Vermont National Guard reports overseas deployments, recruitment shortfalls and expanded harassment‑prevention efforts

Major General Greg Knight, Vermont’s adjutant general, told the Senate Government Operations Committee on Jan. 21 that roughly 275 Air National Guard members are on a templated 90‑day deployment to the Indo‑Pacific region and that the 86th Brigade Combat Team will send about 1,100 soldiers overseas for allied training this spring.

The report matters because the Guard’s overseas commitments, recruiting shortfalls and internal reforms together shape the state’s ability to respond to emergencies and preserve current force structure. Knight warned that persistent vacancies could change what units the state can host and operate.

Knight described the Air Guard’s work with the F‑35 “Lightning II” fleet and said the wing is fielding an agile combat employment concept that uses many dispersed, logistically austere locations to increase interoperability with partners. “They are simply the best fighter wing in the inventory,” Knight said, adding that their operations are driving innovations the active force is watching.

On personnel and readiness, Knight said the Guard faces significant recruiting gaps. He said the force has about 700 open positions across the Army and Air Guard and that the Air Guard is roughly 100 personnel short of…