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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 - 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
Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, poses with competitors following the awards ceremony at the inaugural Pennsylvania National Guard Keystones Combatives Tournament in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Jan. 11, 2026. Thirty-nine Soldiers and Airmen competed in the first Modern Army Combatives tournament in the state’s history. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kelly Boyer.
Pennsylvania National Guard Hosts Inaugural Keystone Combatives Tournament
By Staff Sgt. Kelly Boyer, | Jan. 14, 2026
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — Thirty-nine Soldiers and Airmen from the Pennsylvania National Guard tested their hand-to-hand combat skills during the inaugural Keystone Combatives Tournament at the Blue Mountain Sports Complex...
Carrying U.S. Coast Guard members of the Maritime Security Response Team, a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter conducts joint hoist training Jan. 23, 2023, at Coast Guard Station Kodiak. The Interagency training included participation of U.S. Naval Special Warfare, the Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team and the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th Rescue Squadron. Photo by David Bedard.
Alaska Air Guard Conducts Nighttime Medical Evacuation
By Alejandro Pena, | Jan. 14, 2026
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guard members assigned to the 176th Wing medically evacuated an individual Jan. 12 in Southcentral Alaska.In response to a request for assistance from the Alaska...
Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard, and Portuguese Lt. Gen. Rui Freitas sign the formal agreement creating the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program between the Illinois National Guard and the Portuguese military on Jan. 12, 2026, at the Portuguese Ministry of Defense in Lisbon. The State Partnership Program is a Department of War initiative led by the National Guard that supports the security cooperation objectives of U.S. combatant commands and aligns with U.S. State Department strategies. Photo by Cpl. Justin Malone.
Illinois Guard, Portugal Formalize New State Partnership Agreement
By Cpl. Justin Malone, | Jan. 13, 2026
LISBON, Portugal – The Illinois National Guard and the Ministry of National Defense of the Portuguese Republic held a ceremony Jan. 12 to officially establish a new State Partnership Program agreement between the two armed...
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