Vermont National Guard
Vermont has a long citizen-soldier tradition that goes back to the nation's founding, when Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys fought to take Ticonderoga and helped guarantee our independence. The Vermont National Guard—made up of the Army and Air National Guards—represents one of the highest per capita participation rates of any state in the country. Even before 9/11, the Vermont National Guard was a proven asset to the state and the entire country. Vermonters have played key roles in both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm.
The National Guard is our nation's primary military reserve, ready to deploy quickly anywhere in the world in defense of our country. The highly-trained men and women of the Guard are also available to serve under the command of the nation's governors during state emergencies. Over 500,000 private citizens across the country forgo their weekends and summer vacations to train with their units. In the “minuteman” tradition, they are ready to answer the time-honored call to duty on short notice, and they have answered that call with increasing frequency over the past decade.
Vermont Guardsmen Ready to Respond
The Vermont Army National Guard is a valuable force to Vermont and the country. Whether serving as a lifeline to isolated communities after Hurricane Irene, helping neighboring states respond to winter weather disasters, providing airspace control over the northeastern United States, or supporting partners in conflict zones on the opposite side of the world, Vermont’s citizen soldiers and citizen airmen stand ready to make a difference.
Senator Leahy has tirelessly worked to improve the facilities, equipment and training for the Vermont National Guard so that the men and women who serve and their families can be confident they have the support needed to answer the call, and so that the Green Mountain Boys stay relevant in the nation’s defense for decades to come. He is immensely proud of their record of excellence, nationally recognized by a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the Vermont Army National Guard and the selection of the Vermont Air National Guard as the second operator in the U.S. Air Force of its most advanced fighter aircraft.
U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus and Guard Empowerment
Senator Leahy is the co-chair of the U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus, an influential group of more than 80 Senators dedicated to promoting a strong and ready National Guard. In this role, Senator Leahy worked to pass several National Guard Empowerment bills that added provisions to the National Defense Authorization Act elevating the status of the National Guard within the Department of Defense. These changes reflect the increasingly critical role the National Guard serves in our nation's defense. The reforms passed due to Senator Leahy’s efforts include promoting the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from a three-star general to a four-star general, establishing the Chief of the National Guard Bureau as a permanent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, authorizing further funding for domestic Guard operations and increasing the Guard’s representation in the leadership of U.S. Northern Command, among others.
Today, we ask our Guard to take on more challenges than ever. The Guard is called on more and more frequently at home, in addition to being relied upon heavily as operational reserve forces overseas where they have fought, and continue fighting, on the front lines alongside their active duty counterparts. Senator Leahy remains committed to ensuring that the Guard remains able to fulfill its role as the most cost effective military tool for our homeland and national defense.
As a Guard champion, Senator Leahy was honored to receive awards like the George Washington Award from the Adjutants General of the United States, the Minuteman and Eagle Awards from the Enlisted Association of the National Guard and the Harry S. Truman Award from the National Guard Association of the United States. Senator Leahy is proud to fight for the Vermont Guard, because it embodies the spirit of service that has always been a hallmark of Vermonters. The Vermont National Guard is truly one of the gems of the United States military, always ready to sacrifice to protect our nation.
Latest
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12.06.18
Shaheen & Leahy Bill To Support Small Businesses With National Guard And Military Reservists Passes Senate
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10.11.18
Leahy & Shaheen Legislation to Support Small Businesses with National Guard and Military Reservists Clears Key Committee Hurdle
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11.22.16
Leahy Comment On The Upcoming Deployment Of The Vermont Air National Guard
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10.31.16
Leahy Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators Urging DoD To Restore Guard Bonuses
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08.24.16
Irene’s Lessons Echo In Baton Rouge
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05.26.16
Leahy, Co-Chair Of Senate’s National Guard Caucus, Joins Senator Shaheen In Introducing Legislation to Assist Small Businesses Led By National Guard and Reservists
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04.04.16
Joint Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders And Congressman Peter Welch On The Air Force’s Announcement About F-35A Stationing At Burlington International Airport
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02.11.15
SHAHEEN, AYOTTE, LEAHY, SANDERS CALL FOR FULL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR BEYOND YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
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12.12.14
Senate Fri. night passes Leahy-authored Commission To Review The Future Of The Army, with major implications for the future of the National Guard
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02.26.14
Senate National Guard Caucus Co-Chair Patrick Leahy: ‘When it comes to the National Guard, the budget previewed on Monday appears to be headed in the wrong direction’ –
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08.13.13
Statement At GE Aviation Rutland
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07.12.12
Recognizing the Vermont National Guard -- The Nation's Best
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05.24.12
Senate Confirms General Dubie As New Deputy Commander Of NORTHCOM
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05.10.12
President Taps General Dubie To Be Deputy Commander Of NORTHCOM
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02.29.12
National Guard Breakfast
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11.28.11
Senate Okays Leahy-Graham Legislation To Give The National Guard A Seat On The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, Elevating The Guard’s Role In Pentagon Decision Making
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11.28.11
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Guard Empowerment Amendment
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11.10.11
In Rare Public Appearance, Joint Chiefs Rally To Try To Block Leahy’s Bill To Elevate The National Guard To Their Ranks
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10.03.11
Leahy, Graham Pass 60 Mark In Cosponsors For National Guard Empowerment Bill
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09.26.11
The National Guard Response To Hurricane Irene
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09.22.11
Remarks of Senator Leahy: Vermont Mourns The Death Of Master Sergeant Shawn Stocker
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06.09.11
Senators Leahy And Graham Unveil The Next Steps For National Guard Empowerment Reforms
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05.19.11
Leahy, Graham Unveil Next Steps For National Guard Empowerment Reforms
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05.12.11
Vermont Guard Wins $2 Million More for Model Veterans Outreach Program
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04.07.11
Statement Of Senator Leahy On The Effects Of A Government Shutdown On U.S. Troops
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04.07.11
Effects of a Government Shutdown on US Troops
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04.06.11
Senator Leahy Questions Pentagon Officials On Defense Health Programs
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03.22.11
Delegation Fights To Continue Vermont Guard Outreach Program
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01.28.11
Citing an Increase in Suicides, Leahy and Graham Seek More Support for Guard Soldiers
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12.01.10
Leahy: Army Unveils New Medical Pilot Program For Returning Vermont Guard Soldiers
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11.17.10
Leahy Welcomes New Republican Co-Chair Of 97-Member Senate National Guard Caucus
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10.19.10
Leahy: MSA Newport Garners $21 Million In Helmet Contracts
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10.12.10
Leahy And Sanders: New HDQ For National PTSD Center Is A Mark Of Nation’s Support Of Veterans In Need
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07.29.10
Vermont Air National Guard Chosen To Be First To Receive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
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07.19.10
General Powell Records Postcard From Home Message To The Troops
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05.12.10
Leahy, Sessions Ask Attorney General For Information On Hoax Calls To Military Families
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04.15.10
Leahy Launches Vermont National Guard YouTube Project: Postcards From Home
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04.15.10
Postcards From Home - Senator Patrick Leahy and Marcelle Leahy Thank Troops
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04.15.10
Postcards From Home - Instructional Video
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03.08.10
Leahy Unveils State of the Art Simulation Program At Fletcher Allen Health Care
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02.05.10
Comment On The President’s Appointment Of A Council Of Governors (Including Governor Douglas as Co-Chair) To Implement Leahy’s National Guard Empowerment Act
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01.31.10
January 2010
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01.06.10
WCAX - Senator Leahy Addresses Vermont National Guard at Deployment Ceremony
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10.29.09
VT Air National Guard One Of 10 Finalists To Base F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
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10.07.09
Statement On The Bond-Leahy Amendment On Tactical Aircraft Retirement
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07.24.09
Senate OKs Leahy-Bond Measure To Upgrade Guard’s Command Structure By Creating New Senior Level Post At The National Guard Bureau
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07.02.09
Remarks at Vermont National Guard Groundbreaking Ethan Allen Firing Range
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06.25.09
Leahy, Bond Reintroduce National Guard Empowerment Effort
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06.18.09
Congress Clears Leahy-Led Boost For Next Generation Of Armored Vehicles Engineered For The Tough Terrain Of Afghanistan
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05.22.09
Senators Leahy, Bond Secure $500 Million To Address National Guard, Reserve Equipment Shortfalls
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05.07.09
Army Inks $37 M. Contract Expansion For Vermont-Led Production Of Protective Armor For U.S. Troops
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04.02.09
Vermont National Guard Nets $3.5 M. From Stimulus Package For Energy Efficiency Upgrades
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04.02.09
Senator Leahy On National Guard Funding For Energy Efficiency Upgrades
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01.15.09
Senate’s Guard Leaders Press To Reduce Facilities Backlog In Stimulus Package
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06.03.08
Time To Clarify Military Roles In Disaster Relief Here At Home
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03.14.08
Leahy, Bond, Davis And Taylor Launch Follow-On National Guard Empowerment Effort
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03.13.08
Introduction Of The National Guard Empowerment And State-National Defense Integration Act Of 2008
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01.31.08
Guard And Reserve Commission’s Recommendations Would Muffle National Guard’s Voice In Pentagon Decision Making
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01.30.08
Bush Signs Bill Enacting Leahy’s National Guard Empowerment Reforms, And Leahy’s Repeal Of The ‘Insurrection Act Rider’