June 17, 2025 First to the Flames As the sun began to set over the Green Mountains on May 2, 2025, Firefighter Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, found herself in the dayroom of the station, sitting next to the radio.
April 9, 2025 Bridging Skies and Seas The ocean churned beneath the incoming helicopters, their rotors slicing through the humid Pacific air. Special operations forces stood at the edge of open ramp doors, seconds from making their drop into the sea. This wasn’t just a drill; it was a test of their ability to execute under the most
March 7, 2025 Cope North 25 Strengthens Trilateral Airpower and Interoperability For the first time, F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Japan, the United States, and Australia conducted trilateral training operations, enhancing joint capabilities and interoperability. Representing the United States’ fifth-generation fighter presence, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 134th Fighter
Feb. 11, 2025 Air National Guard Conducts Arctic Training in Minnesota 70 Air National Guard airmen gathered at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8, 2025, to train and conduct mission-essential tasks in extremely cold temperatures, during the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course (CWOC).
Jan. 8, 2025 VTANG Airman Represents Vermont at White House for Joining Forces It’s not every day a member of the Vermont Air National Guard walks the halls of the White House, let alone shares a moment with the First Lady of the United States. For Tech. Sgt. Hayden Lessor of the 158th Fighter Wing, that moment became reality when he represented Vermont and the VTANG at the
June 26, 2025 Vermont Air National Guard F-35 Independence Day Flyover In celebration of Independence Day, the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing will conduct a regional flyover on July 4, honoring the spirit of the holiday and the enduring support of communities across Vermont and upstate New York.
May 6, 2025 158th FW Welcomes New Commander Col. Michael Blair assumed command of the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing during a change of command ceremony on May 3 at 1:00 p.m.During the ceremony, Col. Daniel Finnegan relinquished command after serving since October of 2022. Finnegan was in command during a dozen major
April 25, 2025 Green Mountain Boys Return Home Hundreds of Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing have returned home to Vermont following a months-long deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Over the coming weeks, additional Airmen, equipment, and F-35 Lightning II aircraft will continue to arrive home as the deployment concludes.
Jan. 14, 2025 Vermont Air National Guard Deploys to Japan More than 200 Airmen, along with equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft from the Vermont Air National Guard recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance regional security and strengthen interoperability with joint and allied forces.
Nov. 10, 2024 158FW to Conduct Night Flying Operations The 158th Fighter Wing will conduct night flying training from Nov. 12-14 and Nov. 19-21 with one afternoon takeoff and landing period and one evening takeoff period between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. with training scheduled to conclude by 9:00 p.m. each evening.