Vermont has a small but important military footprint, built almost entirely on the National Guard. The state is home to two major active installations, one supporting the Air National Guard and one supporting the Army National Guard. Whether you are PCSing to Vermont (Permanent Change of Station, the military term for an official move to a new duty station), thinking about a move, or just curious about military life in the Green Mountain State, this guide gives you a clear overview of the key military bases in Vermont.
Overview of Military Installations in Vermont
Vermont's two main installations sit close together near Burlington in the northwest corner of the state. One is a fighter base that flies the most advanced jet in the U.S. Air Force. The other is a training site that runs the only mountain warfare school in the Army. Both are run by the Vermont National Guard, so most military families who move here settle in and around the greater Burlington area.
Active Military Bases in Vermont
- Burlington Air National Guard Base (158th Fighter Wing, South Burlington)
- Camp Ethan Allen Training Site (Army Mountain Warfare School, Jericho)
Air National Guard Bases in Vermont
Burlington Air National Guard Base
Burlington Air National Guard Base shares the field with Burlington International Airport in South Burlington. It is home to the 158th Fighter Wing, known as the "Green Mountain Boys," which was first federally recognized in 1946 with the 134th Fighter Squadron. The wing made history as the first Air National Guard unit to base the F-35A Lightning II, the most advanced and capable fighter in the U.S. Air Force. After flying the F-16 for 33 years, the unit began its F-35 mission and now flies and maintains these jets full time. Vermont's F-35s and Airmen have deployed overseas in support of global operations, including rotations to the Indo-Pacific.
Key Missions:
- F-35A Lightning II fighter operations and training
- Combat-ready airpower for the Air Force and Air National Guard
- Global deployments and partner-nation training
Learn more on the Vermont Air National Guard (158th Fighter Wing) website and the National Guard story on how the Vermont Air Guard completed a historic F-35 first.
Army National Guard Bases in Vermont
Camp Ethan Allen Training Site
Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, also called the Ethan Allen Firing Range, is located in Jericho, Vermont, northeast of Burlington. It is run by the Vermont Army National Guard and serves as a year-round training facility with weapons ranges and rugged mountain terrain. The site is the headquarters of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) and is best known as the home of the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School, the only school of its kind in the Army. The Mountain Warfare School is a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command school that teaches basic, advanced, and specialty mountain courses to U.S. and foreign service members, with more than 500 military mountaineers graduating each year from the two-week basic course.
Key Missions:
- Mountain warfare training for U.S. and allied forces
- Headquarters for the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain)
- Weapons qualification and unit readiness training
See the Ethan Allen Firing Range page from the Vermont National Guard and the Army's feature on making mountaineers at the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School.
