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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

Vermont Air National Guard Base — 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

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — 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

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — 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.

An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing

Sept. 10, 2024

Airpower for Great Power Competition

The term great power competition is increasingly being used to describe the current global strategic landscape facing the United States and its allies. This paper examines the implications of that landscape for airpower.

An F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares to depart during a routine night training mission

Sept. 9, 2024

158FW Night Flying Operations

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying operations from Tuesday, September 10, to Thursday, September 12, and from Tuesday, September 17 to Wednesday, September 18 with one afternoon and one evening takeoff period per day. Flights are scheduled to conclude by 9:30 p.m.

F-35A Lightning II’s assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard line up prior to takeoff at the South Burlington Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont on March 2, 2024. The VTANG conducted air operations so that its pilots and ground crew can remain ready and proficient. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Patrick Crosley)

Sept. 2, 2024

VTANG Trains in Austria

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — Airmen and F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the Vermont Air National Guard will depart for Austria in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept. 4, to participate in the Airpower Air Show and a multinational training exercise the following week.

U.S. Army Spc. Trace Thompson, 11B, with the Missouri National Guard receives assistance from U.S. Army Sgt. Chadwick Larter, 79R, with the Massachusetts National Guard, in adjusting his competitor patch after receiving the welcome brief for the Army National Guard Best Warrior finals.

Aug. 3, 2024

Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition Finals begin in Vermont

JERICHO, Vt. — Competitors from across the country received their welcome briefs and equipment today for the finals of the Army National Guard’s Best Warrior competition, at Ethan Allen Firing Range.

U.S. Army Sgt. Peter Fillion, C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, New York National Guard, displays his competitor patch after receiving the welcome brief for the Army National Guard Best Warrior finals.

Aug. 1, 2024

Vermont National Guard hosts Army National Guard Best Warrior competition

JERICO, Vt. — The Vermont National Guard will host the Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition finals. Competition goes from August 3 to August 8. Sunday, August 4, from 6:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. is the best window for media to attend.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

Green Mountain Guard Newsletter Archive

National Guard News
Soldiers assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company stand in formation during their farewell ceremony at Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, New York, Jan. 2, 2025. The unit will train in Texas, before heading to Africa to support Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
New York Army Guard Engineers Heading for Horn of Africa
By Capt. Jason Carr, | Jan. 6, 2025
BUFFALO, N.Y. - One hundred and forty-five New York Army National Guard Soldiers heading to the Horn of Africa were sent off with a formal ceremony at the Connecticut Street Armory Jan. 2.The Soldiers, members of the 152nd...
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NY Air Guard Members Receive Space Force Association Award
By Capt. Jason Carr, | Jan. 6, 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Space Force Association recognized two New York National Guard Airmen as enlisted service members of the year for 2024 during the organization’s annual conference Dec. 10-12.Staff Sgt. Jason Capostagno was...
Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the assistant adjutant general - Army of the Illinois National Guard and the commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, State Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Kelly, and State Command Chief Warrant Officer CW5 Thomas Black present Staff Sgt. Francisco Orozco with an award at the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion's annual awards banquet Nov.16, 2024, in Peoria. Orozco was the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer of the Year with 35 enlistments.
Illinois Army Guard’s Top Recruiter Pays it Forward
By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton, | Jan. 3, 2025
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - When Francisco Orozco first approached an Army National Guard recruiter in 2016, the recruiter “would not give me the time of day.”Orozco was overweight and had a neck tattoo. Both disqualified him from...
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