Green Mountain Guard

Green Mountain Guard January 2019

MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP

Task Force Alpine, a team of more than 5,000 Soldiers built around the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), began training for its Joint Readiness Training Center Rotation in May, by conducting the Leadership Training Program (LTP) in January. Task Force Alpine includes Soldiers from 19 different states designed to provide the units that are needed to be successful from combat and aviation formations to maintenance, engineer, and other support elements.

LTP initiated planning for the training operations the task force will conduct at Fort Polk, LA and prepared the leadership for the challenges ahead. As part of the program brigade and battalion commanders and staffs developed initial plans through the Military Decision Making Process, enabling the synchronization and coordination of complex and disparate efforts into a cohesive plan for defeating the opposing force and preparing the task force and its Soldiers for whatever missions the Nation may require.

Task Force Alpine was fortunate to welcome Major General Walter Piatt, Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, NY during LTP. The 86 IBCT (MTN) is aligned under the 10th Mountain Division through the Army's Associated Unit Program. This pilot program seeks to identify and leverage benefits of having National Guard and Army Reserve units work more closely with Active Duty units. The 86th IBCT (MTN) receives guidance and oversight from Maj. Gen. Piatt and the 10th Mountain Division.

Task Force Alpine is looking forward to JRTC in just a few months and is ready to go!

- Lt. Col. Leonard Poirier, Exec. Officer, 86th IBCT (MTN)

LTP Planning for Training Operations

A Soldier with the 86th IBCT (MTN), creates an overlay during the leadership training program at Fort Polk. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Mikel Arcovitch)

U.S. Army Maj. Annaliese Baumer, Operations Officer for the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, adjusts unit positions as part of the combined arms rehearsal at LTP. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Mikel Arcovitch)

U.S. Army Col. Nathan Lord, commander of the 86th IBCT (MTN) prepares to read the oath of office during a promotion ceremony at LTP at Fort Polk. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Mikel Arcovitch)

SOLDIER SPOTLIGHT

On January 23, 2019, Sgt. First Class Damien Larose was honored by Vermont State Representatives from Jericho, Westford and Underhill.

Larose rescued a woman from a house fire in Vermont on December 28th. He was driving by the house when he noticed black smoke, so he called 911. When he parked near house, he looked inside and saw an unconscious women. Risking his life, he entered the home and brought her outside.

UNIT SPOTLIGHT

State Employees Essential in Support of VTANG Mission

It isn’t always uniformed airmen at the Vermont Air National Guard. There are several dozen Vermont State Employees who work as essential partners of the 158th Fighter Wing. Many of these employees have been at the Vermont Air National Guard for numerous years and often are also traditional guardsmen or retired members. The 158th Fighter Wing Security Forces and Civil Engineering Squadrons have the majority of state employees on base, including security officers, firefighters, and facility and property maintainers. They are an integral part in the day-to-day support operations of the Vermont Air National Guard federal and state missions. It takes every member of the team to support the Wing mission and couldn’t be done without the continuous efforts and assistance from our state employees. Thank you.

Photo on Right: Vermont State Employee Mr. Mark Sadakierski, a 158th Fighter Wing Firefighter, operates a hydraulic spreader at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 11, 2019. The hydraulic spreader is a vehicle extrication tool designed to free crash victims from vehicle accidents as well as free people from other small spaces. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

Vermont State Employee Mr. Edward Thomas from the 158th Fighter Wing checks identification at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 10, 2019. Mr. Thomas and other members from the Security Force Squadron provide front-line installation security. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

Vermont State Employee Mr. Shane Smith, a firefighter assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, operates the structural pump on the fire truck at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 11, 2019. Firefighters continuously maintain equipment, remaining ready to respond to emergencies. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

A snow removal vehicle operates at the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard Base, Jan. 9, 2019. With significant snowfall during the month of January, State Employee Clem Devlin from the Civil Engineering Squadron was hard at work removing snow, enabling the 158th Fighter Wing to stay mission ready. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

Firefighters from the 158th Fighter Wing firefighters, Mr. Chris Brown (left) and Mr. Chris Russel, work in the dispatch room at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 11, 2019. State employee firefighters maintain response readiness for emergencies and provide mutual aid to the local community. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

Vermont State Employee Mr. Blake Lahue, a firefighter assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, sets up a stabilization strut at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 11, 2019. Maintaining equipment ensures that gear stabilizing strut will operate correctly during an emergency situation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Davis)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon attached to the 158th Fighter Wing lands at the Burlington International Airport, Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 5, 2019. The Vermont Air National Guard has been flying F-16s since 1986 and prepares for the mission change and F-35 arrival in 2019. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Alderman)

VTANG's January Edition of "ON DRILL"

Check out the January edition of our news series called "On Drill." It provides highlights of what the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard accomplished over a drill weekend. This drill, we asked Airman about what they are looking forward to in 2019.

VTANG OPERATIONS

An Airman assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, marshals an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 5, 2019. The Vermont Air National Guard has been flying F-16s since 1986 and prepares for the mission change and F-35 arrival in 2019. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Alderman)

A pilot assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, 158th Fighter Wing, prepares to taxi an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 5, 2019. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Alderman)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon attached to the 158th Fighter Wing takes off at the Burlington International Airport, Vermont Air National Guard, Jan. 5, 2019. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Alderman)

U.S. Soldiers from Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), learn how to respond to simulated injuries during a combat lifesaver course at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt., Jan. 13, 2019. The Soldiers learned how to administer basic first-aid, perform litter transports and how to render aid to ensure breathing. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Barbara Pendl)

Eastern/Central Biathlon Regionals

LEFT: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Letourneau, Vermont National Guard, participates in the Consolidated Eastern and Central Regional Biathlon Competition sprint race, Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 25, 2018. This regional championship race occurred a month before the 2019 Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship in February. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Officer Candidate Nathan Rivard)

U.S. Army Capt. Josh Daugherty, Kentucky National Guard, participates in the Consolidated Eastern and Central Regional Biathlon Competition sprint race, Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 25, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Officer Candidate Nathan Rivard)

U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Kyle Bartman (front), Maine National Guard, and Sgt. First Class Frank Gangi, Minnesota Army National Guard, participate in the Consolidated Eastern and Central Regional Biathlon Competition sprint race, Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 25, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Officer Candidate Nathan Rivard)

U.S. Army Sgt. Brett Butler, North Dakota National Guard, participates in the Consolidated Eastern and Central Regional Biathlon Competition sprint race, Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 25, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Officer Candidate Nathan Rivard)

U.S. Army Warrant Officer 1 Wynn Roberts, Vermont National Guard, participates in the Consolidated Eastern and Central Regional Biathlon Competition sprint race, Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Jan. 25, 2018. This regional championship race occurred a month before the 2019 Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship in February. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Officer Candidate Nathan Rivard)

Appreciate