Vermont Brigade dons 10th Mountain Division Patch

86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Re-Patching Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard, addresses Soldiers of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, director, Army National Guard, addresses Soldiers of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard color guard, stand at parade rest after the unveiling of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) shoulder sleeve insignia during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. The brigade is participating in the Associated Units Pilot Program and donned the 10th Mountain Division patch as a symbol of their new alignment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard color guard, stand at parade rest after the unveiling of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) shoulder sleeve insignia during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. The brigade is participating in the Associated Units Pilot Program and donned the 10th Mountain Division patch as a symbol of their new alignment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Soldiers with the 101st Field Artillery Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, fire a 15-volley salute honoring Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, director, Army National Guard, during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. The brigade is participating in the Associated Units Pilot Program and the ceremony marked the beginning of their new alignment with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, addresses Soldiers of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, commander, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), poses with Soldiers representing the current battalion leadership of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) for a group photo following a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), stand in formation after re-patching to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) in a ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers with the 101st Field Artillery Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, fire a 15-volley salute honoring Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, director, Army National Guard, during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), stand in formation in preparation for a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, commander, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), places the 10th Mountain shoulder insignia on Col. Andrew Harris, commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Army Col. Andrew Harris, commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), places the 10th Mountain shoulder insignia on Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Gagnon, command sergeant major, 86th IBCT (MTN), during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, commander, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), congratulates Lt. Col. Roger Zeigler, commander, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, Vermont National Guard, after receiving the 10th Mountain shoulder insignia during a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 40th Army Band, Garrison Support Command, Vermont National Guard perform prior to a re-patching ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. As part of the Army’s associated unit pilot program, the 86th IBCT was paired with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), enabling the units to train together and enhance their readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison) (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison)

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U.S. Soldiers with the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, have their shoulder sleeve insignia replaced during a re-patching ceremony, October 15, 2016 at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt. The brigade is participating in the Associated Units Pilot Program and donned the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) patch as a symbol of their new alignment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Soldiers with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), stand at attention during a re-patching ceremony, at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. The brigade is participating in the Associated Units Pilot Program and donned the 10th Mountain Division patch as a symbol of their new alignment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham)

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The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) insignia is unveiled to the Soldiers of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), during a re-patching ceremony, at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Oct. 15, 2016. The brigade is participating in the Associated Units Pilot Program and donned the 10th Mountain Division patch as a symbol of their new alignment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Spc. Avery Cunningham)

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CAMP ETHAN ALLEN TRAINING SITE, Vt. —

The Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) aligned with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) during a re-patch ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont, October 15.

"The primary function is to officially recognize that we have been realigned for training authority purposes under the 10th Mountain and as part of that we removed our beloved mountain patch and replaced it with the storied and well respected 10th Mountain patch on our left sleeve," said Col. Andrew Harris, commander of the 86th IBCT (MTN), Vermont National Guard.

During the ceremony Soldiers stood at attention in formation as the history of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) patch was read while leadership from the 86th IBCT (MTN) began switching Soldiers' old patches for the new. Behind the formation, on a tall wooden tower, a curtain was lowered, simultaneously revealing the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) full-color patch.

Originally developed as the first Mountain unit in the Army in 1941, the 10th Mountain Division received its current name in 1944 before being deployed to Italy during World War II.

The aligning of the 86th IBCT (MTN) to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is part of the Associated Units Pilot Program.

"This is a step forward into the future for the 86th aligning with the 10th Mountain and formalizing an already developed training partnership,” said Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, the adjutant general, Vermont National Guard. “The purpose of this total force integration is to help enhance our capabilities and readiness.”

While changing patches does have an effect on the unit as a whole, it does not uproot the unit or alter their course.

"For us it means steady as we go, with the difference being that our training will be reviewed and evaluated by the 10th Mountain Division, so the staff at the division headquarters will sign off on our training calendars, they'll look at the training we have planned, they'll tell us if they think it meets their needs," said Harris. "All with the aim of making us more ready than we have been in the past, getting us at a higher level of technical competence and a higher level of ability to do our job as an infantry brigade."

There is a mutual benefit, allowing the 10th Mountain Division to incorporate more mountain training and expertise into the division while allowing the Vermont National Guard units better access to good training.

"It'll provide us with the opportunity and resources to do more active duty training," said Spc. Jordan Peterson, Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard.

The opportunities in this re-alignment affords the unit to set goals to better themselves.

"My goal is that we come out of this better trained, better resourced, better equipped and better able to be responsive to the needs of our nation and of course the needs of the State of Vermont," said Harris.

Despite all that the unit will receive, as part of the 10th Mountain Division, the Soldiers of the 86th IBCT (MTN) will always be Green Mountain Boys.

"Mine [86th IBCT Patch] is going off my left sleeve and right into my breast pocket over my heart and that is where it's going to stay," said Harris. "It remains the visual image of who we are as a brigade, and it tells the story of our lineage better than any other patch and having said all that, part of progress, part of becoming a better thing is recognizing when it's time to step up, step forward and that's what we're doing by putting on the 10th Mountain (Division) patch."