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Category: State Partnership Program

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, operating High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle turrets armed with two M2A1 .50 Cal machine guns and two M240 machine guns fire rounds during a combined arms live-fire night exercise as a part of Immediate Response 25.

June 4, 2025

Vermont Guard Soldiers prove lethality along NATO allies at Immediate Response 25

KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia — U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard participated in a combined arms live-fire exercise, May 29-31, 2025, during Immediate Response 25.

U.S. Soldiers with the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, and Austrian Land Forces assemble brazier charges used to breach wire barriers as part of Immediate Response 25 during DEFENDER 25

June 1, 2025

Vermont National Guard cross-train U.S. infantrymen and Austrian Land Force personnel on various demolition techniques

KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia — U.S. Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard cross-train U.S. infantrymen and Austrian Land Force personnel on various demolition techniques, June 1-3, 2025, during Immediate Response 25, a large-scale, joint exercise with NATO Allies and Partners at the Krivolak Training Area, Krivolak, North Macedonia, taking place May 26 to June 9, as part of DEFENDER 25, the U.S. Army’s premier large-scale deployment exercise in Europe.

U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the Vermont and New Hampshire National Guard pose for a photo with the medical staff at the Kedougou regional hospital in Kedougou, Senegal.

June 8, 2024

Vermont National Guard Enhances Medical Readiness in Senegal: Kedougou: Part 3 of 3

KEDOUGOU, SN — In contrast to Tambacounda and Goudiri, the hospital in Kedougou is a relatively recent construction, equipped with more advanced medical facilities. Here, the Vermont National Guard focused on high-level medical training and the exchange of advanced techniques.

U.S. Army Lt. Col Christopher Winner and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Frizzell, Vermont National Guard, pose with an ambulance crew at the Goudiri health care center in Goudiri, Senegal.

June 8, 2024

Vermont National Guard Enhances Medical Readiness in Senegal: Goudiri: Part 2 of 3

Goudiri, SN — Goudiri presented similar challenges to Tambacounda, with limited medical infrastructure and resources. The Vermont National Guard team stationed there conducted intensive training sessions, emphasizing practical skills and resourceful problem-solving.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Taylor Johnson, Optometry Specialist, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, conducts eye exams at the Tambcounda regional medical center in Tambacounda, Senegal.

June 8, 2024

Vermont National Guard Enhances Medical Readiness in Senegal: Tambacounda: Part 1 of 3

TAMACOUNDA, SN — The Vermont National Guard has embarked on a critical mission to enhance medical readiness in its ranks and in Senegal as part of MedRex (Medical Exercise 2024).

March 28, 2024

Burlington City Council Votes Unanimously to Establish Sister City Partnership with Thies-East, Senegal

BURLINGTON, Vt. — In a landmark decision on Monday, March 25, 2024, the Burlington City Council voted unanimously to forge a sister city relationship with Thies-East, Senegal. This partnership marks a significant step in bolstering the cultural, academic, environmental, and commercial ties between Vermont and Senegal.

Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, right, and Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, speak with joint Austrian Armed Forces leaders, at the Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria in Vienna

Jan. 25, 2024

Vermont National Guard and Austria forge ahead with new initiatives in the State Partnership Program

VIENNA, Austria — In a significant demonstration of support for the strengthening relationship between the Vermont National Guard and Austria, Gen. Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, joined Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, The Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Tracy Poirier, Director of the Joint Staff, in key meetings with the Austrian Bundesheer leadership.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard, listens to a speaker during the 26th US-Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference (CHOD) in Skopje, North Macedonia, September 27, 2023.

Oct. 5, 2023

North Macedonia hosts US-Adriatic Charter Conference

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont adjutant general, and leaders from seven other U.S. states joined their partner nation Chiefs of Defense (CHoD) for the 26th US-Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference in Skopje, North Macedonia, on September 27.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard, and North Macedonia Lt. Gen. Vasko Gjurchinovski, chief of the general staff, Army of the Republic of North Macedonia

Sept. 27, 2023

Vermont National Guard delegation visits North Macedonia

SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA — Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the Adjutant General for the Vermont National Guard, and a delegation of Vermonter Soldiers and Airmen kicked off their visit to North Macedonia at the U.S. Embassy and Ministry of Defense in Skopje on September 25.

Photo of a Eurofighter Typhoons from the Austrian Air Force's Airspace Surveillance Wing, land at Hinterstoisser Air Base from the first ever training sortie between Vermont and Austria since signing their State Partnership Program agreement, Zeltweg, Austria, June 17, 2023.

Aug. 23, 2023

158th Fighter Wing Makes History in Austria

Vienna, Austria — The Vermont Air National Guard made history as they arrived in Austria to celebrate the one year anniversary of their State Partnership Program agreement, which saw U.S. F-35s land in Austria for the first time on June 16, 2023.

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
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders, a crew chief with G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation, watches as water releases from an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter's bucket onto the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County, Oregon, Aug. 10, 2026. Photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne.
Oregon Guard Assists With Hagen Fire Response
By Maj. Wayne Clyne, | Aug. 14, 2026
PENDLETON, Ore. – Inside the cabin of an HH-60M Black Hawk, Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders leans out over the open door, eyes locked on a water bucket swinging 100 feet below the aircraft. The pilots up front can’t see it, since...
U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 217th Air Component Operations Squadron collaborate in support of Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 4, 2026. Northern Strike is a reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships between services. Photo by Staff Sgt. Sean Moriarty.
Michigan Guard Proves Command and Control Capability at Northern Strike
By Capt. Jacob Murray and Tech. Sgt. Tristan Viglianco, | Aug. 14, 2026
ALPENA, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard’s 110th Wing conducted an air component forward experiment during exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Aug 3-14, evaluating agile command...
From left, Staff Sgt. Adan Mancera, cybersecurity journeyman, 171st Air Refueling Wing; Senior Master Sgt. Robert Beveridge, warfighter communications superintendent, 171st Air Refueling Wing; and Maj. Aivaras Ramanauskar, chief of cyber operations, Lithuanian Cyber Command, pose for a photo at the Lithuanian Cyber Command in Vilnius July 14, 2026. Courtesy photo.
Pennsylvania Guard Strengthens Partnership With Lithuania
By Tech. Sgt. Zoe Wockenfuss, | Aug. 14, 2026
CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – A team from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing Communications Squadron traveled to Lithuania July 12-25, completing the unit’s fifth rotation supporting the Lithuanian Air Force’s...
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