The demands placed on the military by two wars thrust the Vermont National Guard into a critical role and with that came more money and services. But cuts in the Pentagon budget announced this month will bring more changes to the guard.

"Task Force Green Mountain Spirit" is the name the Vermont National Guard chose for its flood recovery mission in its home state. As the mission ends and the soldiers head home, they say that spirit isn't just something they brought with them. It's something they found, and shared in the towns where they've spent the past month working.

Governor Peter Shumlin says a Vermont National Guard member has died of an apparent heart attack while helping residents recover from Tropical Storm Irene.

The Vermont Air National Guard says it'll be ramping up training over the next two weeks as aircraft from across the country arrives at Burlington International Airport to support training with the Green Mountain Boys.

First Lady Michelle Obama paid a brief visit to Vermont on Thursday to raise money at a pair of sold-out events in Burlington. But first she spoke to members of the military and their families to thank them for their service.

A memorial ceremony in Colchester honored three Vermont National Guard members who died in the line of duty as members of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team that recently served in Afghanistan.

Chara Vincelette spoke last week at the Women's History Project, as part of the Vermont Commission on Women's celebration of women Veterans. Vincelette started her service with the Vermont National Guard right out of high school and recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan.

Vermont National Guard officials say an important family outreach program that was scheduled to run out of money next month has received a short term reprieve. The Guard learned last week that additional federal funds have been allocated to help the program continue for a while longer, but its long term future is doubtful.

(Host) The House has approved legislation that's designed to create new job opportunities for members of the Vermont National Guard who recently returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. The chairman of the House commerce committee says the bill is needed because as many as 30% of the 1500 Guard members who served in Afghanistan are out of work.

Almost a third of the Vermont National Guard members who served in Afghanistan have returned home to no job. Guard Adjutant General Michael Dubie gave his annual report on Tuesday to the Legislature.

With members of the Vermont Army National Guard back from deployment to Afghanistan, they're no doubt looking forward to the comforts of home. For some of them, their Vermont training facilities may soon be more inviting as well.

Another 200 or so members of the Vermont National Guard are returning home after a year in Afghanistan.

Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Michael Dubie says an "environmental impact statement" on new fighter jets is on schedule to be released next month.

Many of the 1,500 Vermont Guard soldiers who were deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year are returning to Vermont this week. Adjutant General Michael Dubie says they're already receiving support to readjust to civilian life.

A lengthy, large-scale deployment of Vermont National Guard troops is nearing its conclusion, and Adjutant General Michael Dubie discusses the mission and the aftermath of the soldiers' service in Afghanistan.

The commander of the Vermont National Guard says 1,500 soldiers are leaving Afghanistan earlier than scheduled and should be in Vermont for the holidays.

In the past year, Vermonters have mourned the deaths of three guard soldiers killed in Afghanistan:  Ryan Grady, Tristan Southworth and Steven Deluzio. But a significant number of guard soldiers have also been injured during the current Afghan deployment.   

The commander of the Vermont Guard in Afghanistan says there's much progress to report as his soldiers prepare to end their year-long deployment.

Forty-five Vermont Air National Guard members who have been stationed in Saudi Arabia are coming home. 

Vermont Adjutant General Michael Dubie says the first of the Vermont Guard soldiers deployed to Afghanistan will return home later this month. Dubie says most of the 1,500 guard soldiers deployed there should be back in Vermont for the holidays.

We talk with the interim director of the Vermont Police Academy about morale and training in the wake of the upheaval at the academy earlier this year. Plus, a look at campaign donations made by the CEO of the Vermont Telephone Company. And we hear how a group of Vermont soldiers counts the days left in their deployment.

The remains of a U.S. Marine from Swanton killed in Afghanistan are due back in Vermont. The body of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Anthony Rosa is scheduled to arrive at the Burlington International Airport at noon today.

Sergeant Tristan Southworth was laid to rest Wednesday in Hardwick, near his hometown of Walden. Southworth died in a firefight in Afghanistan last week alongside another Vermont Guard member, Sergeant Steven DeLuzio.  

Teachers at Hazen Union High School in Hardwick are preparing to help returning students cope with the death of Tristan Southworth, a popular 2007 graduate who was killed during a firefight in Afghanistan over the weekend.

Sgt. Tristan Southworth, 21, and  Sgt. Steven Deluzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, Connecticut, were killed Sunday during a two-hour gunbattle after their unit was attacked by insurgents in an area just west of the border with Pakistan.