Vermont National Guard

Vermont National Guard. The Vermont National Guard is the combined Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a dual-status force, serving under the authority of the Governor of Vermont for state emergencies and under the President of the United States for federal missions. With a lineage tracing to colonial militias, its modern components are headquartered at Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont.

History

The origins trace to the Green Mountain Boys, a militia led by Ethan Allen that captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 during the American Revolutionary War. Following Vermont's admission to the Union in 1791, its militia was formalized under the Militia Acts of 1792. Units participated in the War of 1812, the American Civil War—most notably the Battle of Gettysburg—and the Spanish–American War. The modern Guard was established by the Militia Act of 1903 (Dick Act), aligning state forces with the United States Army. During the First and Second World Wars, Vermont units were federalized, with the 43rd Infantry Division containing many Vermonters. The Cold War saw the establishment of an Air National Guard component, and the Vietnam War era brought increased federal activations. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, it has seen extensive deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Organization and structure

The Guard is divided into two primary components: the Army National Guard (VTARNG) and the Air National Guard (VTANG). The overall command authority is the Adjutant General, who heads the Vermont Department of Military. The VTARNG falls under the United States Army National Guard and, for federal operations, is typically aligned with the Vermont Army National Guard as part of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) within the 42nd Infantry Division. The VTANG is part of the United States Air National Guard and its sole flying unit, the 158th Fighter Wing (The "Green Mountain Boys"), is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command. Both components receive federal oversight from the National Guard Bureau in Arlington.

Missions and operations

Its state mission includes responding to gubernatorial orders for disasters like floods, ice storms, and the COVID-19 pandemic, providing support to the Vermont State Police and civil authorities. Federal missions involve worldwide combat and peacekeeping deployments, with units participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve. The 158th Fighter Wing maintains a constant alert posture for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) homeland defense missions. Other operations include Joint Task Force support, State Partnership Program activities with North Macedonia, and engineering or medical readiness exercises across the United States Southern Command area.

Facilities and major units

The primary headquarters and training site is Camp Johnson in Colchester, Vermont. Major Army facilities include the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont, and armories in locations like Bennington, Brattleboro, and Morrisville. The principal Air National Guard installation is Burlington Air National Guard Base, colocated with Burlington International Airport, which hosts the 158th Fighter Wing flying the F-35 Lightning II. Key Army units are the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) headquarters, the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, and the 186th Brigade Support Battalion. The Medical Command and Recruiting and Retention Battalion are also significant elements.

Leadership and personnel

The Commander-in-Chief is the sitting Governor of Vermont, currently Phil Scott. The senior military officer is the Adjutant General, appointed by the governor; this position is held by Major General Gregory C. Knight. The force consists of approximately 3,000 citizen-soldiers and airmen, including both full-time Active Guard and Reserve personnel and traditional part-time guardsmen. Personnel come from diverse civilian backgrounds across Vermont, and many have served repeated combat tours in theaters like Afghanistan and Iraq. Leadership development occurs through the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy and officer training aligned with the United States Army Command and General Staff College and Air University.

Category:Vermont National Guard Category:State agencies of Vermont Vermont