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    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        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
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Vermont Air Guard Completes Historic First By Master Sgt. Ryan Campbell,
                158th Fighter Wing
 SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing returned home from Germany, completing the National Guard’s first overseas deployment of the F-35A Lightning II. The eight aircraft flown by the Vermont Air National Guard’s 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron left in April along with more than 200 Airmen to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. The Green Mountain Boys conducted shield and assurance missions as part of ongoing NATO operations in Europe. “We were there flying F-35s to support NATO and flew missions along the entirety of NATO’s eastern flank from Estonia to Bulgaria,” said Lt. Col. John MacRae, commander of the 134th. During the three-month deployment, the Green Mountain Boys flew over 450 sorties totaling more than 2,000 flying hours. They were regularly joined on these flying missions by aircraft from other NATO countries and landed in a few of them for further integration. “We’re here ... because they needed us,” said MacRae. “Hill [Air Force Base] was out here on their immediate response force and they were at the end of their window and we were available and ready to go.” MacRae said the 158th Fighter Wing’s F-35s and crews landed in Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia and North Macedonia, meeting with civilian and military leadership to highlight relations between the NATO members. After being the first Air National Guard wing to receive F-35s in 2019, the 158th was deemed “operational” at the start of 2022, a term that meant the wing and it’s Airmen were qualified to deploy and perform the types of missions they carried out in Europe. “Most of the sorties we flew were pretty rewarding based on the capabilities we bring with fifth-gen fighters,” said MacRae. “We were able to do an amazing amount of work in such a short period of time.” Just a week after arriving in Germany, MacRae said they had a jet at an air show, very quickly got to the skies over the Baltics and were flying other larger sorties of up to eight aircraft. “We saw many people step up as multi-capable Airmen,” said Maj. Brian Wagner, pilot and chief of advanced programs for the 158th. “What that really means is you’ve got someone who has one trade by experience and by schooling in the Air Force. However, they are asked to do things that are well outside of their realm based upon need and available people.” Wagner said many of the Vermont Airmen jumped into unfamiliar jobs they were eager to learn. “For me, it allows me to put on a couple different hats,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Oddy, the airfield manager assigned to the 134th. “I wear an airfield management hat as well as aviation resource management hat, helping out with aircrew flight equipment as well as some security procedures. It’s been an amazing experience.” This deployment wasn’t the first for many of the Airmen, but it was much different than others. “My last deployment, it was much more of a working 12- hour shifts. ... You’re waking up, going to work, eating lunch, going to bed and repeating that every day,” said Oddy. “This deployment, it was a dynamic environment ...and I went to 10 different countries.” Many countries the Green Mountain Boys were sent to already had long-standing relationships with the National Guard through the State Partnership Program, giving them a lot of common ground. Oddy explained when they were in Bulgaria, the chief of the base took him and other Airmen to his wife’s restaurant for dinner. “The chief spoke so highly [of the Air National Guard]... since Bulgaria is state partners with Tennessee, and everyone in the Bulgarian Air Force gets the opportunity to go to Airman Leadership School and the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville,” said Oddy. By the second week of August, the Vermont Airmen had wrapped up the deployment and headed home, where they were welcomed back at all hours of the day and night by friends and family. “The Green Mountain Boys successfully accomplished our deployment to USAFE [U.S. Air Forces in Europe] and I’m proud to be part of such a talented team,” said MacRae. “We volunteered to give up our summer in Vermont to generate and fly sorties to defend NATO’s eastern flank. It was a rewarding three months and our small wing had a big strategic impact.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Vermont Air National Guard
 F-35 A Lightning II
 NATO
 Germany
 NY National Guard Strengthens Bonds with Allies in Morocco Overseas Operations • 4 hours ago
 Alaska Guard Soldiers Honored Before Middle East Deployment Overseas Operations • 7 days ago
 29th Infantry Division HQ Heads Exercise Immediate Response Overseas Operations • 11 days ago
 134th Medical Company Joins Combined Resolve Exercise Overseas Operations • 13 days ago
 Guard Soldiers, Czech Partners Celebrate Victory in Europe Day Overseas Operations • 15 days ago
 2024 (24)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 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