The Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard

The Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard This is the official page for Brigadier General Trent Gibson, the Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard.

Yesterday, Montana's 120th Airlift Wing executed a precision airdrop on the newly established Vigilante Drop Zone outsid...
04/07/2026

Yesterday, Montana's 120th Airlift Wing executed a precision airdrop on the newly established Vigilante Drop Zone outside Power, MT, marking a major advancement in operational readiness for the Montana National Guard.

This capability strengthens how our Airmen are prepared to operate, whether supporting Montana communities in times of crisis or executing missions in defense of our nation.

This achievement was built on teamwork. Neighbors, elected officials, and civic leaders came together to make this drop zone a reality. Their support - combined with the vision of those who came before us, including Maj. Gen. Hronek and Brig. Gen. Dickson, and carried forward by our current Montana Air Guard leadership - made this possible.

Purpose and teamwork. This is the Montana Way.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This is more than recognition. It is a responsibility.We recommi...
04/01/2026

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This is more than recognition. It is a responsibility.

We recommit ourselves to a culture defined by dignity, respect, and accountability. Sexual assault has no place in our ranks, our workplaces, or our communities. Prevention begins with each of us through our actions, words, and the courage to step forward when it matters most.

This mission is strengthened by leaders like Andy Emerson, our Montana National Guard Principal SARC. Her leadership, and the unwavering commitment of her team, ensures that awareness is more than a message; it is action. They stand on the front lines of prevention, advocacy, and care, providing trusted support to those in need and helping to build a climate where every voice is heard and every individual is protected.

The proclamation I signed is not just symbolic. It is a promise to stand together, to look out for one another, and to take action.

This is our standard and we will uphold it. That's the Montana Way.

Excellence is never accidental—it is built by great teams and the leaders who shape them.Today I visited Montana’s Count...
03/24/2026

Excellence is never accidental—it is built by great teams and the leaders who shape them.

Today I visited Montana’s Counterdrug Program. This exceptional team works hand-in-hand with law enforcement, schools, and community organizations to prevent substance misuse and disrupt the networks that threaten our communities. Their work quietly strengthens Montana from the ground up.

The program's outgoing director, MAJ Alisha Butler, has been instrumental to that success. With precision, integrity, and purpose, she has elevated the program’s reach and impact while building a team defined by professionalism and trust. Her legacy will endure in both the people and the mission she leaves behind.

Together, they represent the very best of the Montana National Guard - where service is steady, impact is real, and the Montana Way endures.

⏳Some stories don’t fade with time — they sharpen. Today, alongside the Montana Veterans Affairs Division, the Montana N...
03/20/2026

⏳Some stories don’t fade with time — they sharpen.

Today, alongside the Montana Veterans Affairs Division, the Montana National Guard had the privilege of recognizing Ron “Rondo” Scharfe, a veteran of Iwo Jima and a member of a generation that didn’t wait to be asked twice. At just 16, he stepped into one of the most consequential battles in our nation’s history, where courage wasn’t a concept, it was a requirement.

📅Next week marks 81 years since the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Eighty‑one years since young Americans carried the weight of freedom onto a black‑sand beach and never flinched.

💪We talk a lot about readiness in the military: training, equipment, capability. But readiness begins with example. And men like Rondo Scharfe set that example long before any of us put on a uniform.

🌄Here in Montana, we call it the Montana Way — quiet professionalism, unshakable resolve, and a commitment to serve something greater than yourself.
Today, we said thank you.

📖Because some legacies don’t belong to history books. They belong to all of us.

Clarity matters. Alignment matters even more.Today I brought our Army and Air leadership together at the 120th Airlift W...
03/12/2026

Clarity matters. Alignment matters even more.

Today I brought our Army and Air leadership together at the 120th Airlift Wing for a SITREP across the Montana National Guard. When leaders engage directly, openly and honestly, we strengthen the connective tissue that makes us an effective joint force.

Interoperability isn’t a buzzword, but a discipline. It requires Soldiers and Airmen to think beyond formations, share perspective, challenge assumptions, and commit to the mission as one Montana team.

That kind of engagement builds trust. And trust is a foundation of readiness.

The Montana Way.

On Saturday I visited the Soldiers of I Co. 145th Forward Support Company at the Individual Weapons Qualification range...
03/09/2026

On Saturday I visited the Soldiers of I Co. 145th Forward Support Company at the Individual Weapons Qualification range. Their focus, discipline, and commitment to mastering their weapons systems were evident in every iteration on the line.

Lethality isn’t a slogan—it’s a standard. It’s built through consistent, demanding, and precise training, the kind that ensures our Soldiers remain ready to execute their mission whenever called. The 190th’s performance reflected exactly what we expect from Montana Soldiers: competence, confidence, and an unwavering dedication to readiness.

I’m proud of the hard work these Soldiers put in every month. Their professionalism strengthens our formation and ensures the Montana Army National Guard remains a capable, lethal force for our state and nation.
Army Strong, the Montana Way.

Support doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it shows up in a quiet act of generosity.This week I had the privi...
03/08/2026

Support doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it shows up in a quiet act of generosity.

This week I had the privilege of accepting an unexpected donation from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 233 to our Moral, Welfare, and Recreation fund. This support goes directly toward improving the quality of life for Montana Guard members and military families.

The check was presented by Duane Wock, Assistant Business Manager for Membership & Employer Development. Duane is the son of a retired Montana National Guard Command Sergeant Major. He grew up understanding what service demands, and what support means to the families who stand behind it.

To IBEW Local 233: Thank you for your unexpected, yet deeply appreciated generosity and for standing with Montana’s National Guard.

The best measure of a unit isn’t what’s written on paper, it’s the Soldiers in the room.I spent time today with the Sold...
03/08/2026

The best measure of a unit isn’t what’s written on paper, it’s the Soldiers in the room.

I spent time today with the Soldiers of the 143rd Military Police Detachment and I Co, 145th BSB discussing the current national landscape, sharing my leadership and command philosophy, and taking their questions directly.

What stood out most was the professionalism and pride across the formation. These are quiet professionals who know the mission, take care of each other, and show up ready to do the hard work.

We also had the opportunity to recognize several standout Soldiers - leaders who set the standard and make the entire team stronger. They embody the Montana Way!

Innovation doesn’t start in a lab. Sometimes it starts after the last school bell.Today I visited the STARBASE Montana A...
03/06/2026

Innovation doesn’t start in a lab. Sometimes it starts after the last school bell.

Today I visited the STARBASE Montana Advanced after-school program at Helena Middle School with CSM DeBoo—and we walked away impressed!

Through STARBASE Montana, affiliated with the Montana National Guard, students are diving into science, technology, engineering, artistic design, and math with both curiosity and confidence. We were especially impressed meeting the students in Code Girls United—young leaders learning to code, solve problems, and build the future.

My thanks to Kaylee Nathe and Kinsey Vavruska for creating a place where students are encouraged to experiment, think big, and discover their potential.

The future looks bright—and it’s already hard at work in Helena. Thank you, STARBASE Montana.

We proudly hosted the 4th Annual TAG Match this week — a competition that showcased the very best of the Montana Nationa...
02/16/2026

We proudly hosted the 4th Annual TAG Match this week — a competition that showcased the very best of the Montana National Guard.

This year, 33 competitors from 11 units across Montana — Army and Air — stepped to the line to test their skill, composure, and endurance. They competed for the “Governor’s Twenty,” a distinction reserved for the top 20 percent of marksmen in our state. It was not claimed — it was earned through discipline and mastery of the fundamentals.

As an avid hunter and a career Soldier, I trust my shot. But watching these competitors deliver precision and consistency under pressure, I'd have my hands full keeping pace.

Congratulations to SFC Sawyer Slavinsky, 495th Combat Sustainment Battalion, this years's overall winner.

2026 Governor’s Twenty honorees were:
• SGT Hunter Grunhurd, HHC 1-163rd Cavalry Regiment
• SSG Matthew Lee, 83rd Civil Support Team
• SGT Joshua Plafcan, I Co 145th Brigade Support Battalion
• SFC Sawyer Slavinsky, 495th Combat Sustainment Battalion
• CPT Paul Weber, Joint Forces Headquarters
• Technical Sergeant Daniel Johnson, 120th Security Forces Squadron

Thank you to COL Chad Roudebush, Army Chief of Staff, who presided over the recognition ceremony, and to LTC Dwain Henderson, who served as TAG Match Director and ensured another outstanding competition.

Quiet professionalism. High standards. A competitive spirit. That’s the Montana Way.

Yesterday, I was honored to recognize Matt Manning for his extraordinary dedication to a Montana family in their moment ...
02/11/2026

Yesterday, I was honored to recognize Matt Manning for his extraordinary dedication to a Montana family in their moment of need.

In late 2025, a call came in to recognize a veteran who had passed and to honor his family—on short notice. Without hesitation, Matt stepped forward. As Bureau Chief of the Montana State Veterans Cemetery Program and a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, he shaved his beard, donned his uniform, and prepared himself to stand in full respect of the moment.

That act was more than symbolic. It was a powerful reminder that service does not end when the uniform comes off. It continues in how we care for one another.

I am proud of Matt, the Montana Veterans Affairs Division, and our Montana National Guard Honor Guard for ensuring this veteran was laid to rest with dignity and precision. In Montana, when families call, we show up—fully and without hesitation.

That is the Montana way.

Today, I couldn’t be more proud of the Soldiers of the 1052nd Firefighting Detachment as they prepare to deploy. Their p...
01/05/2026

Today, I couldn’t be more proud of the Soldiers of the 1052nd Firefighting Detachment as they prepare to deploy. Their professionalism, discipline, and readiness reflect the very best of the Montana National Guard.

I’m equally proud of the families, friends, employers, and communities who stand behind them—whose quiet strength and steadfast support make this service possible. Moments like this remind us that service is never carried alone.

This is who we are as Montanans. This is our shared resolve, our pride, and our commitment to one another.

Always Ready, Always There. The Montana Way.

Address

1956 Mt Majo Street
Fort Harrison, MT
59636

Telephone

+14063243010

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