Air National Guard Arctic Training

Two Vermont Air National Guard Security Forces Specialists, Tech. Sgt. Stephen Viele and Staff Sgt. Brendan Davison participated with personnel from 37 wings representing 27 states at the Air National Guard's cold weather operations course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8, 2025. Students participated in a six-day, five-night Field Training Exercise where they traveled on foot in subzero temperatures, using land navigational skills, to build camps featuring either a 10-man Arctic tent or thermal shelters made from materials found in nature. Students were comprised of mostly Security Forces specialists, but also included a Maintenance Group Commander, Physician Assistant, Cyber Communications Specialist, and a Public Affairs Specialist. The course taught service members to conduct mission-essential tasking in extreme cold environments. (Air National Guard photo by Audra Flanagan)