Members of Vermont’s Air National Guard are scheduled to return home Sunday after a more than eight-month deployment to the Caribbean and then the Middle East.
The commander of the 158th Fighter Wing based in South Burlington informed family members of the news Friday, an email obtained by Seven Days shows.
“I write to you today with immense gratitude,” Col. Michael Blair wrote. “At last, we will be welcoming our Airmen home this Sunday …” Their precise time of arrival is subject to change, he added.
A Vermont Air Guard public affairs officer declined to confirm “specific timelines” and said any welcome events would be limited to family members.
In his email, Blair praised the families of service members as the “backbone” of the Air Guard and thanked them for their sacrifices.
“You all have endured the longest deployment of an Air National Guard fighter wing since the Vietnam War,” he wrote. “Despite the uncertainty this deployment brought, you persevered with hope and belief in the return of your loved one.”
About 1,000 full-time and part-time guard member serve in the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont National Guard. The wing primarily operates 20 F-35 fighter jets out of its base at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport.
Blair wrote that he looks forward to the members’ return and “ensuring they have the time and resources needed to fully reintegrate.”
He also asked for family members’ “continued discretion” in discussing the return plans and Guard members’ “deployment experience on platforms such as social media or other public domains.”
“Please do not share specific locations, missions, tactics, capabilities, timelines, or other details about operations,” he wrote. “Even after returning home, sharing this information could jeopardize the security and success of fellow service members who remain engaged in combat operations. “
One relative of a Guard member shared their relief in a statement to Seven Days.
“We are grateful for our soldiers’ return after a long and relentless deployment. It is overwhelming relief mixed with deep trauma from the long sleepless nights full of fear,” the member wrote. “This will take a long time to recover from and as the war continues to rage, there is more fear they will be tasked to return.”
The 158th Air Wing was initially mobilized in mid-December to reposition its F-35 fighter jets from South Burlington to the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico. The move was part of the buildup of U.S. forces referred to as Operation Southern Spear, which involved attacks on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and the January 3 strike on Venezuela that included the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Many of those members were soon redeployed to the Middle East as part of President Donald Trump’s campaign to pressure and eventually attack Iran.
Precisely where they served has never been confirmed by the military, but they initially went to an air base in Jordan, according to media accounts, publicly available flight data and a relative of a Guard member.
The Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan has come under fire from Iran, including an attack by ballistic missiles and in July that killed three Army soldiers and injured several others.
It’s not clear how many of the F-35s are returning. The Aviationist website reported that eight VTANG F-35 were on their way home, citing air traffic in England, with the remaining four jets expected to follow.
Members of Vermont’s Congressional delegation, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), have consistently expressed support for the Guard members while condemning Trump’s use of military force.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
