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila with a coin during a workshop on structural competence and cultural humility at Vermont Air National Guard Base in South Burlington, Vermont, Aug. 13, 2021. Avila is a member of the Vermont Governor's Workforce Equity and Diversity Council and is working with the Vermont National Guard's Joint Diversity Executive Council to improve inclusiveness within the Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Aug. 13, 2021

Soldiers, Airmen discuss structural competence, cultural humility

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard invited Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila, a member of the Vermont Governor’s Racial Equity Task Force, to conduct a workshop on structural competence and cultural humility at the 158th Fighter Wing in South Burlington, Aug. 13.

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.”

Spc. Mike Liu stands for a photo in front of the 124th Regional Training Institute at Camp Johnson, Vermont, May 20, 2021. Liu, a native of Anshan, China, joined the Vermont Army National Guard through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, which allows non-U.S. citizens with certain skills to enlist and apply for citizenship. He currently attends Army Officer Candidate School and plans to become an ordnance officer when he graduates in 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Duffy Jamieson)

May 21, 2021

Anshan native trades Qianshan Mountain for Green Mountains

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Spc. Mike Liu, a native of Anshan, China, joined the Vermont Army National Guard through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, which allows non-U.S. citizens with certain skills to enlist and apply for citizenship.

U.S. Army Spc. Gloria Kamencik, a scout with Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Calvary Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, speaks to Vermont State representatives at Fort Drum, N.Y., June 15, 2017. The representatives had an opportunity to speak with and visit multiple Soldiers during their summer annual training. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

April 28, 2021

Vermont Army Guard becomes first state authorized to recruit women into all units

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Women may now join any combat arms unit in the Vermont Army National Guard, following authorization by National Guard Bureau issued today. The Vermont Army National Guard is the first in the nation to open all combat arms units within its organization to the recruitment of women.

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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...