Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New Hampshire National Guard Revives Biathlon Program By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes,
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. – Four years ago, when Tom Echelberger, a former high school and college cross-country skier, was working in a New Hampshire ski shop, he never dreamed he would have a full-time job skiing, let alone be headed to Sweden to represent the U.S. military in international competition. It wasn’t until fate brought New Hampshire National Guard Maj. Rob Burnham into his shop in 2019 that the unlikely journey began. Burnham, at the time, aspired to revive the New Hampshire National Guard’s biathlon program, which had been inactive for over 16 years. Biathlon is an Olympic-level sport that combines cross-country skate skiing and rifle marksmanship. Within the National Guard, around 30 states maintain biathlon programs. In 2023, the revitalized New Hampshire team took third place at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau’s Biathlon Championships in Jericho, Vermont. They placed just behind teams from Vermont and Minnesota, whose programs have nearly a half-century of experience. The New Hampshire team’s success is aligned with the addition of Spc. Tom Echelberger, who enlisted in the NHNG in 2020. After a few years of work and determination, he is one of just 11 servicemembers — all from the National Guard — headed to represent the United States in the World Military Ski Championships in Boden, Sweden, at the end of this month. “I thought to myself, skiing is in New Hampshire’s DNA, and it should be part of the New Hampshire National Guard,” said Burnham, the NHNG biathlon program director. “There’s really a number of areas the National Guard benefits from in maintaining the biathlon training program. It’s about the whole Guardsman concept. I feel that our athletes are the best we have to offer in the Guard. They are physically fit, mentally tough and dedicated to their craft and each other.” Burham discovered his interest in biathlon competition while running at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho in the summer of 2019. From there, he took on the challenge of resurrecting New Hampshire’s program, which had been inactive since 2004 when the demands of deployments for the Global War on Terror came to a head. In late 2019, he was outfitting the team with equipment and frequenting Echelberger’s shop. “One day, the young man helping us in the shop stopped to thank me, and I had no idea why,” said Burnham. Echelberger said he had been exploring his future and the interactions surrounding the development of the biathlon team led him to the New Hampshire National Guard. Echelberger joined the National Guard’s elite biathlon development team after his first biathlon season in 2021. That enabled him to train year-round, leading to his selection to represent the National Guard in national and international competitions. But being a Guard member has always been about more than biathlon for Echelberger. He proudly views himself as a Soldier-athlete. The day after he returns from competition in Sweden, he is headed to the Middle East for a deployment with the NHNG’s 3rd Battalion of 197th Field Artillery Regiment. He will serve in his primary Military Occupational Specialty as a fire control specialist and looks forward to improving his military skills on a real-world mission. While success has come quickly, the reactivation of the New Hampshire biathlon program was not without growing pains. After initial training and competitions began in 2019, COVID-19 restrictions significantly affected the program. But the team identified ways to stay ready for regional U.S. biathlon competitions. After not scoring a single ranking point in 2022 at the Guard Championships in Little Falls, Minnesota, the team orchestrated the unlikely top-three finish in 2023 in Jericho, where Burnham’s dream began. “I was most excited to experience this accomplishment truly as a team,” Burnham said. “Everyone supported and contributed to the same goal, and we exceeded expectations together.” Echelberger said there is a unique kinship among the Guard biathlon community. He also noted that the opportunity to build camaraderie with service members from outside his state has been valuable. He especially looks forward to competing with international military members in Sweden. “I never thought I’d be where I am today, especially not three years ago when I joined the Guard,” said Echelberger. “It’s going to be an amazing opportunity out there to compete against some of the best athletes in the world. It’s also a celebration of skiing and the service and commitment that all of us from our respective countries have made to those nations.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  New Hampshire National Guard
 Biathlon
 Vermont National Guard
 Minnesota National Guard
 
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Caila Arahood and Senior Airman Victoria Coursey,
  Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match
 By Master Sgt. Charles Johnston,
  New Hampshire Guard Medevacs Injured Hiker to Safety
 By National Guard Bureau
  More
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 3 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 4 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 National Guard, US Army North, FEMA Train for Hurricane Response Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (195)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil