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By Paul Bean
Major General Gregory Knight, the Vermont National Guard’s Adjutant General, delivered the first ever ‘State of the Guard’ address to a joint session of the Vermont Legislature on Wednesday evening, April 2 at the State House in Montpelier.
A significant portion of the address focused on recruitment challenges, an increasingly urgent issue for the Vermont National Guard, which is currently short about 700 recruits from its target. “The Guard needs your help… as you all know, we have a significant recruiting challenge,” Knight said.
Knight, who has served as Vermont’s Adjutant General since 2019, opened his speech by thanking lawmakers and Guard members in attendance, as well as former U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife, Marcelle.
“The state of our Guard is strong,” said General Knight, “but with your help, we can become even stronger and grow our capabilities and capacity.” His address explained the Guard’s dual mission, serving both Vermont communities and federal operations abroad.
He mentioned recent examples, and the Guard’s swift response to flooding in Vermont, where its Quick Reaction Force rescued 19 residents and their pets from rising waters. Knight also mentioned national efforts, such as the deployment of 100 Guard members to Capitol Hill following the January 6 incident. He also highlighted the guard’s response to the pandemic, administering covid-19 vaccinations and efforts made by the guard to slow the spread of disease.
He urged lawmakers to support programs that would increase enlistment and recruitment, including a proposed bill (S.17) to exempt military retirees’ pensions from state taxes. Some lawmakers have told VDC that S.17 has bipartisan support and would be a great opportunity for the legislature to show they do in fact have the ability to work together.
In short, Knight’s message was Guard’s dependence on their partnership. With recruitment woes and leadership changes on the horizon, the legislature’s response in the coming months could shape the future of Vermont’s “Green Mountain Boys” for years to come.
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Categories: Legislation, Military
Fifty years previous, the National Guard was used in this country for national defense and not used a global resource. The reserves were used as a backup for the United States military. When did the National Guard become involved in training other countries military forces???? The Vermont GOVIE needs the federal retirement funds from the military to launder the money into the Vermont economy like social security funds. Not taxing pension funds is baiting more military retired people to come to Vermont. With the current cost of living in Vermont, one would be smart not to take the bait. Looks like the guard was involved in the pushing of the COVID KILL SHOT.
Mr. Day,
The guard of 50 years ago no longer exists. You are a bit confused regarding the dual missions of the national guard.
During the gwot, OEF and OIF and follow on support of national and international missions, the guard provided over 50% of the combat power of our armed forces. Our soldiers and airmen served honorably in every theatre, often outperforming all other cohorts.
Todays guard also leads our military in training foreign nations, drawing on the wide variety of dual careers that guard members pursue to leverage needs of a specific partner using skill sets simply not found in the active duty ranks. Look up the state partnership program if you’d like to learn more. VT remains a leader in this area.
As an aside, Ukraine’s ability to hold off Russia for so long is due largely to the national guard trainers who helped modernize their forces, teaching them how to use superior weapons systems and tactics.
Your theory about the Gov needing funds from retirees is entertaining. And entirely unfounded. You miss the point that most military retirees leave VT, taking their pensions and penchant for community leadership and involvement with them.
Currently at least 32 states recognize their warrior’s sacrifices by not taxing pensions. Military retirees are value added. Positive social multipliers, to coin a term. To break it down Barney style they make any community better. Why not keep them here?
Vermont should encourage those who have served to remain and continue to make a difference. Waiving the pension tax would be a great step forward.
Mr. Pipes, how do you reconcile your reference to a ‘state partnership program’ and the National Guard’s involvement with foreign nations, and the Vermont Constitution’s cautionary language in Article 16; that ‘… as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up”.
I suspect that you are correct, in that ‘the guard of 50 years ago no longer exists.’ Could it be this is why some Vermonters have a legitimate concern about the National Guard’s ‘mission creep’?
Mr. Eshelman,
It is refreshing to hear from someone who thinks about foundational documents. As you note, the section you mention is cautionary. I would further characterize it as aspirational. Do you believe it has statutory or regulatory teeth? I’m in a sugar shack right now so I don’t have a hard copy available and internet is sketchy.
Are you suggesting that we should isolate ourselves from international exchanges? The state partnership is a non kinetic (not warfighting) program that builds long term trust and relationships between soldiers, units, towns, and states. I’ll take that sort of mission creep any day over losing soldiers.
Understand also that Vermont’s guardsmen do not get to select and choose their missions. Military service is not a buffet.
The uniqueness of the guard revolves around two masters; the Gov and the commander in chief. It is a uniquely American construct that evolves with time. I appreciate the question.
Gotta get back on the press. Enjoy the evening.
Re: “Do you believe it (The Vermont Constitution) has statutory or regulatory teeth?
Yes. To both.
Re: “Are you suggesting that we should isolate ourselves from international exchanges?”
No.
Re: “… relationships between soldiers, units, towns, and states.”
It is precisely these relationships the Vermont Constitution, not to mention the U.S. Constitution, is concerned about. That you’re comfortable with that ‘mission creep’ does not justify it.
Re: “Understand also that Vermont’s guardsmen do not get to select and choose their missions.”
No. They don’t. They follow the orders from their superior officers. So – let’s hear, first, from Governor Scott with regard. to Title 32, USSC. Then we can discuss federal control under Title 10, regarding “…times of crisis or war’. But what does that have to do with tax-free pensions or training foreign agents?
Re: “I never said they [their] Military service is not a buffet.”
I assume you’re addressing the 3rd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” But you didn’t say their military service wouldn’t result in buffeting either. The National Guard are intended to be part-time soldiers who can be readily mobilized in times of crisis. What current ‘crisis’ calls for the Guard’s training of foreign military personnel in peace-time?
Mission Creep, in my humble experience, typically begins with the presentation of false dichotomies, much like some of the points you make. Tax free pensions for contrived services today? … paid with what? Property and Income Taxes?
Mr. Pipes, I’m the first guy to stand up for our military and our 2nd Amendment. Peace through strength, indeed. But our Constitutions (Federal and State) do not guarantee individual integrity. In fact, our constitutional constructs are suspicious of the government and the military from the start. Virtually every constitutional aspect is intended to limit their power. Solving ‘recruitment challenges’, created by questionable pretexts, concerns me. Just sayin’.
PS. Just returned from my neighbor’s sugar house with a gallon of ‘amber’. Pancakes in the morning.
Sorry, General, administering experimental drugs with unknown effectiveness and unknown harmful effects to a coerced population is not an “accomplishment”. Thank you for your lawful service. Please continue to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Thank you, Mr. Pipes, for the information and i joined the Nation Guard in 1964 when i was still in high school. A lot of things have changed since 1964. I would suggest you all review THE PROJECT FOR A NEW AMERICAN CENTURY. Thank all of you for your comments.
What could be causing the lack of recruitment? Could it be the National Guard is being deployed overseas, being used as regular full time military army personel sent to fight US proxy wars overseas? These days and since Iraq, a Vermont National Guardsman likely will be sent to Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, or any other hotspot that flares up or sent to train other foreign militiary or rebel forces on their soil.
Could it be that young men and women see veterans of USA proxy wars living on the streets, disabled at the prime age of life, high suicide rates, or the contract signed, duty fullfilled, then left to fend for themselves with no support at all afterward?
Could it be that people see devesation occur in their own communities (NC, TN, CA, et.al) and are not called out to help their communities in times of dire need and destroyed infrastructure. Where were they when NC communities were flooded and bodies scattered to and fro for weeks? The Guard has the equipment and the means to pull those communities out of the mud, destroyed roads, and mountains of debris. They are not called out to fix anything – only to police and monitor from what is seen and told.
An income tax break is a miniscule crumb offered after the fact. It serves very little to incentivize young people to accept a bad, raw deal that they witness each day for over two decades now. It is not enough incentivize retired guard to come to a State that is swirling the toilet, full of moonbats, perverts, and drug cartels.
Ms. Casey’s caution, as Central Europe and the Vermont National Guard cement the newest relationship in the 93-nation Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, is well founded. Indeed, our government and our military clearly don’t always tell us the truth about this partnership’s covert affiliations.
Listen to This Article – ‘Biden Lied About Everything, Including Nuclear Risk, During Ukraine Operation’, by Matt Taibbi and the NYT. Apr 05, 2025.
https://www.racket.news/p/listen-to-this-article-biden-lied?publication_id=1042&post_id=160670451&r=2o3k9d&triedRedirect=true
It’s not that everything the Vermont National Guard does is suspect. But this ‘partnership’ instance, cited by the Vermont Guard’s Major General Gregory Knight’s reference, ostensibly substantiating the claim that “The state of our Guard is strong”, should give us pause. We’ve been blatantly deceived by the Covid fiasco, by false economic claims, by Biden’s cognitive state, and other claims that the state of our union is strong. Add this circumstance to the list.
Trustworthiness is a fragile commodity. Once lost, it is ever more elusive. Our Founders were wise to build constitutional checks and balances to government and military power. Caveat emptor.
REACTIONARY DISTURBER…..Vermont Adjutant Major General Gregory Knight has just admitted his being involved in the crime of the century with pushing the COVID KILL SHOT, Many military personal refused to take the vax. and were discharged from the service. What is his connection with Patrick Leahy???? Looks like a more complete investigation into this persons activities may be needed. There sounds like there may be more to this story. The general should be more concerned about protecting the Vermont northern border from invaders and less time training other countries military.
I have personally known and worked with and for the General for many years. This is a man who exemplifies a true leader. He never asks anyone to do anything he isn’t willing to do himself, and in many cases has already become proficient in the task. To say I would follow this man into battle, you just have to name the time and place and I’m already there. I take great pride in saying Major General Knight is our Adjutant General and the leader of the Green Mountain Boys.
Sometimes damage control will do more damage than the truth.