Green Mountain Guard March 2024

From The TAG

The Legislative session brings opportunities to improve benefits for our Guard Soldiers, Airmen, and Vermont Veterans as a whole every year.

While the military remains apolitical with no affiliation, it is naïve to say that the military is not in the political picture. I am a state employee, and we strive to advocate for our Guard and Vermont Veterans. To be clear I am on one side: our side.

As always, I welcome the thoughts of all our members on ways our Guard can be better, and I also encourage you to tell your story to your representative. It’s the only way we can stop being Vermont’s best-kept secret.

Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight

Vermont hosts NGAIC

Vermont hosted representatives from across the United States military and partner nations at the National Guard Arctic Interest Council. Presenters talked about Arctic capabilities, training in the Arctic, and future considerations among many other topics.

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Matthew Schell, Deputy Associate Director for Research and Analysis at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, briefs members of the National Guard during the National Guard Arctic Interest Council 2024 Annual Meeting that occurred Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

The synergy between the Ted Stevens Center and the National Guard underscores the commitment to advancing U.S. interests across the Arctic region, ensuring stability and prosperity for Arctic nations and beyond.

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Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, the Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard, speaks to National Guardsmen on Arctic interest, Essex, Feb 1st.

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Meanwhile, Guerrier Nordique 2024 has begun with soldiers mobilizing and preparing to be in the Arctic through mid-March. In the far reaches of Resolute, Canada, military personnel from the U.S. and Canada have come together for a joint cold weather exercise called Guerrier Nordique. This exercise is designed to test the tactical skills and endurance of military personnel as they work together in extreme winter conditions in the high Arctic.

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As Vermont National Guard soldiers prepare to head north for Guerrier Nordique 24, check out our colleagues in the unforgiving arctic environment last year.

A special congratulations to the Vermont Air National Guard Public Affairs team for winning the DVIDS Long Form Video Award for the video above.

Winter Field Training

An assortment of photos from this past month's winter training exercises from a variety of units. The 186th BSB practiced their mounted winter operations to increase availability and mobility over rough terrain. While other units like 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry (Mountain) practiced dismounted mobility exercises as well.

A.C.E. Maneuver Maple Thunder

Throughout two weeks, nearly 260 personnel from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing conducted a joint readiness exercise in desolate combat simulation environments.

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Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing join hundreds of Airmen from multiple states to participate in exercise Maple Thunder. This Air National Guard-sponsored event spans training locations in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Vermont, where Airmen will test and evaluate their abilities to operate in complex Agile Combat Employment scenarios.

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Our Airmen were working with other Airmen and civilians from across the country to participate in the ACE exercise, “Maple Thunder” which ran from January 22-February 3, 2024.

“ACE is short for ‘agile combat employment’ and it’s a phrase we’ve been talking about in the Air Force for a couple of years now,” said Dr. Sandeep Mulgund, senior advisor to the deputy chief of staff for operations at Headquarters, Air Force, at the Pentagon.

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According to Air Force doctrine, ACE requires a revolutionary change in how the Air Force thinks about and conducts operations within the modern operational environment. It is a model that the 158th Fighter Wing has been implementing for close to a year.

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Vermont to Host Army National Guard Best Warrior

Command Sgt. Maj. John Raines, Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard, meets with senior leadership at the Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, on Feb 14.

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Command Sgt. Maj. Raines inspects the Army Mountain Warfare School facilities and capabilities.

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The leadership convened to discuss the Army National Guard Best Warrior competition. Vermont will be hosting the national competition this August.

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1st Sgt. Rooney explains some of the capabilities of the Army Mountain Warfare School and its different available classes.

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Each year the 'Best Warriors' from each state and or region come together to compete over a series of physically and mentally taxing events that test the true mettle of the individual Soldier.

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Informative Meeting For New Americans

Staff Sgt. Komalpreet Sani from India, Airman 1st Class Yusuf Abdi from Kenya, Spc. Hussein Sadik from Somalia, and Pvt. Raj Gurung from Bhutan, all members of the Vermont National Guard, spoke with other New Americans living in Vermont about their experiences serving in the Vermont National Guard.

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Maj. Gen. Greg Knight opens proceedings by speaking on behalf of the Vermont National Guard to local community members and leaders in Burlington, on Feb 16.

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Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard, Miro Weinberger, Burlington Mayor, and Ali Dieng, Burlington City Counselor, provided comments and emphasized the importance and value of our New American community.

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Local community leaders and new American Soldiers with the Vermont National Guard.

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Mayor of Burlington Miro Weinberger says a few words to the local community members in attendance.

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The Commander of the Austrian Air Force visits with the Vermont Air National Guard as part of the State Partnership Program

(Top Photo, From right to left) U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Shevchik, Chief of Staff - Air, Vermont National Guard, stands for a photo with U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Henry Harder, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Vermont National Guard, U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Finnegan, Commander of the 158th Fighter Wing, Austrian Maj. Gen. Gerfried Promberger, Commander of the Austrian Air Force, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Knight, Deputy Director of Space Operations, National Guard Bureau, Austrian Air Force Col. Roman Hofer, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Andrew Gilmer, F-35A Lightning II pilot for the 158th Fighter Wing, at the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, Feb. 20, 2024. Last year the 158th Fighter Wing made history when they arrived in Austria to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Vermont National Guard State Partnership Program agreement, which saw U.S. F-35s land in Austria for the first time.

2024 Chief of National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships

The Vermont National Guard team participated at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships in Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Utah this past month.

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Vermont National Guard Biathlon Team Feb, 2024

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Spc. Eli Nielsen and Spc. Vlad Kapustin went 1st and 2nd in both the men's sprint and pursuit races overall. Sgt. 1st Class Brian Letourneau placed 3rd in men’s masters for the sprint race. Capt. Graham placed 1st in women's masters and 2nd female overall for both the sprint and pursuit races. As a group they won both the men’s relay and patrol race!

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Capt. Graham placed 1st in Women's Masters.

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What a great effort you all put forth at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships in Utah this year.

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You have to be able to shoot, move, and communicate. Sgt. 1st Class Letourneau put up a solid top three finish in Men's Masters.

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