Vermont National Guard warns of staffing shortfalls, pushes recruitment, facility and outreach plans

Major Jim Webb, speaking as a senior leader of the Vermont National Guard, told legislators the Guard is failing to meet assigned (paid) personnel strength and is currently ‘‘54 of 54’’ in a national comparison, leaving units unable to fully staff existing armories and to qualify for sustainment funding. He said the Guard’s top priorities are recruiting, retention, external engagement and leader development, and he urged more frequent legislative outreach to help change public perceptions of military service.

Webb outlined several initiatives intended to boost numbers and readiness. He described PRIME, a partnered-recruiting model adapted from the Army program PACE, that connects returning trainees with about a dozen Vermont employers (he named Collins Aerospace and Blodgett Ovens as current partners). He also described an internal enlistment-enhancement incentive that pays $1,000 to members who help recruit new soldiers or airmen and said that program has helped especially in the Air Guard.

On culture and discipline, Webb said limited contact with traditional drilling members (one weekend a month, two weeks a year) makes it hard to change climate and correct misperceptions. As a transparency measure he said the Guard is publishing a redacted internal ‘‘status of discipline’’ and — following advice from the staff judge advocate, Major Caplan — is using faster administrative recourse (terminating state appointments) in substantiated cases rather than relying solely on the lengthy withdrawal-of-federal-recognition process.

Webb also proposed a long-term posture change: consolidating outdated armories into four ‘‘super armories’’ located for easier access to high-speed routes. He warned, however, that he cannot pursue significant construction until recruiting improves: ‘‘If I can’t fill it with enough soldiers, then I will not receive sustainment restoration and modernization,’’ he said.

The adjutant general flagged procurement and funding hurdles that have delayed projects. Webb said roughly $31 million in military-construction work (eight projects) is on hold pending waivers tied to Buy America/Build America rules and the Made in America office. He questioned whether secure installations should be treated the same as public infrastructure for Buy America compliance and said the Guard is engaging the National Guard Bureau and the congressional delegation to resolve the issue.

Webb closed by asking legislators to ‘‘share our story’’ through newsletters, social media and caucus outreach, and recommended partnering with state workforce programs and employers to draw prior-service personnel and retirees to Vermont. He said filling vacancies would increase federal funding into Vermont communities and expand the Guard’s ability to execute both state and federal missions.

The presentation concluded with questions from legislators and caucus members about policy details and next steps. Webb said the Guard will pursue the initiatives described and requested legislative help on outreach, comparative economic analysis of pension-exemption proposals and solving procurement constraints.