Vermont National Guard briefs lawmakers on workforce, disaster response and unique training

Col. Brent Ziegler, deputy chief of staff for operations for the Vermont National Guard, told attendees at an unclassified informational brief that the Guard’s mission includes both federal and state duties and delivers tangible benefits to Vermonters.

"Workforce development is important to us as an organization," Ziegler said, noting education benefits that often flow back to Vermont colleges and enhanced civilian employability through military occupational specialties such as medic, truck driver and mechanic. He added that the Guard’s health plan, TRICARE Select, is "low cost," which can reduce members’ civilian employer health expenses.

The Guard maintains dual-use capabilities that support state responses, Ziegler said. He listed ordinance disposal by the 158th Explosive Ordnance Disposal element, mutual-aid fire protection from the 158th Wing fire department, and the 15th Civil Support Team’s hazmat detection and analysis as examples of services used by local authorities. He also described communication platforms deployable when civilian communications fail and increasingly mature cyber-defense capabilities focused on protecting critical systems.

Ziegler reviewed recent large-scale missions to illustrate the Guard’s domestic role. The service provided alternate care facilities and vaccination locations during the COVID-19 response, supported National Capital Region security taskings in 2021–22, and assisted with flood, storm and ice-storm responses dating back to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and the 1998 ice storm. He said the Guard also deploys outside Vermont under Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) agreements to support other states’ responses.

The presentation included operational figures and personnel posture: the Vermont Army National Guard comprises about 2,440 positions statewide while the Air National Guard has roughly 1,161 positions primarily based at the Burlington airport; a joint staff of approximately 158 positions is located at Camp Johnson in Colchester. Ziegler urged audience members to ask questions and said the Guard stands ready to support communities across Vermont.

The briefing closed after a short question-and-answer session in which presenters clarified command relationships for federal (presidential) versus state (governor) activations and the different employment statuses that members can hold (part-time drill status, technicians, and active guard/reserve positions).