Vermont Air National Guard Ready to Protect the First Republic, Fourteenth Star

Author: Greg Duggan

Although not a large training ground for soldiers, the Vermont Air National Guard's members are ready to ship out to the Middle East should a command come calling them to combat. Located in South Burlington, the Vermont Air National Guard houses the 158th fighter wing, "The Green Mountain Boys," and its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
During times of peace, the base flies training missions so that pilots can hone their skills. Captain Jeffrey Roosevelt explained in an interview with The Middlebury Campus that each time a plane takes off, a lot of work goes into flight preparation, whether it be maintenance or support for the plane. "There are constantly projects being worked on," explained Roosevelt. These projects can vary from maintaining and upgrading the facilities to updating the paperwork and files of 1,000 members of the Air National Guard.
The Air National Guard plays a role at both the state and federal levels. The Guard Web site says its state role is "to provide assistance to the State of Vermont for use during local and statewide disasters or emergencies, to protect life and property and preserve peace and public safety." Roosevelt elaborated on this concept, giving the example of ice storms in recent years. During the storms, Roosevelt said, "The National Guard played a big part in emergency relief - generators, things like that, actually milking cows."
The Web site says that federally, the Air National Guard provides "the United States Air Force with combat-ready personnel and equipment for utilization during times of war or national emergency."
After the Sept. 11 attacks, activity increased at the base. Rather than flying training missions, the F-16's were used as combat air patrols over New York City and other large metropolitan areas. Flights with that specific purpose began decreasing last August, but Roosevelt assured that guard members were still "ready to answer the call" if needed.
Since Sept. 11, approximately 85 guard members have been deployed worldwide. About 80 members are stationed in the Central Command Area, made up of Southwest Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and the Gulf. Jefferson did not have exact numbers, but assumed that some of these servicemen and women could be facing action in Iraq.
When asked about the role the Vermont Air National Guard would play in the event of an attack on the United States, Jefferson could not give specific details, but expained, "It really depends on what's asked of us." He referred to the two separate responsibilities of the Air National Guard: "The federal purpose, which is war fighting, and then also a state role, which is emergency help." If some sort of attack on the nation "were to happen," Jefferson explained, "it would be to respond according to what the higher-ups want."
The most likely candidates to give commands would be North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) or the Air Force, but orders could come from a number of different places. NORAD, a joint organization serving Canada and the United States, has the motto, "Deter, Detect and Defend Against Air and Space Threats to North America." Jefferson said the organization became much more prominent after Sept. 11.
While the Guard members may have a limited role in the current war, their presence provides reassurance. As Jefferson said, "They're trained and prepared to answer the call."