Vermont Army National Guard preparing for 'Super Bowl of training' at Burlington rail yard
The Vermont Army National Guard is loading vehicles and other equipment onto rail cars in downtown Burlington this week in preparation for "the Super Bowl of training events."
The Guard is heading to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for a Joint Readiness Training Center Rotation. Roughly 2,000 Vermonters are making the trip to Louisiana, said Capt. Mike Arcovitch.
More:Vermont vet is dying from exposure to toxins in Afghanistan. The VA was slow to help
Over 5,000 soldiers from 18 states will participate in the exercises in total, which simulate a realistic, high-stress deployed environment. The training will last about a month, from the end of April until the end of May.
The event is the largest exercise available for infantry.
More:'Viper Out' ceremony for the F-16 in Vermont as it takes last flight in early April
"Vermont's Mountain Brigade's stellar reputation earned in combat and through multiple trips to JRTC in the past is why we were selected," said Col. Nathan Lord, commander of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The preparations will continue through Thursday. Most of the equipment will be moved to the rail yard early in the morning to minimize traffic disruptions, Arcovitch said.
More:This Vermont veteran is dying of toxic exposure. Military was warned of risk years earlier.
In 2017, former top Guardsman Maj. Gen. Stephen Cray hinted at a possible brigade-wide deployment, though no plans have been announced. Army units train four or five year cycles, and are expected to be ready to deploy at the end of the cycle.
Cray said the Vermont Army National Guard would hit peak readiness in late 2019 or 2020.
Contact Jess Aloe at 802-660-1874 or jaloe@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @jess_aloe