From The Desk Of:
Colleagues,
March was Women’s History Month, and we certainly have many Soldiers and Airmen deserving of recognition. Of note, Vermont was the first state to elect a female Adjutant General, and more recently we promoted our first woman in the Vermont Army National Guard to Brigadier General: Brig. Gen. Tracey Poirier. There are also dozens of female Soldiers and Airmen blazing new trails within our organization – all of whom earned their way through their courage, competence and commitment to our Guard. Thanks for what you do.
We again led the way on another successful Guerrier Nordique training exercise in the High Arctic. This is an amazing opportunity for our Soldiers to participate in a joint, multinational exercise, and have the experience of a lifetime. You can see more about it in this newsletter, but I wanted to express my gratitude for the efforts of those that participated, and of those that took part in the planning for this training. A job well done by all.
If you haven’t heard, I’d like to bring your attention to a benefit for our Soldiers that is relatively new: dental care covered by our own medical detachment. The coverage includes up to $2,500 in services at any dentist office for an exam or treatment. To get started, please call the Med Det. front desk at 802-338-3404. This service is open to all members of the Vermont Army National Guard: M-Day, Tech or AGR.
Lastly, I’d like to bring your attention to a scholarship opportunity through the National Guard Educational Foundation and USAA. The USAA Guardian Scholarship Fund provides up to $25,000 per student over a four-year college education ($6,250/year). This is a significant opportunity. You can view more information and the application by visiting this link at the bottom of this message.
As I’m writing this I’m looking out over nearly a foot of snow outside my house. Spring in Vermont! Stay safe, take care of yourself and each other, and remember: don’t ever stare at the sun, but especially not on Monday during the eclipse! Unless of course you have special glasses.
Thanks,
Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight
Celebrating Women's History Month
Guerrier Nordique 2024
Cold as Ice
American and Canadian forces once again came together to conduct an iteration of the Arctic exercise, Guerrier Nordique 2024. This year marks the twelfth iteration of this exercise.
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The service members camped in Arctic conditions as part of the exercise, a joint force effort that focuses on combat capability and lethality in frigid temperatures.
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Shane Yuknis, cavalry scout for B Troop, 172nd Cavalry Squadron (MTN), shows off his thermostat reading -30 degrees in Resolute, Nunavut, Canada.
More From Guerrier Nordique 2024
Pioneering a Path in the Vermont National Guard
As Women's History Month draws to a close, the Vermont National Guard takes a moment to spotlight Sgt. Ashley Weatherwalks. Originating from Florida, Massachusetts, Weatherwalks is the first female Soldier in Blackjack Troop out of Bennington, Vermont, and the first female U.S. Soldier to accomplish an iteration of the Arctic exercise Guerrier Nordique.
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Guerrier Nordique, a demanding exercise designed to test the limits of soldiers in arctic conditions, offered Weatherwalks an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate her resilience, adaptability, and competence in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. Reflecting on her experience, she said, "The Arctic was beautiful and unforgiving. It is extremely dangerous if you don't understand it. I can't wait to go back!"
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New American Series: Nastassia Lapham
U.S. Army Small Arms Championships
Fort Moore, Georgia
Soldiers and Airmen from across the National Guard, along with ROTC Cadets, participate in the week-long event. This precision event tests everything from marksmanship to action shooting. Competitors must possess a strong foundation in small arms weapons and perform well during the competition to succeed.
Vermont sent down four competitors who put forth a fantastic effort during their events. Pictured on the right:
(From left) U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Galen Topper, 158th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, UVM ROTC Cadet Aidan Chretien, HHC 86th IBCT (MTN), U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Poirier, 158th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and U.S. Army Sgt. Ronnie Hurt, B Troop, 1-172nd Cavalry (MTN).
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Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Poirier was the overall winner of pistol match 221, third overall in rifle individual championship, and fifth overall in combined arms individual championship.
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As a team the Vermonters finished fifth overall in pistol match 4T, tenth out of fifty teams in the overall pistol team championship, and sixteenth out of fifty in the overall combined arms team match.
Sister City Partnership
Burlington City Council Votes Unanimously
In a landmark decision on Monday, March 25, 2024, the Burlington City Council voted unanimously to forge a sister city relationship with Thies-East, Senegal. This partnership marks a significant step in bolstering the cultural, academic, environmental, and commercial ties between Vermont and Senegal.
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The collaboration is set to open up a myriad of exchange opportunities, enriching both communities through shared experiences and knowledge. The agreement leverages their unique strengths for mutual benefit, aiming to deepen the bonds between the two regions.
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Vermont National Guard Biathletes compete in the World Cup at Soldier Hollow
It has been five years since the United States played host to the International Biathlon Union World Cup and three of the Americans competing in Soldier Hollow are Vermont National Guard Soldiers.
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Sgt. Deedra Irwin, Spc. Sean Doherty and Pfc. Maxime Germaine participated in six races over three days against biathletes from across the globe here in the U.S., an infrequent opportunity for a U.S. biathlete.
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Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight attended the races to celebrate his soldiers from the Vermont National Guard who participate with the U.S. National Team.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our biathletes. What they do out there is incredible; the training and determination to compete on this stage is astounding and they truly earned this chance to represent their country with a home crowd,” said Knight.
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Listen In!
The Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight and the Deputy Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Henry Harder Jr. Sat down with WDEV's Brad Ferland to speak at length about the Vermont National Guard and provide informative insights to the general public. In case you missed it, find the links below and listen in.
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