Guard News - The National Guard

National Guard infantry units support East Africa mission
January 14, 2022 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Throughout history, the U.S. Army National Guard’s 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) and the 1-116th Infantry Regiment have fought alongside and even against one another... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers with the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray and the 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), stand together during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

Vermont Guardsman rescues 3 from frozen lake
January 11, 2022 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Immediate action by Vermont National Guard Staff Sgt. John Hampson on Christmas Day “very likely saved the lives of three people,” according to U.S. Navy Reserve Cmdr. Jordan... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Hampson, an instructor at the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School, discusses mountain casualty evacuation with French service members with the 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment (5e RIAOM) at the French Combat Training Center at Arta Beach, Djibouti, Dec. 14, 2021. Instructors from the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vt., taught a five-day Joint Expeditionary Mountain Warfare Course on basic military mountaineering skills to French service members in Djibouti to strengthen relationships with international forces working together in the region.

Vermont National Guard Soldiers make Olympic Biathlon Team
January 10, 2022 — JERICHO, Vt. - Three Vermont National Guard biathletes will compete in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing as part of the U.S. Biathlon Team, with an additional member named the men’s alternate.The U.S... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Vasek Cervenka, a carpentry and masonry Specialist assigned to Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Garrison Support Command, Vermont National Guard, competing in the 12.5 KM Pursuit Race at the 2021 Junior World Championships in Obertilliach, Austria, March 3, 2021. Cervenka was selected as an alternate to the men's team for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China.

National Guard Soldiers provide security, partnerships in Horn of Africa
December 29, 2021 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – National Guard units bring unique and cohesive capabilities that enable U.S. forces to give back to the many partner nations who operate in Djibouti. Providing security is... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Charles Riczu, a Connecticut Army National Guard Soldier, currently deployed with the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, demonstrates military mountaineering skills to French Marine Capt. Benoit Malet, the officer in charge of the French Desert Commando Course, during the Joint Expeditionary Mountain Warfare Course.

Vermont National Guard helping vaccinate young people
November 18, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Vermont National Guard now supports the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccinations for youth in the 5 to 11 age group and booster clinics for the general adult... MORE

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Nardo, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, injects James Bordeaux with a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Johnson, Vermont, March 18, 2021.

Vermont Guard reflects on Marine Corps' 246th birthday
November 10, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Each year on Nov. 10, the U.S. Marine Corps celebrates the day in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing two battalions of Marines as a landing... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard who served with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar Province between 2005-2006 were authorized to display the 2nd Marine Division unit insignia on their uniforms. Nov. 10, 2021, marks the Marine Corps' 246th birthday.

State Partnership Program helps Guard build relationships
October 26, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – With the recent additions of the Vermont National Guard partnership with Austria and New Hampshire National Guard with Cabo Verde, the State Partnership Program now includes just... MORE

Capt. Le Mohamed Louaita, commander for Djiboutian Demining Co., expresses gratitude to Tech. Sgt. Dylan Wagner, explosive ordnance disposal technician, 123rd Airlift Wing, Aug. 22, 2021, in Djibouti City, Djibouti. Kentucky National Guard Engineers with the 577th Sapper Company and 123rd Airlift Wing traveled more than 15,000 miles to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to train with the Djiboutian military demining company as a part of the State Partnership Program.

Vermont National Guard to add Austria as third state partner
October 18, 2021 — CAMP JOHNSON, Vt. – The Vermont National Guard will welcome the Republic of Austria as its third partner under the State Partnership Program.The partnership was announced as part of U.S.-Austria... MORE

Vermont and Austria, which have similar terrain and economic and agricultural industries, are partnering under the National Guard's State Partnership Program. This image, designed in Adobe Photoshop, contains two cropped photos and two graphics combined with blending techniques.

Vermont Guardsman solves M17 training round extraction issue
September 28, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Shortly after the U.S. Army adopted the M17 service pistol in 2017, new individual weapons qualifications required the use of dummy, drilled, inert (DDI) practice rounds before... MORE

1st Lt. Anna Kretzer, a platoon leader assigned to the 527th Military Police Company, qualifies on the new M17. The U.S. Army started fielding Military Police units with the new SIG Sauer M17 pistol to replace the M9 Beretta.

North Macedonia delegation visits Vermont
September 22, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Vermont National Guard hosted a press conference today with North Macedonia Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska. Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Secretary of Commerce and... MORE

North Macedonia Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska speaks at a press conference on the steps of the Vermont State Capitol in Montpelier, Vermont, on Sept. 21, 2021. Also pictured are Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, and Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray. This visit from North Macedonia continues work that began earlier this summer to build upon the Vermont National Guard’s near 30 year military partnership to include a whole-of-state partnership. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Vermont National Guard supports medical warehouse
September 17, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Soldiers and Airmen of the Vermont National Guard are helping distribute COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment from Vermont's Medical Countermeasures Warehouse to... MORE

Members of the Vermont National Guard at the Vermont Medical Countermeasures Warehouse Sept. 18, 2020. Guard members continue to work at the site in September 2021, distributing COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment throughout Vermont.

Vermont Guard delegation visits SPP partner North Macedonia
September 10, 2021 — SKOPJE, North Macedonia – A Vermont National Guard delegation led by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gregory Knight, adjutant general, visited North Macedonia as part of the State Partnership Program.After... MORE

Members of the Vermont National Guard attend a celebration for Army Day at the Ministry of Defense in Skopje, North Macedonia, Aug. 18, 2021. The holiday commemorates the creation of the Mirče Acev battalion in 1943. The battalion laid the foundation of the People's Liberation Army of Macedonia that fought against the Axis forces during WWII.

Refugee is now a Vermont National Guard officer
September 3, 2021 — CAMP JOHNSON, Vt. – The road to becoming an officer in the Vermont National Guard began in 2016 for 2nd Lt. Abdimaik Hashi when he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard.As a 19K armor... MORE

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Abdimaik Hashi, a newly commissioned transportation officer in the Vermont National Guard, is assigned to assist the Vermont National Guard state resilience coordinator at Camp Johnson, Joint Force Headquarters, Colchester, Vermont. Hashi, shown on Aug. 13, 2021, spent the first eight years of his life in a refugee camp in Kenya.

National Guard religious affairs teams hone combat skills
September 1, 2021 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – National Guard chaplains participated in the second annual Deployed Security Operations Chaplains Course at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho Aug. 24-26.The... MORE

Master Sgt. Warren Jones, 107th Attack Wing religious affairs Airman, and Capt. Jeff Bartz, 107th AW chaplain, exit a Humvee during the Deployed Security Operations Chaplains Course, Aug. 26, 2021, at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont. The three-day course was developed by 158th religious affairs and security forces Airmen as a crash course in weapons handling and familiarization, general security procedures, convoy operations and improvised explosive device recognition.

Vermont National Guard supports Afghanistan evacuation
August 25, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Vermont National Guard units deployed to U.S. Central Command are supporting Operation Allies Refuge.A small contingent from the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain), 86th... MORE

The Vermont National Guard is assisting with security at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan.This image was designed in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to accompany press releases from the Vermont National Guard.

Guardsman sets records at CMP National Trophy Rifle Matches
August 9, 2021 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The National Guard All Guard Service Rifle team broke two national records and earned 10 first or second place honors during the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) National... MORE

Master Sgt. Greg Neiderhiser, Pennsylvania National Guard, had a perfect shot during the Hearst Doubles Match at the 2021 CMP National Trophy Rifle matches Aug. 4, 2021, in his final event as an All Guard member.

Vermont hosts SPP partner Senegal's national fire brigade
July 22, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Delegates from Senegal's National Fire Brigade, Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers, visited Vermont July 11-21 as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program."The... MORE

Two members of Senegal's National Fire Brigade examine a Vermont National Guard fire response vehicle July 12, 2021, at Camp Johnson, Vermont National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Colchester. Delegates from Senegal’s fire brigade visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

National Guard support critical to U.S. European Command
July 22, 2021 — STUTTGART, Germany – From Poland to Kosovo, Lithuania to Ukraine, Soldiers and Airmen from the U.S. National Guard operate alongside allies and partners throughout Europe. They train in all domains,... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Sachariason, left, a Soldier assigned to the Florida Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, instructs 1st Lt. Almir Sarac, a soldier with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, how to shoot the M4A1 carbine rifle at Manjaca Training Area, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 19, 2021.

VTNG supports COVID response from strategic stockpile
July 14, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Termination of Vermont's COVID-19 state of emergency has led to a shift in priorities for Soldiers and Airmen supporting the state's Strategic National Stockpile.Distribution of... MORE

Airman 1st Class Abas Kallon from the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, retrieves personal protective equipment to fill an order at the Strategic National Stockpile Warehouse, Aug. 27, 2020. Airmen from across the 158th Fighter Wing have supported operations at the warehouse since March 2020.

Vermont Guardsman receives Soldier’s Medal for 2020 rescue
June 23, 2021 — JERICHO, Vermont – On Feb. 29, 2020, Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Dearborn, a Vermont Army National Guard instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School, responded to an emergency call from State Police to... MORE

U.S. Army Sfc. Dustin Dearborn, a Vermont National Guard instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School, is awarded the Soldier's Medal by Vermont Gov. Phil Scott June 18, 2021, at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt. Between Feb. 28 and March 1, 2020, Dearborn helped rescue two people at the Stowe Mountain ski area. One the military’s highest honors, the medal is awarded for acts of heroism not involving conflict with an armed enemy.

Pennsylvania Guard Aviation Partners with Coast Guard

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security

Idaho Guard Airmen Push Limits in Joint Field Training

Pennsylvania Guard Competes in Governor’s Twenty Marksmanship Competition

N.Y. National Guard Aircrews Train with Forest Rangers to Prep for Wildfires