Recent deployment of the National Guard to U.S. cities over the objections of mayors and governors has raised concerns about the role of the Vermont National Guard and criteria for deployment. Two decades ago, the Vermont National Guard played an outsized role in deployment to the Iraq war, with the second highest mobilization rate and the highest casualty rate per capita of any state. Meanwhile, over the decades, Vermont governors from Madeleine Kunin to Phil Scott have opposed deployment for certain missions.
This project will bring together Vermonters from across the state to discuss the founding principles and future of the Vermont National Guard, its relationship to the U.S. Constitution, and criteria for deployment to combat around the world. Veterans, service members, and their family members are particularly encouraged to participate in this discussion.
Banner Image Credit: National Guard, Wikimedia Commons
About the Presenter
Isaac Evans-Frantz is a lifelong Vermonter, political activist, and public servant. He began his service when Gov. Howard Dean appointed him as the first Vermont high school student with a vote on the Vermont State Board of Education. In 2022 Isaac ran for U.S. Senate, mobilizing everyday Vermonters for an alternative to corporate politics. Nationally, with the non-partisan Action Corps, Isaac played a pivotal role in Congress’ historic passage of bipartisan legislation reasserting Congress’ power over war during the first Trump administration.
In response to COVID, he brought together over 100 organizations to campaign for international relief, which became the largest release of such resources in history. Following that success, Isaac served as secretary of the Vermont Sierra Club executive committee. On the Brattleboro Select-board, which he was elected to in 2025, he serves as clerk, and has championed housing, shelter, and safety for all. As advisor to Freedom Forward, he has advocated for global LGBTQ equality. Previously, Isaac was the quality coordinator at Callen-Lorde, an LGBTQ+ community health center. Isaac holds a Master in Public Administration from the City University of New York. Through his leadership, Isaac remains committed to advancing freedom and unity for Vermonters and people everywhere.
