Articles
Staff Sgt. Noah Lukan, a Cyber Communications specialist assigned to the 148th Communications Squadron, 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, participated in a cold-water immersion as part of the Air National Guard's cold weather operations course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., Feb. 7, 2025. Students participated in a six-day, five-night Field Training Exercise where they traveled on foot in subzero temperatures, using land navigational skills, to build camps featuring either a 10-man Arctic tent or thermal shelters made from materials found in nature. Students were comprised of mostly Security Forces specialists, but also included a Maintenance Group Commander, Physician Assistant, Cyber Communications Specialist, and a Public Affairs Specialist. The course taught service members to conduct mission-essential tasking in extreme cold environments.

Feb. 11, 2025

Air National Guard Conducts Arctic Training in Minnesota

CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. — 70 Air National Guard airmen gathered at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8, 2025, to train and conduct mission-essential tasks in extremely cold temperatures, during the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course (CWOC).

Capt. Matthew Purdy (right), who is currently serving as project engineer on the Canandaigua VA Medical Center project, participates in a site tour of the project.

Feb. 4, 2025

Army officer gaining engineering experience at Canandaigua VA Medical Center project

Capt. Matthew Purdy has had an interest in engineering and how things work since he was a preschooler. That lifelong interest has led him to his current role as a project engineer on the Canandaigua VA Medical Center project in upstate New York.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard, poses for photo with Vermont secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Lindsay Kurrle (left) and Dr. Bettyjo Bouchey, UVM Chief Officer for Professional and Continuing Education at the Army Aviation Support Facility.

Jan. 14, 2025

Vermont National Guard and University of Vermont sign partnership agreement to enhance career development for service members

The Vermont National Guard signed a partnership agreement with the University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education (UVM PACE) to bolster career development for service members at the Army Aviation Support Facility in South Burlington on Jan 14.

Airmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing take off in an aircraft that will bring them to their deployed location, from the Burlington International Airport.

Jan. 13, 2025

Vermont Air National Guard Deploys to Japan

More than 200 Airmen, along with equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft from the Vermont Air National Guard recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance regional security and strengthen interoperability with joint and allied forces.

Photo of U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Hayden Lessor, from the Low Observable Maintenance Shop, Vermont Air National Guard, standing for a photo with his family while attending the Joining Forces event at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Jan. 8, 2025

VTANG Airman Represents Vermont at White House for Joining Forces

It’s not every day a member of the Vermont Air National Guard walks the halls of the White House, let alone shares a moment with the First Lady of the United States. For Tech. Sgt. Hayden Lessor of the 158th Fighter Wing, that moment became reality when he represented Vermont and the VTANG at the annual Joining Forces event.

Vermont National Guard Press Release

Dec. 6, 2024

Vermont National Guard hosts 2024 Operation Santa's Convoy

The Vermont National Guard will escort Santa Claus on a lighted convoy around the state on December 19.

Photo of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Analie Choquette, a Transportation Movement Operations Specialist assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, preparing her horse, Prada, for a ride at a barn in Orange, Vermont, Nov. 17, 2024.

Nov. 26, 2024

TMO Airman Not Horsing Around

In the world of the U.S. Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II, precision, focus, and attention to detail are imperative to ensuring the safety of the jets, their operators, and the accuracy of the aircraft’s performance. For Senior Airman Analie Choquette, a Traffic Management Operations Specialist with the 158th Fighter Wing, these are not just attributions to the F-35—they serve her during her off-duty time as well.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Dayton Brown (right), the base civil engineer, and Mr. Robert Letourneau, the base engineering technician, walk the grounds of the solar array expansion at the Vermont Air National Guard Base

Nov. 16, 2024

158th Fighter Wing Expands Largest Solar Array in Air National Guard

The Vermont Air National Guard began the third and final phase of a photovoltaic power project, an ambitious solar energy initiative aimed at bolstering energy resilience, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing emergency readiness.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mathew Lehman, Staff Sgt. Jana Somero, and Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Berthiaume, all members of the 158th Fighter Wing, stand in front the sign for Camp Lemonnier

Oct. 29, 2024

Honoring Our Deployed Airmen on National Day of the Deployed

More than 50 Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing are deploying this fall to support ongoing missions in the United States Central Command and United States Africa Command theaters.

A photo of Kristina Von Trapp, granddaughter of Maria Von Trapp; Capt. Kelsey "Ice" Flannery, an F-35 pilot with the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing; Klaudia Tanner, Minister of Defense of Austria; Victoria Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Austria; Capt. Melanie “MACH” Kluesner, F-35 Demo Team pilot; Command Chief Master Sgt. Jillian Rolla, Vermont state command chief; meeting at one of the 158th's F-35A Lightning IIs on display during Airpower, the largest air show in Europe, Hinterstoisser Air Base, Zetlweg, Austria, Sept. 6, 2024.

Oct. 3, 2024

Vermont Returns to Austria for AIRPOWER24 and Maple Tiger

With four F-35A Lightning IIs flying through the Austrian mountains, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing returned to Austria for a second year of training with the Austrian and Swiss air forces.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
U.S. Air Force and Qatari Armed Forces service members solve a framework issue during the cybersecurity training Exercise Eagle Resolve 2025 in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Jan. 13, 2025. The training improved interoperability between U.S. and Gulf nation forces by enhancing communication, aligning operational strategies, and fostering joint responses to shared security challenges.
West Virginia Guard Joins Cyber Defense Training in Qatar
By Erica Bodker, | March 25, 2025
CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The West Virginia National Guard Cyber Protection Team - Mission Element joined over 30 cyber operators from six nations in the multinational exercise Eagle Resolve 2025 in Doha, Qatar. For two weeks,...
In the chilly, dusty morning at Fort Irwin, California, aka the “Sandbox,” March 11, 2025, four Oregon Army National Guard CH-47F “Chinook
Oregon Army Guard Provides Lift for Army Futures Command
By Aaron Perkins, | March 25, 2025
FORT IRWIN, Calif. - On a chilly and dusty morning at Fort Irwin, aka the “Sandbox,” four Oregon Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook helicopters are loaded up with Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation...
Sgt. 1st Class John Sharbel, with the Tennessee Army National Guard, and an injured hiker are hoisted into a hovering UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, March 22, 2025.
Tennessee National Guard Rescues Great Smoky Mountains Hiker
By Tennessee National Guard | March 25, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – A Tennessee Army National Guard flight crew based at Joint Base McGhee-Tyson rescued an injured hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park March 22. Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, the...
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