TAG's Corner
We'll soon get to welcome home some of our Soldiers who've been deployed, starting with the 172nd Law Enforcement Detachment ... followed by Task Force Avalanche near the end of the year.
If you've deployed to Southwest Asia since 9/11, I encourage you to sign up for the VA's National Burn Pit Registry.
Finally, I'd like to offer my condolences to the family of Gen. Colin Powell, who passed away Oct. 18. ... He was the epitome of the American story and an outstanding military leader whom our country will truly miss.
Army National Guard Promotions
- Sgt. 1st Class Tonya Larrow
- Sgt. 1st Class Travis Rock
- Staff Sgt. Christopher Alger
- Staff Sgt. James Bordeaux
- Staff Sgt. Christina Fontaine
- Sgt. Kristian Ashley
- Sgt. Patrick Eaton
- Sgt. Charles Ladieu
- Sgt. Andrew Rinehart
- Cpl. Caleb Rowell
- Spc. Nicholas Berns
- Spc. Timothy Clark
- Spc. Glenn Nutting
- Pfc. Evan Kijanski
- Pfc. Thomas Montgomery
- Pfc. Nikolai Pixley
- Pfc. Ethan Prospere
- Pfc. Joshua Ruffing
- Pvt. Matthew Wrisley
Air National Guard Promotions
- Senior Airman Brendan Davison
COVER STORY: VTANG welcomes Dutch partners
Eight Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-35 Lightning II fighters will arrive at the 158th Fighter Wing Oct. 25 and depart on Oct. 27.
“We’re excited to host our NATO allies from the RNLAF in Vermont,” said Col. Nathan Graber, 158th Operations Group commander. “We won’t be training with them locally, but we always welcome the opportunity to support our international partners.”
Vermont National Guard to add Austria as third State Partner
The Vermont National Guard will welcome the Republic of Austria as the third member of their State Partnership Program.
The partnership between the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria was announced as part of the U.S.-Austria Defense Talks held today at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. between delegations from the Department of Defense and the Austrian Ministry of Defense. Austria will join North Macedonia and Senegal as State Partners with Vermont.
“This new strategic partnership is a testament to the respect the Vermont National Guard has earned in Washington D.C. and around the world,” said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. “I am excited to see our new partnership with Austria develop, because as we’ve seen, not only does the State Partnership Program support military efforts, but economic and cultural relations as well.”
Vermont Air Guardsmen return, reflect on deployment
Marking the safe return for these Green Mountain Boys, more than 70 Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, have officially arrived back home from their overseas deployments.
The Vermont Air National Guardsmen began their rotation of deployments during the fall of 2020, and all returned by late summer 2021. A common response from deployers upon their return was their willingness and desire to do it all over again.
Vermont Guard medics host Essex Center for Technology health profession students
On Monday, Oct. 25, Vermont Guard medics hosted students enrolled in health profession courses at the Center for Technology, Essex. The Army medics staged equipment, including an M997A3 ambulance at the Camp Johnson armory for students to inspect.
During the day-long event, students rotated through training stations. One instructed students on how to stop hemorrhage by application of tourniquets and direct pressure techniques. Another provided students with guidance on properly securing a patient to a litter for transportation. A third station had students actually transport a stretcher with a simulated casualty.
VTANG partners with USDA for rabies vaccine study
A collective partnership that began more than 10 years ago between the Vermont Air National Guard, the Burlington International Airport and the United States Department of Agriculture continues to aid in the prevention of rabies-related deaths. This summer, the VTANG and the USDA’s National Rabies Management Program collaborated with the goal of preventing the spread of rabies in wildlife by containing and eliminating the virus.
“This research aims to improve Oral Rabies Vaccination strategies in urban areas to be more effective in reaching the NRMP’s goals of preventing the spread of and eliminating the raccoon rabies variant,” said Fred Pogmore, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist with USDA’s Wildlife Service.
Brendan Popp, Biological Science Technician with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services, releases a raccoon back into wild during a portion of the National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vermont, July 15, 2021. The goal of the NRMP is to prevent the spread of rabies in wildlife by containing and eliminating the virus. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri)
Vermont Guard Soldiers introduce students to heavy equipment
“Who wants to be first on the grader?” 1st Sgt. Mike Morin asked a group of visiting students from the Center for Technology, Essex. Behind him sat the grader in question, a 20-ton vehicle with a single blade used to create flat surfaces. In front of him stood 17 high school juniors and seniors, none of whom seemed excited about the idea of volunteering first.
“No volunteers?” the construction operations noncommissioned officer asked when he spotted one of the students, Natalie Kedzierski, looking away, trying not to stand out. A few minutes later, Morin was standing in the cab with Kedzierski at the controls, learning how to move the massive rig.
Left: First Sgt. Mike Morin, construction operations NCO with Det. 1, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, walks Natalie Kedzierski through operating a grader at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, on Oct. 12, 2021. Kadzierski and other students from the Center for Technology Essex visited CEATS to gain hands-on experience with heavy equipment.
572nd BEB celebrates 100th anniversary
The Vermont Army National Guard’s 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), celebrated their 100th anniversary this year.
The unit hosted a centennial ceremony at their armory on Oct. 16th in recognition of their long lineage.
“100 years is a significant milestone which underscores the long history not only of this unit, but of the National Guard here in Vermont, serving Vermonters and the country,” said Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard. “The 572nd BEB plays an important role not only for the Brigade, but also for the state as our largest formation of engineers, ready to respond in the event of a natural disaster.”
VTARNG Around the Globe
Task Force Iron Gray: Live-fire training
KFOR: Non-Kinetic Battalion Transfer of Authority
Task Force Avalanche receives mailed donations
Soldiers with Task Force Avalanche, 3rd Battalion, 172 Infantry Regiment (Mountain), added mail room duties to their assignments while receiving care packages from the U.S.
The Mountain Battalion had numerous care packages and toilettes sent to them from friends, family, and those wishing to donate to evacuees leaving Afghanistan.
“This was just an outpouring of support, like nothing I had seen so far. There was just a tremendous amount of items arriving for us to distribute to families. This was everything from diapers and formula to crayons, toys, and snacks,” said Capt. Jonathan Philbrook, the battalion intelligence officer. “I expected to have some items arrive from close family friends, but box after box kept arriving in the mail. This was truly remarkable. I never expected this much support.”