Articles
Vermont Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the adjutant general of Vermont, salutes Col. Michael Blair after taking command of the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing from Col. Daniel Finnegan, outgoing commander of the 158th, during a change of command ceremony

May 3, 2025

158th FW Welcomes New Commander

Col. Michael Blair assumed command of the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing during a change of command ceremony on May 3 at 1:00 p.m.

U.S. Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing return from deployment

April 22, 2025

Green Mountain Boys Return Home

Hundreds of Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing have returned home to Vermont following a months-long deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Over the coming weeks, additional Airmen, equipment, and F-35 Lightning II aircraft will continue to arrive home as the deployment concludes.

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Landon Potvin, an operations support specialist assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, pauses his duties to take an environmental portrait for an airman spotlight story

April 15, 2025

Service Beyond the Base

An Airman with the Vermont Air National Guard's Communications Squadron makes noise on the basketball court, mentoring the youth about skills essential on and off the court.

U.S. Army Soldiers compete in a patrol race at the Goms Nordic Center, in Geschinen, Switzerland

April 9, 2025

CISM 2025 World Winter Military Games

U.S. Army Soldiers from five different states represented the U.S. Armed Forces Sports team at the 2025 CISM (Conseil International du Sport Militaire) Military World Winter Games hosted by the Swiss Military from March 23 to March 30 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

U.S. Army Spc. Robert Burns, an 11B Infantryman, 3-127nd A. Co. (MTN), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, mentally prepares for an alpine snowboard race at Titlis Mountain, Engelberg.

April 9, 2025

Soldier Spotlight: Spc. Robby Burns - Pro Snowboarder

U.S. Army Spc. Robert Burns assigned to 3-172nd A. Co., 86th Infantry Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, represented the U.S. Armed Forces Sports team at the 2025 CISM (Conseil International du Sport Militaire) Military World Winter Games hosted by the Swiss Military from March 23 to March 30 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Palmer (left) and Spc. Eli Nielsen, Vermont National Guard, receives awards at the end of the Best Warrior Competition

April 6, 2025

Vermont Army National Guard Names 2025 Best Warriors at Ethan Allen Firing Range

The Vermont Army National Guard held its annual Best Warrior Competition at the Ethan Allen Firing Range April 5–6, 2025, challenging Soldiers and noncommissioned officers in a rigorous test of physical and mental readiness.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Eric L. Gagnon (incoming) and Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond J. Myers, Vermont Army National Guard, conducts a change of command ceremony.

April 5, 2025

Vermont Army National Guard Land Component Commander: COC & Brig. Gen. James M. Pabis Retirement

The Vermont Army National Guard’s Land Component Command welcomes a new general officer as Brig. Gen. James M. Pabis (retired) relinquishes command to Brig. Gen. Eric L. Gagnon during a change of command ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, at the Green Mountain Armory in Colchester, Vermont.

Photo of U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Sdankus, assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, standing in front of the Command Section building on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Japan, March 26, 2025.

April 3, 2025

Bridging Skies and Seas

The ocean churned beneath the incoming helicopters, their rotors slicing through the humid Pacific air. Special operations forces stood at the edge of open ramp doors, seconds from making their drop into the sea. This wasn’t just a drill; it was a test of their ability to execute under the most demanding conditions, where split-second decisions meant the difference between success and failure.

U.S. Army Spc. Caleb Hunter, Maine National Guard, leads team U.S.A. with the flag over his shoulder during the opening ceremony of the CISM 2025 World Winter Military Games

March 24, 2025

U.S. Winter Team arrive to CISM World Games 2025 in Switzerland

The 2025 Conseil International Du Sport Militaire (CISM) will be held in Switzerland this year. The United States team arrived for the World Military Games where they will compete in a slew of winter games that range from nordic to alpine skiing, biathlon, and climbing.

Photo of, From left: Japan Air Self Defense Force Capt. Nakanishi, U.S. Air Force Lt. Mike Watson and Royal Australian Air Force FLTLT Ryan pose for a photo in front of an F-35A Lightning II on the flight-line for exercise Cope North 2025 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 19, 2025.

March 7, 2025

Cope North 25 Strengthens Trilateral Airpower and Interoperability

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE — For the first time, F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Japan, the United States, and Australia conducted trilateral training operations, enhancing joint capabilities and interoperability. Representing the United States’ fifth-generation fighter presence, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 134th Fighter Squadron deployed a portion of its fleet for the exercise.

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
Spc. Robert Ruiz-Rhoades, left, of the Pennsylvania National Guard and Sgt. Miles Crawford, right, of the Maryland National Guard, was named the winners of the Region II Best Warrior Competition at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, May 5-9, 2025.
Maryland, Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Emerge as Region II’s Best Warriors
By Maj. Travis Mueller, | May 9, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Sgt. Miles Crawford and Spc. Robert Ruiz-Rhoades will advance to the 2025 Army National Best Warrior Competition after winning the Region II competition here May 5-9.Crawford, a human intelligence...
Karen Raines, spouse of Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, meets with family‑readiness volunteers at Joint Force Headquarters ‑ Maine, April 30, 2025. Raines visited Maine Army and Air National Guard units April 30‑May 5 to highlight programs that strengthen connection, resilience and care for Guard families.
National Guard Spouse Highlights Strength of Family Support During Maine Visit
By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Pena, | May 9, 2025
AUGUSTA, Maine – Karen Raines, spouse of Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, engaged with Maine Army and Air National Guard units here during a visit April 30 to May 5.Her trip...
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman conduct a collective training exercise simulating a response to a simulated mass casualty radiological event April 30, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The Soldiers and Airmen are assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP. During the exercise, search and rescue, decontamination and medical teams worked together to rescue simulated casualties portrayed by role players. The CERFP is capable of providing support to first responders and civil authorities after a chemical, biological or nuclear incident. Read more about the 34th CERFP athttps://vngpao.info/2p89jnkp.
Virginia National Guard Team Trains for Disaster Response
By Mike Vrabel, | May 9, 2025
FORT BARFOOT, Va.  –  Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a collective training exercise responding to a simulated mass casualty radiological event at Fort Barfoot April 28 - May 2. The Soldiers and Airmen...
More