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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
Minnesota Army National Guard Spc. Bronson Stachowiak, from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, who serves as a unit supply specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 682nd Engineer Battalion is one of 27 service members from the Minnesota National Guard and NATO allied nations Canada and Croatia who participated in the 2026 Minnesota Best Warrior Competition April 15-18, 2026, at Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, Minnesota. This competition tests participants’ knowledge, technical and tactical proficiency, physical endurance and resilience through a series of demanding events. Minnesota’s winners will move on to compete against the best Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from across the Midwest at the Region IV Best Warrior Competition, hosted this year by the Michigan National Guard at Fort Custer, April 29-May 3, 2026. Photo by Staff Sgt. Bob Brown.
Minnesota Guard, Croatia Partners Participate in Best Warrior Competition
By Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh, | April 22, 2026
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – Twenty-seven Minnesota Guard members, along with Canadian and Croatian soldiers, tested their skills April 15-18 during harsh weather conditions in the 2026 Minnesota Best Warrior Competition.The...
Maj. Jaymar Imperial, Operations Officer, 10th Civil Support Team gives a briefing during a multi-agency Radiation Response Workshop, April 3, 2026 at Camp Murray, Wash. Courtesy photo.
Washington Guard Leads Multi-Agency Radiation Response Workshop
By Joseph Siemandel, | April 22, 2026
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) hosted a multi-agency Radiation Response Workshop April 3, bringing together federal, state and local partners to...
Airmen from the 146th Airlift Wing, 152nd Airlift Wing and the 302nd Airlift Wing train alongside CAL FIRE ground crews during their annual Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, recertification training at McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif., April 20, 2026. The MAFFS is a roll on and off system that enables a military C-130 aircraft to become a firefighting air tanker that can spread thousands of gallons of fire retardant, aiding ground crews to supress wildfires. The training ensures that aircrews and support personnel remain qualified to operate the MAFFS system and fly into hazardous fire areas at any time of year. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber.
California Guard Conducts Training Ahead of Wildfire Season
By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber, | April 22, 2026
McCLELLAN AIR TANKER STATION, SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Airmen with the 146th Airlift Wing began their annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, recertification and training April 20, in preparation to support aerial...
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