From The Desk Of: Col. Leonard Poirier
The US Army just celebrated its 248th birthday last month, making it older than the country it serves. The Vermont National Guard also traces its history that far, at least informally, to the American Revolution. We have a long and storied past from that fight for independence to our ongoing and most recent deployments, which we should be proud of. While honoring where we have been, we also must look to the future to remain the premier fighting force we have become.
As the Chief of the National Guard states in his guidance, our mission first and foremost is to fight and win our nation’s wars as part of the Joint Force. To do that we must be ready, and being ready is built on the foundation of personnel: Soldiers supported by their families and employers as part of our organization serving our communities, state, and country.
The Army, and the Vermont Army National Guard, are actively planning for the future. “Army 2030” planning at the national level is informing our own “VTARNG 2030” planning. We’re all aware of the challenges we face in recruiting, making it difficult to fill our formations. Those challenges may end up impacting the organization in ways we would prefer to avoid, but we can no longer afford to continue losing strength without addressing all possible solutions. It is time to get on track or face difficult decisions for our future.
I appreciate the efforts of our Soldiers, and especially of our Recruiters, in all that you do including in trying to build our force. I know that we all understand the importance of filling our ranks and I know that Leaders at all levels want to lead full teams, squads, platoons, companies, and battalions.
The VTARNG has recently released a Training and Retention Survey to get your input on what we already do well, and what we can do better. This survey is YOUR opportunity to provide input directly to the senior leadership of the VTARNG and to help us shape the future and in turn help us to fill our ranks more effectively. Please take the 10-15 minutes to complete this survey, and make your opinions heard. You have the creative solutions we need to be successful in the future and to write the next chapters of our history.
Put the Vermonters Ahead!
- Col. Len Poirier, Commander, 86 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain)
Historic Partnership: Austria And Vermont
Watch The Story Below:
The ceremony marked the close trans-Atlantic ties and strong bonds between Austria and Vermont, and the first time American F-35s landed at, and trained with, the Austrian Air Force.
Snipers Hone Stalking Abilities
158th Fighter Wing In Germany
The Vermont Air National Guard was in Europe for Air Defender 23 (AD23), which is the largest Air Force deployment exercise since NATO was founded.
Exercise AD23 is a German-led, multinational exercise focusing on operational and tactical-level field training, primarily held in Germany, with forward operating locations in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia.
Celebrating 30 Years Of State Partnership: North Macedonia and Vermont
The Vermont National Guard hosted a delegation from North Macedonia including the Minister of Defense, Slavjanka Petrovska, and the Chief of Defense, Lt. Gen. Vasko Gjurchinovski.
"The partnership with North Macedonia is one of the most enriching aspects of my nearly 40 years in service," said Knight. "It's these types of relationships that work toward global security, and that is especially important in the current atmosphere we are living in," said Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight.
In attendance were Vermont Army National Guard senior leaders including Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont adjutant general; Col. Tracey Poirier, director of the joint staff; Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Edwards, senior enlisted advisor; and Col. Len Poirier, commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (MTN).
Operation Northern Fallout '23
Operation Northern Fallout is a Civil Support Team focused, regional and interagency training event designed to strengthen relationships and response capability to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear designated events. The Vermont National Guard, The Army of the Republic of North Macedonia soldiers, and Senegal's Unite NRBC team, partnered with agencies like the FBI, US customs and Border Protection, US Department of Agriculture and State Agencies such as Vermont State Hazmat, Vermont State Police and Local emergency service authorities.
Watch the full video below.
Capt. Lindsay Scruggs and Sgt. German Candelaria of the 13th Civil Support Team, Rhode Island National Guard, speak about the week long event, Operation Northern Fallout that was hosted by the 15th Civil Support Team, Vermont National Guard.
Vermont Air National Guard Welcomes New Leadership
The Vermont Air National Guard had a significant transition of leadership during a change of command ceremony at the South Burlington Air National Guard Base as Brig. Gen. Henry Harder, Jr. assumed command as the Air Component commander, succeeding Brig. Gen. Steven Lambrecht on June 4, 2023.
Vermonters Return From Europe
Soldiers from the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) spent two weeks in Europe contributing to the second of three connected exercises making up the larger DEFENDER 23 operation.
Approximately 50 Soldiers returned from Slovenia June 3 after participating in NATO’s Exercise Immediate Response.
Immediate Response took place in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Slovenia and included approximately 2,800 U.S. and 7,000 multinational participants.