Vermont Guard details international partnerships, medical missions and biathlon program

Col. Brent Ziegler described how the Vermont National Guard uses the National Guard State Partnership Program to build international military-to-military and whole-of-government ties. "Vermont was one of the original 13 partnerships signing with the Republic of Macedonia on July 14, 1993," Ziegler said, and he noted later partnerships with Senegal (2008) and a formalized partnership with Austria in 2022.

Ziegler said partnerships produce training exchanges spanning emergency management, rule of law and commerce, and they have expanded into academic exchanges with Vermont colleges. He called the annual medical exercise with Senegal a "signature event," saying the Guard recently sent about 40 medical professionals to the Mali border to provide care to as many as 570 patients.

The briefing also highlighted a lesser-known domestic program: Vermont hosts the national headquarters for the National Guard Biathlon Program. Ziegler noted that Guard biathletes train at high levels, with seven athletes currently competing in Europe and Staff Sgt. Diedre Erwin placing seventh at the Beijing Olympics.

Ziegler said the new Austria partnership will prioritize cooperation in mountain warfare training, cyber defense, military medicine and human resources, and noted organizers plan to host a Renewable Energy Industry Day with Austrian partners to seek economic partnerships for green businesses in Vermont.

The presenters framed these international activities as extensions of state and federal readiness, emphasizing training benefits that also translate into community and civilian-sector skills.