Members of the Vermont National Guard are preparing to deploy to Okinawa, Japan.
The Vermont National Guard announced plans Wednesday for some 150 Vermont guardsmen and 10 F-16 fighter jets to be deployed to provide security force in the Pacific region.
A news release described the deployment as a routine deployment for Air Combat Command. The Vermont forces will contribute to a wide range of operations in the region, from disaster relief to combating piracy to active defense.
The timeline for the deployment of the 158th Fighter Wing, which is based in Burlington, is unclear.
“Our airmen are always read and well-trained to engage in any state or federal mission when called,” Col. Patrick Guinee, commander of the 158th Fighter Wing said in the statement.
