TAG's Corner
Colleagues,
At present, we have around 40 of our Vermont Air and Army National Guard medical practitioners and technical experts participating in a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in Senegal. They are working with their Senegalese colleagues in three communities East of Dakar, providing vital medical services to local Senegalese citizens and helping to repair medical equipment. The work they are doing is remarkable, with this being perhaps the largest MEDREX we have ever done.
Our team is working patient visits for obstetrics, ophthalmology, pediatrics, orthopedics and emergency treatment – will send additional details when they return.
I am currently attending the AFRICOM Chief of Defense conference, and have been able to share this with CNGB, General Hokanson; AFRICOM Commander, General Langley; NGB J5, MG Zana; and other senior staff and TAGs attending the conference. Our work with Senegal remains central to growing capability and capacity with our partner nation and serves as an example of the mutually beneficial experiences of this partnership for our Guard members.
All the best. - MG Knight
COVER Photo: MEDREX 2023
U.S. Army and Air Force medical professionals from the Vermont National Guard began a medical readiness exercise with their Senegalese partners on Feb. 20.
The 40-person U.S. team will work alongside Senegalese hospital professionals to treat patients in a variety of medical specialties at the Thies Regional Hospital—located 70 kilometers east of Dakar—and at two smaller hospitals in and around Thies over the two-week exercise.
“We’re here to collaborate and build a rapport with our Senegalese partners,” said Lt. Col. James Burrows, the officer in charge of the exercise. “We’ve enjoyed a state partnership with Senegal since 2008 and these exercises build on the trust and mutual respect we have for each other.”
MEDREX is a program designed and overseen by the U.S. Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) that allows medical personnel from the U.S. military and partner nations to exchange medical procedures and strengthen treatment capabilities. The exercise exposes participants to unique medical delivery methods, and ultimately improves their capacity to assess and deliver care. MEDREX Senegal 2023 is organized and executed by the Vermont National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) and administered by the National Guard Bureau.
After receiving an orientation of the three hospitals, the Vermont team separated into their medical specialties and immediately began providing patient care alongside their Senegalese counterparts. Working in the OB/GYN ward at Thies Regional Hospital, Capt. Joan Emerson, a registered nurse and Staff Sgt. Christina Fontaine, doula labor support, assisted with the delivery of twin boys by cesarean section.
“It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget," said an excited Fontaine as she recounted her first experience assisting with the delivery of twins and holding them.
“They certainly do things differently than what we’re accustomed to seeing back home,” said Emerson. “It is interesting to learn their methods and take part in this exchange.”
In addition to Senegal, the Vermont National Guard also has state partnerships with the countries of North Macedonia and Austria. The program’s objectives center on building relationships that enhance global security, understanding and cooperation. It fosters long-term relationships across all levels of society and encourages the development of economic, political and military ties between the states and partner nations.
Charlie Company, 3-126th Aviation (Air Ambulance) Deployment Ceremony
Aviation Soldiers from Company C, 3-126 Army Aviation, 86th Troop Command, Garrison Support Command, Vermont Army National Guard, will conduct air ambulance missions across their area of responsibility.
“This unit has remarkable depth of experience and exemplify professionalism in Army aviation,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard, “Most importantly, they know how critical it is to be a part of something much larger than themselves. Vermonters should be proud of how large a role this unit plays in our international missions.”
The units have been preparing for their deployment to U.S. Central Command for over a year, which has its own set of requirements and missions. This unit previously deployed in 2018.
“Vermont and the country are fortunate to have such dedicated service members in the Vermont National Guard, who are always willing to answer the call,” said Governor Phil Scott. “We are incredibly appreciative of their dedication, as well as their families who sacrifice while their loved ones are away on deployment,” said Scott.
Members of the Vermont National Guard Family Programs stand ready to support the families of Soldiers while they are deployed. Family Programs offers child and youth programming, family counseling, tax preparation services, financial counseling, Veteran's outreach, a 24-hour hotline, and much more. Unit family members are encouraged to reach out to their Family Programs Representative anytime.
"Charlie Company has worked extremely hard preparing for this deployment and we are excited to move into theater and begin performing the MEDEVAC mission that we are so passionate about,” said U.S. Army Maj. David Johnston, commander, Company C 3/126 Army Aviation (Air Ambulance).
158th CES Earns EOD Top Honors
The 158th Civil Engineer Squadron and 158th CES Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, won the 2022 Colonel William L. Deneke Outstanding Civil Engineer Unit and the Senior Master Sergeant Gerald J. Stryzak award for the top performing EOD flight, Jan. 31.
While the Col. William L. Deneke award recognizes the entire squadron, the Senior Master Sgt. Gerald J. Stryzak award acknowledges the EOD team, a unit within the CES. One of the reasons the EOD team was recognized is for responding to five calls for assistance from civilian law enforcement where the team was able to destroy 11 ordnance items potentially hazardous to Vermonters.
“The 158th EOD flight has spearheaded a wide spectrum of core mission sets across the entire guard, and active duty,” said Tech Sgt. Andrew Borgens, 158th CES EOD technician. “This is especially true in regard to our state partnership programs and our participation at national level EOD functions.”
The Stryzak award is named in honor of EOD technician Senior Master Gerald Stryzak who perished when the C-141 he was aboard crashed during a tactical response deployment to Egypt, in 1980.
55th International Association of Military Mountain Schools Conference
CNGB Biathlon Championships
Edelweiss Raid 2023- Austria Training
Twenty Soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard will compete in the 2023 Edelweiss Raid in Austria on March 1st and 2nd.
This intense competition will see the team representing the United States Army vying to top their previous finish of 13th in the 2019 Raid. Some of the best military units from around the world are represented in the race.
The Vermont team left for Austria on February 18th.
The Edelweiss Raid is a grueling event that challenges Soldiers both mentally and physically, testing their ability to work together and perform under pressure. The Vermont National Guard team is well-prepared, having been the first team from the United States to compete in the event in 2019. The team has had a robust preparation for this year’s race including a tryout in October.
“The Raid is the closest we get to replicating the demands of small unit mountain combat. The whole point of making it a competition is to simulate the time demands and stresses of mountain warfare. We use it as a leader building event – the most junior Soldiers on the team all get a leadership task that they must guide the team through,” said Maj. Nathan Fry, one of the Vermont team leaders. “The effect the Raid has on building mountain sense and tactical leadership in just 48 hours is unparalleled.”
The Edelweiss Raid covers 40 kilometers and 4,000 meters of elevation gain. The competition includes up to 12 stations with military task requirements that competitors must pass. These tasks include high angle shooting, call for fire, and mountain casualty evacuation. The scope of the competition simulates mountain combat and to showcase the combat effectiveness of the team. The Vermont team will include Soldiers from the Army Mountain Warfare School and the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (MTN).
“This is truly an incredible event and impressive group of Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Adjutant General for the Vermont National Guard. “I’m looking forward to seeing how this competition goes and where we place – I know the group is excited and well-prepared,” said Knight.
Austria is partnered with Vermont through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. Austria formally became Vermont’s third state partner in May of 2022. Vermont and Austria have a relationship since Vermont opened the Army Mountain Warfare School in 1983. Vermont and Austria have already had numerous exchanges throughout the first year of partnership. Vermont is also state partners with Senegal and North Macedonia.
Vermont National Guard Welcomes First PRIME Partner
The Vermont National Guard entered into its first agreement through the Partnered Recruiting Initiative for Military and Employers (PRIME) program with G.S. Blodgett Ovens in Essex on Wednesday, February 15. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, the Vermont National Guard adjutant general, and Ms. Erica Havers, president of Blodgett Ovens, highlighted the event by officially signing the agreement.
Blodgett Ovens became the first employer to sign a PRIME agreement with the Vermont National Guard.
“The Blodgett Oven Company has a rich history dating back to 1848 when the company was founded right here in Vermont,” said Ms. Havers. “Our founder, Gardner Blodgett, was commissioned in the Civil War by Abraham Lincoln and served the Union Army as a quartermaster. Our very roots are in the military, and we are so honored to join in this agreement with the Vermont National Guard.”
The PRIME program combines the recruiting efforts of the National Guard and civilian employers to recruit and retain the best and brightest Vermonters for employment and military service. The PRIME motto is: “Keep the best Vermonters in Vermont!”
PRIME capitalizes on the strengths of both partners. Vermont Guard recruiters have enormous reach, and with each enlistment in military service comes a fully vetted potential employee. In addition, military members receive extensive basic and specialized training. The employer gains leader trained to problem solve and work collaboratively with a team. In some cases, the specialized skills match the employer’s needs. In turn, the Vermont Guard gets a member who has solid employment, can support their family, and is more likely to remain with their employer, the Vermont Guard, and here in Vermont.
“The PRIME program is another benefit for serving in the Vermont Guard,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Casey Bell, the senior enlisted advisor for the Vermont Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “When we have new recruits enlisting in the Vermont National Guard who are 17 or 18 years-old, we can talk about the job opportunities through our business relationships in the PRIME program.”
The Vermont National Guard is always seeking more PRIME partners.
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