National Guard Biathlon Regionals Held in Vermont

U.S. Army Capt. Lauren Weber, Ohio National Guard Biathlon Team, loads her weapon during a biathlon sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Spc. Joshua McDougal, Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team, poses for a portrait after a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Spc. Philip Jeffries, Colorado National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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Chip Hahn, left, Colorado National Guard Biathlon Team, races U.S. Army Maj. Dale Black, Montana National Guard Biathlon Team, to the finish line during a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Matthew Stern, Pennsylvania National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Spc. William Felts, Colorado National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Sgt. Travis Scharosch, Wyoming National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashley Anderson, right, Missouri National Guard, and Capt. Lauren Weber, Ohio National Guard Biathlon Team, compete in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Karin Kasupski, Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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Arica Carbaugh, Pennsylvania National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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Samantha Hall, Minnesota National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Dan Westover, Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Maj. Jennifer Mclean-Ellis, Michigan National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Karin Kasupski, Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Capt. Lauren Weber, Ohio National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Capt. Lauren Weber, Ohio National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Evan Ahlborn, Utah National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Sgt. Lisl Pearson, Colorado National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 27, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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An athlete from the Utah National Guard Biathlon Team races by while competing in the Men’s Sprint Race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Maj. Keegan Smith, California National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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Roberts Wynn, Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Spc. Troy Anger, Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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Hunter Zupko, Minnesota National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army 1st Lt. Matthew Stern, Pennsylvania National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Chad Heron, Wisconsin National Guard Biathlon Team, competes in a sprint race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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A member of the Vermont Biathlon Team watches as athletes compete in the Men’s Sprint Race at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 26, 2018. Athletes from 24 states participated in the National Guard Eastern, Western, and Central Regional Biathlon Competitions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham) (Photo by Sgt. Avery Cunningham)

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CAMP ETHAN ALLEN TRAINING SITE, Vt. —

National Guardsmen from 24 states competed in their respective Regional Biathlon Competitions at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. Biathlon consists of target shooting and ski racing. Competitors, ranging from novice to master, are divided into west, central, and east regions.

“Usually we have regionals at different locations, but this year they didn’t have any snow in Minnesota, so they decided to consolidate the entire country,” said U.S. Army Col. Robert Gingras, the chief of competition for the event. “They’re all racing today rather than racing separate regionals.”

The regionals consisted of two sprint races each for the men’s and women’s categories. The men complete three laps adding up to ten kilometers, shooting five shots while prone after the first lap, five shots while standing after the second lap, then finishing on the third lap. The woman’s is the same but the distance is only 7.5 kilometers.

“It’s pretty aerobically challenging,” said Spc. Joshua McDougal, a Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team member and infantryman assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). “I come from cross country running and track and field background, so I know what aerobics are about, but it uses a different muscle group for sure. So that was the biggest challenge for me.”

The challenge gives current National Guardsmen an opportunity to develop as athletes and to improve in biathlon, while also inviting biathletes to join the guard.

“Our number one mission is to develop athletes that have enough potential to make the next level within the U.S. Biathlon Association,” said Staff Sgt. Sarah Lehto, head coach for the National Guard Biathlon Program. “Our goal is to develop them to the level where they can compete internationally and be absorbed by the USBA to be a member of their national team.”

The training and competing gives goals for the guardsmen that also allows them to develop in other areas crucial for Soldiers.

“Coming out here giving yourself something to shoot for definitely gives you an edge in discipline and fitness,” said McDougal. “Alpha Company being a mountain unit there is definitely a lot of carry overs to what we do on a normal drill weekend.”

For even more photos, check out the Vermont National Guard Flickr!