Vermont National Guard outlines recruitment shortfalls, construction needs in Appropriations briefing

Major General Greg Knight and Kim Bailey told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 4 that the Vermont National Guard faces persistent recruiting and retention shortfalls while managing multiple construction projects and service programs funded largely with federal dollars.

Knight, who identified himself as Major General Greg Knight, said the Guard balances a state mission to support the governor with federal deployments, and described recent activity including Air Guard training in Okinawa, Guam and South Korea and a short-notice Title 10 mobilization in support of U.S. Southern Command. He said roughly 60 airmen mobilized to multiple countries across three combatant commands this past year and that 160 members of an 86th Brigade element recently mobilized to Germany for multinational training in support of Ukraine.

"They were asked for by name," Knight said of some recent mobilizations, a remark he used to illustrate high operational demand for Vermont Guard units.

Bailey, the military department's finance director, told the committee the department employs about 170 staff, carries a general-fund budget of roughly $7.5 million and brings in between $40 million and $60 million in federal funding annually through cooperative agreements…