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Central Oregon’s Army National Guard 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Holds Unit Deactivation Ceremony (Photo) - 09/21/26

Central Oregon’s Army National Guard 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, holds unit deactivation ceremony

 

By John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs

 

 

BEND, Ore. — As summer faded into its final golden days, the Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, part of the 81st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, held a poignant Casing of Colors during the unit's deactivation ceremony and a grand Regimental Ball in Bend, Oregon, on September 19, 2026, marking the end of an era.

 

The Casing of Colors is a formal U.S. Army tradition in which a unit’s symbolic flags, known as colors, are lowered, furled, and placed in a protective sheath. The ritual marks the end of a unit’s active status while honoring its legacy. The 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, whose streamers commemorate service in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, completed its final mobilization in support of the European Deterrence Initiative under Operation Atlantic Resolve, beginning in April 2021. Two waves of soldiers from the 1-82nd deployed to Poland, culminating in a final demobilization ceremony on February 4, 2023.

 

The official ceremony featured Col. Andrew W. Vidourek, Commander of the 82nd Brigade Troop Command, alongside Lt. Col. Richard Nicolas, Commander of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Wilson, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry. The event included a reading of the unit’s lineage and honors, the issuance of the Deactivation Order, and the casing of colors, held at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Later that evening, the unit held its formal “One Last Ride” Regimental Ball at the Riverhouse Convention Center.

 

“Today we mark the deactivation of this distinguished military unit and trace its roots back to the 1st Infantry Regiment, organized in the late 1860’s, from communities across the state in Portland, Salem, Astoria, Oregon City, Albany, and The Dalles,” said Maj. Christopher Perrotti, who served as the event narrator, while addressing the unit formation, their family members, and retired soldiers from the unit as they made this historic moment. “Beyond combat, the squadron has been a shield for the citizens of Oregon and regularly has responded to wildfires, floods, and civil unrest with speed and precision inherent to the Cavalry.”

 

The regiment fought in the Spanish-American War and took part in battles in the Philippines between February 1899 and July 1902. The unit saw action in World War I and received a streamer for its combat service. In World War II, the heredity included service with the 41st Infantry Division, including the lineage of A Troop and B Troop, participating in the growing campaigns of the Pacific Theatre and earning decorations for service in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines, and receiving the Presidential Unit Citation for exceptional meritorious service. In 2005, the unit was formally designated the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2009 to 2010 and to Afghanistan in 2014-2015.

 

As Perroitt read the official order issued by the Secretary of the Army deactivating the unit, Soldiers stood ready to case the colors. “The Casing of the colors is a ceremony of heritage and respect. The colors represent the spirit of the unit. As they are placed in their protective cover, it signifies the unit’s mission is complete and forever engraved in the U.S. Army Cavalry history.”

 

On stage, the unit flag, which features yellow as the traditional color of Armor and Cavalry and symbolizes the unit’s cavalry heritage and reconnaissance role, was cased in a ceremony. The seven individual troop guidons and subsequent unit flags were also cased in sequence with meticulous care.

 

“Today’s ceremony marks the deactivation of 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and as mission shifts and new requirements emerge, the Army adapts,” Vidourek said. “And every so often, it reminds us that no organizational chart survives contact with the Pentagon staff officer – today’s ceremony reflects that reality.”

 

As Vidourek reflected on the unit’s long history and how the force structure has changed over the years, he noted it has always been defined by the men and women willing to step forward whenever Oregon and the nation needed them.

 

“The Squadron’s colors carry honor earned by generations of troopers. Long before any of us arrived, those soldiers established standards that later generations have worked hard to uphold,” he said. “While today’s ceremony closes an important chapter, it should not be viewed as the end of the story. The Army will keep moving forward. New formations will stand up.”

 

Looking ahead, Vidourek stated that the new reserve center in Redmond will help the National Guard maintain a strong presence in Oregon. With the Cavalry mission departing Bend, the armory will now house soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry.

 

“What gives me confidence is that while the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment is deactivating, the Oregon National Guard’s presence in Central Oregon remains strong,” he said. “When the National Guard looks for a place with strong community support, exceptional training opportunities, and citizens willing to raise their right hand and serve, Central Oregon makes a compelling argument.”

 

In concluding his remarks, Vidourek said the unit's legacy and its place in military history will live on in each soldier.

 

“To the trooper standing in the formation, the Squadron’s guidon may be retired, but what was built here will endure. The friendships, the lessons, the standards established, over a century of service, now belong to you to carry forward,” Vidourek said.

 

Lt. Col. Nicolas echoed that spirit of continued service in his remarks, noting that each soldier’s willingness to serve and their expertise are transferable skills.

 

“Whether you move to a new formation within the Oregon Guard, or continue to serve in another capacity, you carry the Cavalry legacy forward,” he said. “The culture that makes the 1-82 CAV special did not happen by accident. It happened because you invested in it; that investment lives on in every soldier who served under the colors. With that, thank you – Scouts Out!”

 

-30-

 

 

Released Images:

 

 

260919-Z-CH590-1024 and 1072: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Richard Nicolas, Commander, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry (right), and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Wilson, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry (left), Case the Colors for the flag of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment during the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1170: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment stand in formation for the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1155: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment stand in formation for the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony with family, retired members, and others attending the event in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1102: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment render a formal salute as they stand in formation for the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1120 and 1121: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment Case the Colors of their unit’s guidon flags during the formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1216: Oregon Army National Guard Col. Andrew W. Vidourek, Commander of the 82nd Brigade Troop Command, addresses those in attendance for the Casing of Colors during the deactivation ceremony for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1245: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Richard Nicolas, Commander of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, addresses attendees at the Casing of Colors during the deactivation ceremony for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1348: Oregon Army National Guard Col. Russell Gibson, Assistant Adjutant General, Oregon Army National Guard, addresses soldiers, retired members, and other attendees at the “One Last Ride” Regimental Ball for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, held at the Riverhouse Conference Center in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

 

Central Oregon’s Army National Guard 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Holds Unit Deactivation Ceremony (Photo) - 09/21/26

Central Oregon’s Army National Guard 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, holds unit deactivation ceremony

 

By John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs

 

 

BEND, Ore. — As summer faded into its final golden days, the Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, part of the 81st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, held a poignant Casing of Colors during the unit's deactivation ceremony and a grand Regimental Ball in Bend, Oregon, on September 19, 2026, marking the end of an era.

 

The Casing of Colors is a formal U.S. Army tradition in which a unit’s symbolic flags, known as colors, are lowered, furled, and placed in a protective sheath. The ritual marks the end of a unit’s active status while honoring its legacy. The 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, whose streamers commemorate service in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, completed its final mobilization in support of the European Deterrence Initiative under Operation Atlantic Resolve, beginning in April 2021. Two waves of soldiers from the 1-82nd deployed to Poland, culminating in a final demobilization ceremony on February 4, 2023.

 

The official ceremony featured Col. Andrew W. Vidourek, Commander of the 82nd Brigade Troop Command, alongside Lt. Col. Richard Nicolas, Commander of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Wilson, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry. The event included a reading of the unit’s lineage and honors, the issuance of the Deactivation Order, and the casing of colors, held at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Later that evening, the unit held its formal “One Last Ride” Regimental Ball at the Riverhouse Convention Center.

 

“Today we mark the deactivation of this distinguished military unit and trace its roots back to the 1st Infantry Regiment, organized in the late 1860’s, from communities across the state in Portland, Salem, Astoria, Oregon City, Albany, and The Dalles,” said Maj. Christopher Perrotti, who served as the event narrator, while addressing the unit formation, their family members, and retired soldiers from the unit as they made this historic moment. “Beyond combat, the squadron has been a shield for the citizens of Oregon and regularly has responded to wildfires, floods, and civil unrest with speed and precision inherent to the Cavalry.”

 

The regiment fought in the Spanish-American War and took part in battles in the Philippines between February 1899 and July 1902. The unit saw action in World War I and received a streamer for its combat service. In World War II, the heredity included service with the 41st Infantry Division, including the lineage of A Troop and B Troop, participating in the growing campaigns of the Pacific Theatre and earning decorations for service in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines, and receiving the Presidential Unit Citation for exceptional meritorious service. In 2005, the unit was formally designated the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2009 to 2010 and to Afghanistan in 2014-2015.

 

As Perroitt read the official order issued by the Secretary of the Army deactivating the unit, Soldiers stood ready to case the colors. “The Casing of the colors is a ceremony of heritage and respect. The colors represent the spirit of the unit. As they are placed in their protective cover, it signifies the unit’s mission is complete and forever engraved in the U.S. Army Cavalry history.”

 

On stage, the unit flag, which features yellow as the traditional color of Armor and Cavalry and symbolizes the unit’s cavalry heritage and reconnaissance role, was cased in a ceremony. The seven individual troop guidons and subsequent unit flags were also cased in sequence with meticulous care.

 

“Today’s ceremony marks the deactivation of 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and as mission shifts and new requirements emerge, the Army adapts,” Vidourek said. “And every so often, it reminds us that no organizational chart survives contact with the Pentagon staff officer – today’s ceremony reflects that reality.”

 

As Vidourek reflected on the unit’s long history and how the force structure has changed over the years, he noted it has always been defined by the men and women willing to step forward whenever Oregon and the nation needed them.

 

“The Squadron’s colors carry honor earned by generations of troopers. Long before any of us arrived, those soldiers established standards that later generations have worked hard to uphold,” he said. “While today’s ceremony closes an important chapter, it should not be viewed as the end of the story. The Army will keep moving forward. New formations will stand up.”

 

Looking ahead, Vidourek stated that the new reserve center in Redmond will help the National Guard maintain a strong presence in Oregon. With the Cavalry mission departing Bend, the armory will now house soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry.

 

“What gives me confidence is that while the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment is deactivating, the Oregon National Guard’s presence in Central Oregon remains strong,” he said. “When the National Guard looks for a place with strong community support, exceptional training opportunities, and citizens willing to raise their right hand and serve, Central Oregon makes a compelling argument.”

 

In concluding his remarks, Vidourek said the unit's legacy and its place in military history will live on in each soldier.

 

“To the trooper standing in the formation, the Squadron’s guidon may be retired, but what was built here will endure. The friendships, the lessons, the standards established, over a century of service, now belong to you to carry forward,” Vidourek said.

 

Lt. Col. Nicolas echoed that spirit of continued service in his remarks, noting that each soldier’s willingness to serve and their expertise are transferable skills.

 

“Whether you move to a new formation within the Oregon Guard, or continue to serve in another capacity, you carry the Cavalry legacy forward,” he said. “The culture that makes the 1-82 CAV special did not happen by accident. It happened because you invested in it; that investment lives on in every soldier who served under the colors. With that, thank you – Scouts Out!”

 

-30-

 

 

Released Images:

 

 

260919-Z-CH590-1024 and 1072: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Richard Nicolas, Commander, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry (right), and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Wilson, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry (left), Case the Colors for the flag of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment during the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1170: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment stand in formation for the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1155: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment stand in formation for the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony with family, retired members, and others attending the event in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1102: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment render a formal salute as they stand in formation for the unit’s formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1120 and 1121: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment Case the Colors of their unit’s guidon flags during the formal deactivation ceremony held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1216: Oregon Army National Guard Col. Andrew W. Vidourek, Commander of the 82nd Brigade Troop Command, addresses those in attendance for the Casing of Colors during the deactivation ceremony for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1245: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Richard Nicolas, Commander of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, addresses attendees at the Casing of Colors during the deactivation ceremony for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, held in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260919-Z-CH590-1348: Oregon Army National Guard Col. Russell Gibson, Assistant Adjutant General, Oregon Army National Guard, addresses soldiers, retired members, and other attendees at the “One Last Ride” Regimental Ball for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, held at the Riverhouse Conference Center in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 19, 2026. The unit has a distinguished history in Central Oregon and was formally designated in 2005, with major deployments to Iraq in 2009-2010, Afghanistan in 2014-2015, and two waves in Poland from 2021-2023. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

 

Oregon Air National Guard Drops Live Bombs From F-15EX In Nevada Exercise (Photo) - 09/18/26

PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ore. - The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing has dropped live bombs for the first time with the F-15EX Eagle II during a training exercise in Nevada. The 142nd Wing operated its aircraft fleet out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During this time, the unit hit the historical milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EX aircraft.

 

Based in Portland, Oregon, the 142nd Wing is the first operational F-15EX unit in the U.S. Air Force and has reached several milestones with this new aircraft. Dropping bombs is significant, as the wing has focused on Air-to-Air Combat since World War II. The 142nd previously flew the F-15C before receiving the Air Force’s first operational F-15EX model in June 2024.

 

“This milestone is another major step in our transition from an air-superiority organization to a truly multi-role air dominance force,” said Air Force Colonel Joshua Hovanas, 142nd Operations Group Commander. “What our Airmen accomplished at Nellis demonstrates the incredible capability of the F-15EX, but more importantly, it shows just how far this team has come and how quickly we’re building real combat capability for our nation.”

 

While supporting WIC at Nellis AFB, a leading U.S. Air Force fighter pilot exercise, Oregon pilots dropped 500-pound and 2,000-pound live bombs in the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas. They also supported student pilots from other units during WIC training scenarios.

 

-30-

 

Photo captions:

 

260827-Z-SP755-1012:

An F-15EX Eagle II aircraft assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing taxis the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada with a live bomb attached to its belly as it prepares for take off on August 27, 2026. The 142nd Wing’s fleet of F-15EXs operated out of Nellis AFB for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During this time, the unit hit a historical milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EXs for the first time. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer)

 

260826-Z-SP755-1033:

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alisha Sargent, a weapons loader assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, loads a bomb onto an F-15EX Eagle II aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada on August 26, 2026. The 142nd Wing operated their fleet of F-15EXs out of Nellis AFB for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During that time, the unit and the EX hit a historic milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EXs for the first time. (U. S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer)

 

Video B-roll and interviews available at:

 

DVIDS - Video - 142nd Wing F-15EXs Drop Live Bombs in Historic First

 

About the 142nd Wing:

 

The Portland Air National Guard Base employs around 1,500 Airmen who provide an

economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our

homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from

Northern California to the Canadian border, as part of Air Combat Command and the

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide

unequalled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime

tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.

Oregon Air National Guard Drops Live Bombs From F-15EX In Nevada Exercise (Photo) - 09/18/26

PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ore. - The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing has dropped live bombs for the first time with the F-15EX Eagle II during a training exercise in Nevada. The 142nd Wing operated its aircraft fleet out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During this time, the unit hit the historical milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EX aircraft.

 

Based in Portland, Oregon, the 142nd Wing is the first operational F-15EX unit in the U.S. Air Force and has reached several milestones with this new aircraft. Dropping bombs is significant, as the wing has focused on Air-to-Air Combat since World War II. The 142nd previously flew the F-15C before receiving the Air Force’s first operational F-15EX model in June 2024.

 

“This milestone is another major step in our transition from an air-superiority organization to a truly multi-role air dominance force,” said Air Force Colonel Joshua Hovanas, 142nd Operations Group Commander. “What our Airmen accomplished at Nellis demonstrates the incredible capability of the F-15EX, but more importantly, it shows just how far this team has come and how quickly we’re building real combat capability for our nation.”

 

While supporting WIC at Nellis AFB, a leading U.S. Air Force fighter pilot exercise, Oregon pilots dropped 500-pound and 2,000-pound live bombs in the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas. They also supported student pilots from other units during WIC training scenarios.

 

-30-

 

Photo captions:

 

260827-Z-SP755-1012:

An F-15EX Eagle II aircraft assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing taxis the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada with a live bomb attached to its belly as it prepares for take off on August 27, 2026. The 142nd Wing’s fleet of F-15EXs operated out of Nellis AFB for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During this time, the unit hit a historical milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EXs for the first time. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer)

 

260826-Z-SP755-1033:

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alisha Sargent, a weapons loader assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, loads a bomb onto an F-15EX Eagle II aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada on August 26, 2026. The 142nd Wing operated their fleet of F-15EXs out of Nellis AFB for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During that time, the unit and the EX hit a historic milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EXs for the first time. (U. S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer)

 

Video B-roll and interviews available at:

 

DVIDS - Video - 142nd Wing F-15EXs Drop Live Bombs in Historic First

 

About the 142nd Wing:

 

The Portland Air National Guard Base employs around 1,500 Airmen who provide an

economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our

homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from

Northern California to the Canadian border, as part of Air Combat Command and the

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide

unequalled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime

tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.

Historic 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Welcomes New Commander (Photo) - 09/13/26

CLACKAMAS, Ore. — The Oregon Army National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Sept. 13 at Camp Withycombe.

Col. Eric Brenner assumed command of the brigade from Col. Paul Dyer during an outdoor ceremony on the Armed Forces Reserve Center parade field.

 

The change of command is a military tradition that formally transfers the authority and responsibility of a unit from one commander to another. The passing of the brigade colors symbolizes that transfer and represents the continuity of leadership, mission and responsibility for the soldiers assigned to the brigade.

 

The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team carries a long military legacy rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Its lineage includes the 41st Infantry Division, whose soldiers served extensively in the Pacific during World War II. Today, the brigade remains one of the Oregon Army National Guard’s major commands, with soldiers and units across the state who have supported overseas deployments, domestic emergencies and other missions at home and abroad.

 

Dyer reflected on his time with the brigade and the relationships built throughout his career, describing the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team as more than a military organization.

 

“What this patch means, it’s family. It’s family to me,” Dyer said. “I look across here and I look out there and I see people that I choose to call family, and that’s a little different. There’s something special.”

 

Dyer also expressed confidence in Brenner, whom he has known for about 25 years, as he takes command of the brigade.

 

Brenner thanked Dyer for his leadership and said the work completed under Dyer’s command established a strong foundation for the brigade’s future.

 

“The work you’ve done over the brigade, it’s laid a foundation to grow and transform,” Brenner said. “Following in your footsteps will be a challenge, but a challenge that can be overcome with the outstanding officers, NCOs and soldiers out there before me.”

 

Brenner said he was grateful for the opportunity to once again wear the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s distinctive sunset patch and looked forward to working with the soldiers of the brigade.

“I look forward to working with you and meeting the challenges ahead,” Brenner said.

 

During the ceremony, Dyer was also presented the Meritorious Service Medal by Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, adjutant general, Oregon, recognizing his service and accomplishments as brigade commander.

 

Released Photos:

 

7O2A1216 Passing of the brigade colors

Col. Paul Dyer, outgoing commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Col. Eric Brenner, incoming commander, participate in the passing of the brigade colors during a change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. The passing of the colors symbolizes the transfer of command authority and responsibility from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

7O2A1187 Brigade formation

Soldiers assigned to the Oregon Army National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team stand in formation during a change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. Col. Eric Brenner assumed command of the brigade from Col. Paul Dyer during the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

7O2A1197 during the national anthem

Col. Eric Brenner, incoming commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, salutes during the national anthem at the brigade’s change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. Brenner assumed command of the brigade from Col. Paul Dyer during the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

7O2A1223 Meritorious Service Medal

Brig. Gen.  Alan R. Gronewold, adjutant general, Oregon, presents the Meritorious Service Medal to Col. Paul Dyer, outgoing commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, during a change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. Dyer relinquished command of the brigade to Col. Eric Brenner during the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

Attached Media Files: 7O2A1216, 7O2A1223, 7O2A1187, 7O2A1197,

Historic 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Welcomes New Commander (Photo) - 09/13/26

CLACKAMAS, Ore. — The Oregon Army National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Sept. 13 at Camp Withycombe.

Col. Eric Brenner assumed command of the brigade from Col. Paul Dyer during an outdoor ceremony on the Armed Forces Reserve Center parade field.

 

The change of command is a military tradition that formally transfers the authority and responsibility of a unit from one commander to another. The passing of the brigade colors symbolizes that transfer and represents the continuity of leadership, mission and responsibility for the soldiers assigned to the brigade.

 

The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team carries a long military legacy rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Its lineage includes the 41st Infantry Division, whose soldiers served extensively in the Pacific during World War II. Today, the brigade remains one of the Oregon Army National Guard’s major commands, with soldiers and units across the state who have supported overseas deployments, domestic emergencies and other missions at home and abroad.

 

Dyer reflected on his time with the brigade and the relationships built throughout his career, describing the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team as more than a military organization.

 

“What this patch means, it’s family. It’s family to me,” Dyer said. “I look across here and I look out there and I see people that I choose to call family, and that’s a little different. There’s something special.”

 

Dyer also expressed confidence in Brenner, whom he has known for about 25 years, as he takes command of the brigade.

 

Brenner thanked Dyer for his leadership and said the work completed under Dyer’s command established a strong foundation for the brigade’s future.

 

“The work you’ve done over the brigade, it’s laid a foundation to grow and transform,” Brenner said. “Following in your footsteps will be a challenge, but a challenge that can be overcome with the outstanding officers, NCOs and soldiers out there before me.”

 

Brenner said he was grateful for the opportunity to once again wear the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s distinctive sunset patch and looked forward to working with the soldiers of the brigade.

“I look forward to working with you and meeting the challenges ahead,” Brenner said.

 

During the ceremony, Dyer was also presented the Meritorious Service Medal by Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, adjutant general, Oregon, recognizing his service and accomplishments as brigade commander.

 

Released Photos:

 

7O2A1216 Passing of the brigade colors

Col. Paul Dyer, outgoing commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Col. Eric Brenner, incoming commander, participate in the passing of the brigade colors during a change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. The passing of the colors symbolizes the transfer of command authority and responsibility from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

7O2A1187 Brigade formation

Soldiers assigned to the Oregon Army National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team stand in formation during a change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. Col. Eric Brenner assumed command of the brigade from Col. Paul Dyer during the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

7O2A1197 during the national anthem

Col. Eric Brenner, incoming commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, salutes during the national anthem at the brigade’s change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. Brenner assumed command of the brigade from Col. Paul Dyer during the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

7O2A1223 Meritorious Service Medal

Brig. Gen.  Alan R. Gronewold, adjutant general, Oregon, presents the Meritorious Service Medal to Col. Paul Dyer, outgoing commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, during a change of command ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon, Sept. 13, 2026. Dyer relinquished command of the brigade to Col. Eric Brenner during the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

Attached Media Files: 7O2A1216, 7O2A1223, 7O2A1187, 7O2A1197,

Eastern Oregon Guard Battalion Gets New Name, Honors Century-old Infantry Roots (Photo) - 09/12/26

LA GRANDE, Ore. — The Oregon Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment cased its colors for the final time and uncased new ones Sept. 12, formally redesignating as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during a ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field.

The redesignation reconnects the battalion with an infantry lineage that traces back nearly 140 years to 1888, when citizen-Soldiers in Eastern Oregon first organized to serve their communities and state.

 

Col. Andrew William Vidourek hosted the ceremony, with Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda and Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel G. Sapp representing the battalion's official party. Second Lt. Kumsa A. Lemessa served as master of ceremonies. The event included a lineage reading, casing of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry colors, uncasing of the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry colors, and a rebadging ceremony in which Soldiers replaced their unit patches.

 

"This is a significant milestone in the history of the Oregon Army National Guard," Vidourek said. "We gather for a ceremony that honors both where this organization has been and where it is going."

 

The battalion's roots stretch back to the Spanish-American War, when Soldiers serving as the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry crossed the Pacific, took part in the capture of Guam and became the first American troops to land in the Philippines in 1898. During World War I, Oregon Soldiers were reorganized into the 41st Infantry Division, known as the "Sunset Division," and deployed to France with the American Expeditionary Forces.

 

The unit's infantry legacy continued into World War II as part of the 41st Infantry Division's "Jungleers," fighting through the Pacific island-hopping campaign. One of the regiment's defining moments came June 16, 1944, when the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry led an assault against entrenched Japanese defenders on the island of Biak, overrunning fortified caves and bunkers in one of the Pacific theater's most difficult fights.

 

Following the war, the organization reorganized several times before becoming the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, transitioning to heavy armor and earning the nickname "Eastern Oregon's Own." The battalion deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and Operation New Dawn in 2010, and Soldiers of Adder Company deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield from 2023 to 2024. In 2011, the battalion became the first National Guard unit to field the M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams tank.

 

"Closing these colors is bittersweet," De Anda said. "We all spilled sweat, spent long weeks away from home and mastered the skills of heavy armor and mechanized warfare. Be proud of what we've built and what we've accomplished under that crest. However, as we stand on this parade field today, we must remember a fundamental truth: the power of this unit has never resided in our equipment or the designation on our guidons. It has always resided in the character of the Soldiers who have answered the call."

 

De Anda pointed to the battalion's community roots as evidence of that continuity, noting that 100 years ago, Soldiers of Company Echo mustered on a drill floor above a drugstore in downtown La Grande with little equipment but full commitment.

"We are and have always been Eastern Oregon's own," De Anda said. "Our strength comes from the communities that have answered the call for over a century, from Pendleton to Ontario, Hermiston and La Grande, Baker City, Burns. We are the citizen-Soldiers who leave our families, our farms, our classrooms and our jobs to serve. No change in nomenclature or equipment will ever alter that identity."

 

As the newly designated 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, the unit will become Oregon's first mobile infantry battalion, built as a lighter, faster and highly mobile formation. The battalion conducted annual training at Camp Rilea this summer and plans to deploy a task force to Honduras next year to train alongside partner nations. The unit is also integrating infantry squad vehicles and expanding its use of unmanned aerial systems.

 

"You are now responsible for a remarkable piece of Oregon military history," De Anda told the formation. "You inherit much from those that came before you. Your responsibility is not to admire that history, but to build upon it."

In an interview before the ceremony, Vidourek reflected on the significance of reconnecting the battalion with its infantry roots.

 

"I know their hearts are with 3-116 Cav, but the reality is this organization has redesignated many times over the last 140 years," Vidourek said. "To go back and touch that lineage that started 140 years ago, Soldiers that fought in Guam, World War I, World War II, the historic Battle of Biak, and now we're redesignated as that infantry regiment, it's pretty cool. It's a cool thing to be a part of. It doesn't happen very often. A lot of times a Soldier will go through a whole military career and not be a part of something like this."

 

Both commanders closed their remarks by thanking the Soldiers' families for their support and calling on the battalion to carry the legacy forward.

 

"Every generation is asked the same question: will you be ready when your nation calls?" Vidourek said. "For nearly 140 years, Oregon Soldiers have answered that question with their actions. The Soldiers standing in formation today are the next chapter of that story. Eastern Oregon's own."

 

Released B-Roll Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1022829/oregon-guard-battalion-redesignates-reconnects-with-infantry-legacy

 

Released Photos: 

 

260912-Z-ZJ128-1001
U.S. Army Maj. Justin W. Symons, battalion executive officer for the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, salutes while leading the formation at the start of a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. During the ceremony, the battalion was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1002
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda, left, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel G. Sapp, right, case the battalion's colors during a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. The battalion was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the ceremony, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1003
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda, incoming commander of the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, unfurls the battalion's new colors during a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. The 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the ceremony, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1004
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda, left, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, pins the new unit patch on Maj. Justin W. Symons, right, the battalion executive officer, as Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel G. Sapp looks on during a rebadging ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. Soldiers replaced their unit patches after the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1005
Soldiers of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, stand in formation with their new company guidon during a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. The 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the ceremony, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

Eastern Oregon Guard Battalion Gets New Name, Honors Century-old Infantry Roots (Photo) - 09/12/26

LA GRANDE, Ore. — The Oregon Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment cased its colors for the final time and uncased new ones Sept. 12, formally redesignating as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during a ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field.

The redesignation reconnects the battalion with an infantry lineage that traces back nearly 140 years to 1888, when citizen-Soldiers in Eastern Oregon first organized to serve their communities and state.

 

Col. Andrew William Vidourek hosted the ceremony, with Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda and Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel G. Sapp representing the battalion's official party. Second Lt. Kumsa A. Lemessa served as master of ceremonies. The event included a lineage reading, casing of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry colors, uncasing of the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry colors, and a rebadging ceremony in which Soldiers replaced their unit patches.

 

"This is a significant milestone in the history of the Oregon Army National Guard," Vidourek said. "We gather for a ceremony that honors both where this organization has been and where it is going."

 

The battalion's roots stretch back to the Spanish-American War, when Soldiers serving as the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry crossed the Pacific, took part in the capture of Guam and became the first American troops to land in the Philippines in 1898. During World War I, Oregon Soldiers were reorganized into the 41st Infantry Division, known as the "Sunset Division," and deployed to France with the American Expeditionary Forces.

 

The unit's infantry legacy continued into World War II as part of the 41st Infantry Division's "Jungleers," fighting through the Pacific island-hopping campaign. One of the regiment's defining moments came June 16, 1944, when the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry led an assault against entrenched Japanese defenders on the island of Biak, overrunning fortified caves and bunkers in one of the Pacific theater's most difficult fights.

 

Following the war, the organization reorganized several times before becoming the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, transitioning to heavy armor and earning the nickname "Eastern Oregon's Own." The battalion deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and Operation New Dawn in 2010, and Soldiers of Adder Company deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield from 2023 to 2024. In 2011, the battalion became the first National Guard unit to field the M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams tank.

 

"Closing these colors is bittersweet," De Anda said. "We all spilled sweat, spent long weeks away from home and mastered the skills of heavy armor and mechanized warfare. Be proud of what we've built and what we've accomplished under that crest. However, as we stand on this parade field today, we must remember a fundamental truth: the power of this unit has never resided in our equipment or the designation on our guidons. It has always resided in the character of the Soldiers who have answered the call."

 

De Anda pointed to the battalion's community roots as evidence of that continuity, noting that 100 years ago, Soldiers of Company Echo mustered on a drill floor above a drugstore in downtown La Grande with little equipment but full commitment.

"We are and have always been Eastern Oregon's own," De Anda said. "Our strength comes from the communities that have answered the call for over a century, from Pendleton to Ontario, Hermiston and La Grande, Baker City, Burns. We are the citizen-Soldiers who leave our families, our farms, our classrooms and our jobs to serve. No change in nomenclature or equipment will ever alter that identity."

 

As the newly designated 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, the unit will become Oregon's first mobile infantry battalion, built as a lighter, faster and highly mobile formation. The battalion conducted annual training at Camp Rilea this summer and plans to deploy a task force to Honduras next year to train alongside partner nations. The unit is also integrating infantry squad vehicles and expanding its use of unmanned aerial systems.

 

"You are now responsible for a remarkable piece of Oregon military history," De Anda told the formation. "You inherit much from those that came before you. Your responsibility is not to admire that history, but to build upon it."

In an interview before the ceremony, Vidourek reflected on the significance of reconnecting the battalion with its infantry roots.

 

"I know their hearts are with 3-116 Cav, but the reality is this organization has redesignated many times over the last 140 years," Vidourek said. "To go back and touch that lineage that started 140 years ago, Soldiers that fought in Guam, World War I, World War II, the historic Battle of Biak, and now we're redesignated as that infantry regiment, it's pretty cool. It's a cool thing to be a part of. It doesn't happen very often. A lot of times a Soldier will go through a whole military career and not be a part of something like this."

 

Both commanders closed their remarks by thanking the Soldiers' families for their support and calling on the battalion to carry the legacy forward.

 

"Every generation is asked the same question: will you be ready when your nation calls?" Vidourek said. "For nearly 140 years, Oregon Soldiers have answered that question with their actions. The Soldiers standing in formation today are the next chapter of that story. Eastern Oregon's own."

 

Released B-Roll Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1022829/oregon-guard-battalion-redesignates-reconnects-with-infantry-legacy

 

Released Photos: 

 

260912-Z-ZJ128-1001
U.S. Army Maj. Justin W. Symons, battalion executive officer for the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, salutes while leading the formation at the start of a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. During the ceremony, the battalion was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1002
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda, left, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel G. Sapp, right, case the battalion's colors during a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. The battalion was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the ceremony, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1003
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda, incoming commander of the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, unfurls the battalion's new colors during a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. The 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the ceremony, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1004
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge L. De Anda, left, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, pins the new unit patch on Maj. Justin W. Symons, right, the battalion executive officer, as Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel G. Sapp looks on during a rebadging ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. Soldiers replaced their unit patches after the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)


260912-Z-ZJ128-1005
Soldiers of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, stand in formation with their new company guidon during a redesignation ceremony at Eastern Oregon University's football field in La Grande, Ore., Sept. 12, 2026. The 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the ceremony, reconnecting the unit with an infantry lineage dating back to 1888.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

Oregon National Guard Marks 25th Anniversary Of September 11th Terrorist Attacks (Photo) - 09/11/26

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon National Guard members joined ceremonies throughout the state on Sept. 11, 2026, to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Events were held at the Major General George A. White Building in Salem, the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.

 

On September 11, 2001, a total of 2,977 individuals lost their lives, including all 246 passengers and crew members, as well as the 19 hijackers, aboard the four aircraft involved in the attacks. The 25th anniversary commemorated these events by bringing together Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to honor those who died in the immediate aftermath and during subsequent military operations.

 

At the Salem ceremony, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott, Oregon National Guard state chaplain, delivered the invocation. He asked for comfort, shelter, and protection while remembering the shock and sorrow Americans experienced 25 years ago.

Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh, Air Component Commander, Oregon National Guard, spoke about the importance of remembering September 11 and the perspective it provides today.

 

“We couldn't just let today go by unmarked like any other,” Unruh said. “Remembrance helps us make meaning of our own lives.”

 

Unruh reflected on the lives lost in New York City, at the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania, where passengers aboard Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers.

 

“The loss of life that day and in the wars that followed is heartbreaking,” Unruh said. “Yet equally as profound are the stories of heroism, from the first responders to ordinary Americans who simply pitched in to help where they could.”

Oregon Army National Guard Russell Gibson, Assistant Adjutant General, also delivered remarks during the ceremony.

 

Scott encouraged those gathered to carry forward the example of the first responders and others who moved toward danger to help people in need.

“Put one foot in front of another and take the next step,” Scott said. “Climb the stairs. Do what it takes to serve those in need.”

 

Scott connected their example to opportunities to serve others today.

 

“Take the next step. We do what's right,” Scott said. “If we do that, we'll honor those who died on 9/11 and those heroes who went before us.”

The ceremony included a moment of silence for those killed in the attacks. The Oregon Army National Guard's 234th Army Band performed “God Bless America,” followed by the sounding of “TAPS.”

 

During the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony in Gresham, Oregon, Army National Guard Sgt. Scott Steele performed “TAPS” at a commemorative display of 300 “Honor and Remember Flags” at Microchip Technologies, followed by Chaplain (Capt.) Wes Moldogo, who provided the opening prayer, saying that 9/11 changed our nation forever and impacted countless military families in the years to follow.

 

“Especially for our Gold Star families: the parents, spouses, children, siblings, and loved ones that carry both the profound pride and the enduring sorrow.”

 

As the Master of Ceremonies, Greg Matthews, a retired Gresham Fire Department Chief and former Oregon House of Representatives member who represented District 50 from 2009 to 2015, introduced Oregon Air National Guard Col. Ryan Barton, who serves as the deputy commander of the Oregon Joint Domestic Operations Command.

 

“Colonel Barton manages the day-to-day administration, planning, and execution of all the processes and programs preparing the Oregon National Guard for continued operations in either federal or state emergencies, including mandates and natural disasters," Matthews said.

 

“With many people trying to escape the danger that morning, it was firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other first responders who were already moving toward the danger,” Barton said, remembering the events of twenty-five years ago. “Throughout my career, I have always felt a strong connection between the military and those who serve our communities. September 11th showed the very best of that shared commitment and the courage in the face of uncertainty.”

 

-30-

 

Released Images:

 

260911-Z-FS713-001: From right, Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh, Col. Russell Gibson and Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott salute during the national anthem at the Oregon National Guard’s Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at the Maj. Gen. George White Building in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-FS713-002: Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh delivers remarks during the Oregon National Guard’s Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony as the U.S. flag flies at half-staff in the background at the Maj. Gen. George White Building in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-FS713-003: Col. Russell Gibson, assistant adjutant general, Oregon National Guard, delivers remarks during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-FS713-004: Attendees face the U.S. and Oregon flags during the playing of “Taps” at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1348: Oregon Air National Guard Col. Ryan Barton, deputy commander of the Oregon Joint Domestic Operations Command, delivers commemorative remarks at the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham event and other 9/11 memorial observances statewide to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1248: Oregon Army National Guard Sergeant Scott Steele performed TAPS during the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham ceremony and other 9/11 memorial observances across the state to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1298: Oregon Army National Guard Chaplain (Capt.) Wes Moldogo delivers the opening prayer at the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham event and other 9/11 memorial observances statewide to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1230: A Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard participates in the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham event and other 9/11 memorial observances statewide to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

Additional photos from the ceremony are available on the Oregon Military Department Flickr: View the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony photo album

 

Oregon National Guard Marks 25th Anniversary Of September 11th Terrorist Attacks (Photo) - 09/11/26

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon National Guard members joined ceremonies throughout the state on Sept. 11, 2026, to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Events were held at the Major General George A. White Building in Salem, the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.

 

On September 11, 2001, a total of 2,977 individuals lost their lives, including all 246 passengers and crew members, as well as the 19 hijackers, aboard the four aircraft involved in the attacks. The 25th anniversary commemorated these events by bringing together Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to honor those who died in the immediate aftermath and during subsequent military operations.

 

At the Salem ceremony, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott, Oregon National Guard state chaplain, delivered the invocation. He asked for comfort, shelter, and protection while remembering the shock and sorrow Americans experienced 25 years ago.

Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh, Air Component Commander, Oregon National Guard, spoke about the importance of remembering September 11 and the perspective it provides today.

 

“We couldn't just let today go by unmarked like any other,” Unruh said. “Remembrance helps us make meaning of our own lives.”

 

Unruh reflected on the lives lost in New York City, at the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania, where passengers aboard Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers.

 

“The loss of life that day and in the wars that followed is heartbreaking,” Unruh said. “Yet equally as profound are the stories of heroism, from the first responders to ordinary Americans who simply pitched in to help where they could.”

Oregon Army National Guard Russell Gibson, Assistant Adjutant General, also delivered remarks during the ceremony.

 

Scott encouraged those gathered to carry forward the example of the first responders and others who moved toward danger to help people in need.

“Put one foot in front of another and take the next step,” Scott said. “Climb the stairs. Do what it takes to serve those in need.”

 

Scott connected their example to opportunities to serve others today.

 

“Take the next step. We do what's right,” Scott said. “If we do that, we'll honor those who died on 9/11 and those heroes who went before us.”

The ceremony included a moment of silence for those killed in the attacks. The Oregon Army National Guard's 234th Army Band performed “God Bless America,” followed by the sounding of “TAPS.”

 

During the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony in Gresham, Oregon, Army National Guard Sgt. Scott Steele performed “TAPS” at a commemorative display of 300 “Honor and Remember Flags” at Microchip Technologies, followed by Chaplain (Capt.) Wes Moldogo, who provided the opening prayer, saying that 9/11 changed our nation forever and impacted countless military families in the years to follow.

 

“Especially for our Gold Star families: the parents, spouses, children, siblings, and loved ones that carry both the profound pride and the enduring sorrow.”

 

As the Master of Ceremonies, Greg Matthews, a retired Gresham Fire Department Chief and former Oregon House of Representatives member who represented District 50 from 2009 to 2015, introduced Oregon Air National Guard Col. Ryan Barton, who serves as the deputy commander of the Oregon Joint Domestic Operations Command.

 

“Colonel Barton manages the day-to-day administration, planning, and execution of all the processes and programs preparing the Oregon National Guard for continued operations in either federal or state emergencies, including mandates and natural disasters," Matthews said.

 

“With many people trying to escape the danger that morning, it was firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other first responders who were already moving toward the danger,” Barton said, remembering the events of twenty-five years ago. “Throughout my career, I have always felt a strong connection between the military and those who serve our communities. September 11th showed the very best of that shared commitment and the courage in the face of uncertainty.”

 

-30-

 

Released Images:

 

260911-Z-FS713-001: From right, Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh, Col. Russell Gibson and Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott salute during the national anthem at the Oregon National Guard’s Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at the Maj. Gen. George White Building in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-FS713-002: Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh delivers remarks during the Oregon National Guard’s Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony as the U.S. flag flies at half-staff in the background at the Maj. Gen. George White Building in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-FS713-003: Col. Russell Gibson, assistant adjutant general, Oregon National Guard, delivers remarks during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-FS713-004: Attendees face the U.S. and Oregon flags during the playing of “Taps” at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1348: Oregon Air National Guard Col. Ryan Barton, deputy commander of the Oregon Joint Domestic Operations Command, delivers commemorative remarks at the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham event and other 9/11 memorial observances statewide to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1248: Oregon Army National Guard Sergeant Scott Steele performed TAPS during the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham ceremony and other 9/11 memorial observances across the state to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1298: Oregon Army National Guard Chaplain (Capt.) Wes Moldogo delivers the opening prayer at the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham event and other 9/11 memorial observances statewide to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260911-Z-CH590-1230: A Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard participates in the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, Oregon, on September 11, 2026. Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in the Gresham event and other 9/11 memorial observances statewide to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

Additional photos from the ceremony are available on the Oregon Military Department Flickr: View the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony photo album

 

Oregon National Guard, U.S. Navy Break Ground On $12 Million Machine Gun Range In Boardman (Photo) - 09/10/26

BOARDMAN, Ore. — The Oregon National Guard and U.S. Navy broke ground Sept. 9 on a new Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, marking the start of construction on a project more than two decades in the making.
The $12 million range will become the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon, allowing soldiers to qualify on the M240, M2, and MK19 in-state rather than traveling to facilities in Yakima, Washington, or Boise, Idaho.
"That travel costs time, costs money, and it pulls our soldiers away from being available here at home when the state needs them most," said Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon. "This range changes that."
The project traces back to a license agreement signed in August 2004 between the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Oregon Military Department. Since then, it has appeared repeatedly on the military's Future Years Development Plan in 2007, 2015, 2025, and 2026, before finally reaching groundbreaking. The effort required a six-and-a-half-year environmental impact statement spanning more than 1,400 pages and coordination across U.S. Pacific Fleet, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the National Guard Bureau and the Oregon Military Department.
"Twenty-two years ago, someone signed a piece of paper that made a promise, a promise that Oregon soldiers would someday train on their own ground for their own state," Gronewold said. "Today, we break ground on keeping that promise, and when this range opens, it won't just serve the soldiers standing here today; it will serve the generations of Oregon's citizen-soldiers who come after them."
Gronewold tied the project to the Guard's leadership framework, telling attendees the range reflects the standard he asks of every member of the organization: to be connected, competent and committed. He noted the facility also positions the Guard for the Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon and its 6.8mm round, which soldiers will need to qualify on in coming years.
Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, delivered remarks on behalf of Capt. Nathan Gammache, the air station's commanding officer, who was traveling and unable to attend.
"Today, we aren't just turning dirt; we are laying the foundation for the future of our tactical readiness," Overn said, calling proficiency with crew-served weapons "a cornerstone of ground combat." He said the range will help ensure that when Oregon forces deploy, "they are fully qualified, confident and lethal in the field."
Overn said the partnership between the Navy and the Oregon Military Department has helped advocate for and protect military interests across the Northwest while balancing compatible land and air use in the region. He added that a ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected within the coming year as construction wraps up.
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Raymond F. Rees, a former Adjutant General of Oregon, attended the ceremony. Also on hand were Boardman City Manager Brandon Hammond, Morrow and Umatilla County commissioners, local fire and police representatives, and field representatives for Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
 
Released photos:
260909-Z-ZJ128-1001
Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, and Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, render honors during the playing of the national anthem at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
260909-Z-ZJ128-1002
CW5 Lenora L. Landwehr, Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Oregon National Guard, and CMSgt Brent W. Cavanias, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, render honors alongside community leaders and dignitaries during the national anthem at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
260909-Z-ZJ128-1003
Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, delivers remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon, as Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, looks on. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
260909-Z-ZJ128-1004
From left, CW5 Lenora L. Landwehr, Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Oregon National Guard; Maj. Gen. (ret.) Raymond F. Rees; Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon; Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex; CMSgt Brent W. Cavanias, Command Senior Enlisted Leader; and Brandon Hammond, Boardman City Manager, break ground on the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

Oregon National Guard, U.S. Navy Break Ground On $12 Million Machine Gun Range In Boardman (Photo) - 09/10/26

BOARDMAN, Ore. — The Oregon National Guard and U.S. Navy broke ground Sept. 9 on a new Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, marking the start of construction on a project more than two decades in the making.
The $12 million range will become the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon, allowing soldiers to qualify on the M240, M2, and MK19 in-state rather than traveling to facilities in Yakima, Washington, or Boise, Idaho.
"That travel costs time, costs money, and it pulls our soldiers away from being available here at home when the state needs them most," said Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon. "This range changes that."
The project traces back to a license agreement signed in August 2004 between the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Oregon Military Department. Since then, it has appeared repeatedly on the military's Future Years Development Plan in 2007, 2015, 2025, and 2026, before finally reaching groundbreaking. The effort required a six-and-a-half-year environmental impact statement spanning more than 1,400 pages and coordination across U.S. Pacific Fleet, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the National Guard Bureau and the Oregon Military Department.
"Twenty-two years ago, someone signed a piece of paper that made a promise, a promise that Oregon soldiers would someday train on their own ground for their own state," Gronewold said. "Today, we break ground on keeping that promise, and when this range opens, it won't just serve the soldiers standing here today; it will serve the generations of Oregon's citizen-soldiers who come after them."
Gronewold tied the project to the Guard's leadership framework, telling attendees the range reflects the standard he asks of every member of the organization: to be connected, competent and committed. He noted the facility also positions the Guard for the Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon and its 6.8mm round, which soldiers will need to qualify on in coming years.
Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, delivered remarks on behalf of Capt. Nathan Gammache, the air station's commanding officer, who was traveling and unable to attend.
"Today, we aren't just turning dirt; we are laying the foundation for the future of our tactical readiness," Overn said, calling proficiency with crew-served weapons "a cornerstone of ground combat." He said the range will help ensure that when Oregon forces deploy, "they are fully qualified, confident and lethal in the field."
Overn said the partnership between the Navy and the Oregon Military Department has helped advocate for and protect military interests across the Northwest while balancing compatible land and air use in the region. He added that a ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected within the coming year as construction wraps up.
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Raymond F. Rees, a former Adjutant General of Oregon, attended the ceremony. Also on hand were Boardman City Manager Brandon Hammond, Morrow and Umatilla County commissioners, local fire and police representatives, and field representatives for Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
 
Released photos:
260909-Z-ZJ128-1001
Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, and Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, render honors during the playing of the national anthem at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
260909-Z-ZJ128-1002
CW5 Lenora L. Landwehr, Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Oregon National Guard, and CMSgt Brent W. Cavanias, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, render honors alongside community leaders and dignitaries during the national anthem at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
260909-Z-ZJ128-1003
Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, delivers remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon, as Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, looks on. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
260909-Z-ZJ128-1004
From left, CW5 Lenora L. Landwehr, Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Oregon National Guard; Maj. Gen. (ret.) Raymond F. Rees; Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon; Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex; CMSgt Brent W. Cavanias, Command Senior Enlisted Leader; and Brandon Hammond, Boardman City Manager, break ground on the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Oregon. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

MEDIA ADVISORY- Oregon National Guard To Break Ground On $12 Million Machine Gun Range In Boardman - 09/08/26

WHO: Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, along with representatives from the U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, the National Guard Bureau, and the Oregon Military Department.

 

WHAT: A groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range, a 10-lane, $12 million live-fire training facility that will become the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon.

 

WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

 

WHERE: Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, Boardman, Oregon

 

STAGING: Media should report to the Unmanned Aerial System Operating Facility (UASOF), Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, Boardman, Oregon, where attendees will stage before moving to the ceremony site.

 

VISUALS: Ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels; range site overlooking the future 10-lane facility; interviews available with Oregon Military Department and Navy leadership on the range's mission and history.

 

BACKGROUND: The MPMG Range has been in development for more than two decades, beginning with a 2004 license agreement between the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Oregon Military Department. Once complete, the range will allow Oregon Soldiers to qualify on crew-served weapons such as the M240, M2, and MK19 in-state, rather than traveling to facilities in Washington or Idaho, and will position Rees Training Center to support next-generation weapons qualification in the years ahead.

 

Media wishing to attend should RSVP to the contact listed above by September 8, 2026 for credentialing and site access instructions.

MEDIA ADVISORY- Oregon National Guard To Break Ground On $12 Million Machine Gun Range In Boardman - 09/08/26

WHO: Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, along with representatives from the U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, the National Guard Bureau, and the Oregon Military Department.

 

WHAT: A groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range, a 10-lane, $12 million live-fire training facility that will become the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon.

 

WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

 

WHERE: Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, Boardman, Oregon

 

STAGING: Media should report to the Unmanned Aerial System Operating Facility (UASOF), Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, Boardman, Oregon, where attendees will stage before moving to the ceremony site.

 

VISUALS: Ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels; range site overlooking the future 10-lane facility; interviews available with Oregon Military Department and Navy leadership on the range's mission and history.

 

BACKGROUND: The MPMG Range has been in development for more than two decades, beginning with a 2004 license agreement between the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Oregon Military Department. Once complete, the range will allow Oregon Soldiers to qualify on crew-served weapons such as the M240, M2, and MK19 in-state, rather than traveling to facilities in Washington or Idaho, and will position Rees Training Center to support next-generation weapons qualification in the years ahead.

 

Media wishing to attend should RSVP to the contact listed above by September 8, 2026 for credentialing and site access instructions.

Governor Kotek Visits Oregon Guard Aviation Crews, Department Of Forestry Reps For An Aerial Wildland Firefighting Update (Photo) - 08/28/26

Governor Kotek visits Oregon Guard aviation crews, Department of Forestry reps for an aerial wildland firefighting update

 

 

PENDLETON, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard's Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, hosted Governor Tina Kotek for a state multiagency wildland fire update at Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, Oregon, on August 27, 2026. Attendees included Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Oregon’s Adjutant General; Doug Grafe, Wildfire Programs Director; Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Oregon State Fire Marshal; and KC Kacey, Director of the Oregon Department of Forestry.

 

Representatives from both the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Department of Forestry briefed Governor Kotek on aerial firefighting efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires in Umatilla County.

 

Governor Kotek also received an update from the Oregon Army National Guard on the maintenance of aircraft and water buckets used to support wildland firefighting efforts.

 

Oregon Army aviation crews were activated in late July under Operation Plan (OPLAN) Smokey, the formal agreement between the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry. This agreement outlines the Oregon National Guard’s support for wildland firefighting operations statewide.

 

Under standard OPLAN Smokey conditions, the Oregon Army National Guard provides one CH-47 Chinook and two HH-60M helicopters. This summer, crews have operated at surge capacity since July 28, deploying three HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and two CH-47 Chinooks.

 

As of August 27, Oregon Guard helicopters had dropped 1,398 water buckets, totaling approximately 1.4 million gallons of water during this wildfire season.

 

-30-

 

Released photos:

 

260827-Z-NJ272-1000: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Dan Russell, Commander, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek, alongside Lindsey Olivera, Pendleton Unit Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry, in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. Governor Kotek received briefings from both the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both currently burning in Umatilla County. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1002: Oregon Army National Guard aviation personnel show Oregon Governor Tina Kotek a water bucket being used for fire suppression efforts on the Hagen and Paradise Fires at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2, in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. Oregon Guard aviators have been supporting state wildland fire efforts beginning July 28, after completing a day of administrative in-processing for State Active Duty, and have dropped more than 1.4 million gallons of water during the 2026 Wildland Fire Season. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1003: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Taylor Frye, Operations Officer, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. During the visit, Governor Kotek received updates from both the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both currently burning in Umatilla County. (U.S.National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1004: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Dan Russell, Commander, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek in Pendleton, Oregon, on August 27, 2026. Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General of Oregon, and Maj. Taylor Frye, Operations Officer at AASF #2, also attended. Governor Kotek received updates from the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both burning in Umatilla County. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1008: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Taylor Frye, Operations Officer, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. During the visit, Governor Kotek received updates from both the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both currently burning in Umatilla County. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1009: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, along with members of Golf Company, 1-189th Aviation, listen as Governor Tina Kotek shares her appreciation for their work supporting wildland fire suppression efforts during a visit to Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, Oregon, on August 27, 2026. Soldiers from the unit have been supporting the Hagen and Paradise Fires in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry since completing administrative onboarding on July 27, 2026. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1012: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion together with members of Golf Company, 1-189th Aviation, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General - Oregon, Doug Grafe, Wildfire Programs Director, Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and KC Kacey, Director, Oregon Department of Forestry, stand in front of an Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter following the Governor’s visit to Army Aviation Support Facility #2, in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. Soldiers from the unit have been supporting the Hagen and Paradise Fires in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry since completing administrative onboarding on July 27, 2026. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

 

Governor Kotek Visits Oregon Guard Aviation Crews, Department Of Forestry Reps For An Aerial Wildland Firefighting Update (Photo) - 08/28/26

Governor Kotek visits Oregon Guard aviation crews, Department of Forestry reps for an aerial wildland firefighting update

 

 

PENDLETON, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard's Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, hosted Governor Tina Kotek for a state multiagency wildland fire update at Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, Oregon, on August 27, 2026. Attendees included Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Oregon’s Adjutant General; Doug Grafe, Wildfire Programs Director; Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Oregon State Fire Marshal; and KC Kacey, Director of the Oregon Department of Forestry.

 

Representatives from both the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Department of Forestry briefed Governor Kotek on aerial firefighting efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires in Umatilla County.

 

Governor Kotek also received an update from the Oregon Army National Guard on the maintenance of aircraft and water buckets used to support wildland firefighting efforts.

 

Oregon Army aviation crews were activated in late July under Operation Plan (OPLAN) Smokey, the formal agreement between the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry. This agreement outlines the Oregon National Guard’s support for wildland firefighting operations statewide.

 

Under standard OPLAN Smokey conditions, the Oregon Army National Guard provides one CH-47 Chinook and two HH-60M helicopters. This summer, crews have operated at surge capacity since July 28, deploying three HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and two CH-47 Chinooks.

 

As of August 27, Oregon Guard helicopters had dropped 1,398 water buckets, totaling approximately 1.4 million gallons of water during this wildfire season.

 

-30-

 

Released photos:

 

260827-Z-NJ272-1000: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Dan Russell, Commander, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek, alongside Lindsey Olivera, Pendleton Unit Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry, in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. Governor Kotek received briefings from both the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both currently burning in Umatilla County. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1002: Oregon Army National Guard aviation personnel show Oregon Governor Tina Kotek a water bucket being used for fire suppression efforts on the Hagen and Paradise Fires at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2, in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. Oregon Guard aviators have been supporting state wildland fire efforts beginning July 28, after completing a day of administrative in-processing for State Active Duty, and have dropped more than 1.4 million gallons of water during the 2026 Wildland Fire Season. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1003: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Taylor Frye, Operations Officer, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. During the visit, Governor Kotek received updates from both the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both currently burning in Umatilla County. (U.S.National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1004: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Dan Russell, Commander, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek in Pendleton, Oregon, on August 27, 2026. Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General of Oregon, and Maj. Taylor Frye, Operations Officer at AASF #2, also attended. Governor Kotek received updates from the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both burning in Umatilla County. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1008: Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Taylor Frye, Operations Officer, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, briefs Governor Tina Kotek in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. During the visit, Governor Kotek received updates from both the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry on air-attack efforts for the Hagen and Paradise Fires, both currently burning in Umatilla County. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1009: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, along with members of Golf Company, 1-189th Aviation, listen as Governor Tina Kotek shares her appreciation for their work supporting wildland fire suppression efforts during a visit to Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, Oregon, on August 27, 2026. Soldiers from the unit have been supporting the Hagen and Paradise Fires in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry since completing administrative onboarding on July 27, 2026. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

260827-Z-NJ272-1012: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion together with members of Golf Company, 1-189th Aviation, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General - Oregon, Doug Grafe, Wildfire Programs Director, Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and KC Kacey, Director, Oregon Department of Forestry, stand in front of an Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter following the Governor’s visit to Army Aviation Support Facility #2, in Pendleton, Oregon, August 27, 2026. Soldiers from the unit have been supporting the Hagen and Paradise Fires in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry since completing administrative onboarding on July 27, 2026. (U.S. National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

 

Oregon Army National Guardsmen Mobilized For Overseas Assignment (Photo) - 08/27/26

HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard's 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment was honored at a deployment ceremony on August 26, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Family members, fellow Guard soldiers, and dignitaries attended, including Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read and District 39 House Representative April Dobson.

 

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Oregon's Adjutant General, served as Presiding Officer. During the ceremony, seven Oregon Citizen-Soldiers were mobilized to support joint operations in Europe following pre-deployment training at Fort Hood, Texas.

 

“The 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, known as the MPAD, is a small group, but its ability to reach and influence audiences around the world is undeniable, Gronewold said, highlighting their unique skills. “These service members work directly distributing photo and video content to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. They truly fulfill the Department of War obligation to keep the American people informed.”

 

The 115th MPAD has a proud tradition of sharing the Oregon National Guard’s story wherever its Soldiers serve, from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to multinational exercises in Europe, as well as supporting the Department of Defense State Partnership Program and missions across Oregon. Through photography, video, journalism, and public engagement, their work documents events as they happen and preserves the history of the United States military.

 

“It’s both a privilege and honor for me to stand here today and for just the second time as the battalion commander that I will send citizen-soldiers forward to support federal missions,” said Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to prepare and what you're about to embark upon for us.”

 

-30-

 

 

Released Photos:

 

260826-Z-CH590-1015: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon (right) and Lt. Col. Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander (center), along with members of the 115thMobile Public Affairs Detachment, stand at attention for the playing of the National Anthem during the unit’s mobilization ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug 26, 2026. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1017: The unit Guidon for the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment is presented to those in attendance at the unit's formal mobilization ceremony on Aug. 16, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1024: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General for the Oregon National Guard (left), Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read (center), and District 39 House Representative April Dobson (right), greet soldiers assigned to the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment during the conclusion of their mobilization ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug. 26, 2026. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1048 and 1112: Members of the Oregon Army National Guard’s 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment stand in formation during their mobilization ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, in Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug 26, 2026. Seven members will first complete pre-deployment training at Fort Hood, Texas, before their assignment in Europe. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1083: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General for the Oregon National Guard, delivers remarks to Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers and family members assigned to the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as they are mobilized on Aug. 26, 2026, for their upcoming assignment in Europe. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1067: Dignitaries and military officials attend the mobilization ceremony for the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment held at Camp Withycombe, in Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug. 26, 2026.  (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1121: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander, delivers remarks to Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers and family members assigned to the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as they are mobilized for an overseas assignment in Europe on Aug. 26, 2026. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

Oregon Army National Guardsmen Mobilized For Overseas Assignment (Photo) - 08/27/26

HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard's 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment was honored at a deployment ceremony on August 26, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Family members, fellow Guard soldiers, and dignitaries attended, including Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read and District 39 House Representative April Dobson.

 

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Oregon's Adjutant General, served as Presiding Officer. During the ceremony, seven Oregon Citizen-Soldiers were mobilized to support joint operations in Europe following pre-deployment training at Fort Hood, Texas.

 

“The 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, known as the MPAD, is a small group, but its ability to reach and influence audiences around the world is undeniable, Gronewold said, highlighting their unique skills. “These service members work directly distributing photo and video content to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. They truly fulfill the Department of War obligation to keep the American people informed.”

 

The 115th MPAD has a proud tradition of sharing the Oregon National Guard’s story wherever its Soldiers serve, from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to multinational exercises in Europe, as well as supporting the Department of Defense State Partnership Program and missions across Oregon. Through photography, video, journalism, and public engagement, their work documents events as they happen and preserves the history of the United States military.

 

“It’s both a privilege and honor for me to stand here today and for just the second time as the battalion commander that I will send citizen-soldiers forward to support federal missions,” said Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to prepare and what you're about to embark upon for us.”

 

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Released Photos:

 

260826-Z-CH590-1015: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon (right) and Lt. Col. Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander (center), along with members of the 115thMobile Public Affairs Detachment, stand at attention for the playing of the National Anthem during the unit’s mobilization ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug 26, 2026. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1017: The unit Guidon for the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment is presented to those in attendance at the unit's formal mobilization ceremony on Aug. 16, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1024: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General for the Oregon National Guard (left), Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read (center), and District 39 House Representative April Dobson (right), greet soldiers assigned to the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment during the conclusion of their mobilization ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug. 26, 2026. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1048 and 1112: Members of the Oregon Army National Guard’s 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment stand in formation during their mobilization ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, in Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug 26, 2026. Seven members will first complete pre-deployment training at Fort Hood, Texas, before their assignment in Europe. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1083: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General for the Oregon National Guard, delivers remarks to Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers and family members assigned to the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as they are mobilized on Aug. 26, 2026, for their upcoming assignment in Europe. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1067: Dignitaries and military officials attend the mobilization ceremony for the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment held at Camp Withycombe, in Happy Valley, Oregon, on Aug. 26, 2026.  (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260826-Z-CH590-1121: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander, delivers remarks to Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers and family members assigned to the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as they are mobilized for an overseas assignment in Europe on Aug. 26, 2026. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

The Oregon National Guard Hosts A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For Recent Renovations At The Ashland Armory (Photo) - 08/25/26

ASHLAND, Ore. - A formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony marking the recent completion of renovations at the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory was held on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon.

 

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, served as the presiding officer for the event, joined by elected officials, City of Ashland representatives, and Oregon National Guard dignitaries.

 

In a historic 1911 special election, Ashland residents voted overwhelmingly (427 to 73) to tax themselves to help build the original armory, designed by William C. Knighton, Oregon's first State Architect. The current Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory at 1420 E. Main Street, a 22,620-square-foot building, was built in 1988 and serves full-time and part–time traditional National Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry.

 

"Long before the state and federal government stepped in, this community decided that the Oregon National Guard belonged here in Ashland," Gronewold said, after welcoming current and past serving Soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard along with members of the community. "We honor the same spirit of local support from 1911, ensuring that the National Guard will have a home here in Ashland for at least another 25 years."

 

The updates to the armory include modernization of the building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as the replacement of failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. These upgrades not only enhance the armory's daily functionality but also ensure it remains a durable and effective facility for ongoing training and mission preparedness.  

 

The Armory Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) and Regional Emergency Enhancement Program (REEP) project received approval and funding to move forward in 2023.

 

"Long after today's ribbon is cut, this armory will continue to do what it has done since the people of Ashland first voted to build here. Standing watch, ensuring continued readiness and remaining part of the community," Gronewold said.

 

The 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, has a distinguished lineage dating back to the Ashland Mountain Rangers and the Southern Oregon Volunteers in the 1860s. Officially constituted in 1921, the regiment earned battle honors in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. In recent decades, the Battalion has supported global operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. It has also provided critical domestic disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina and security support for the United States Capitol during the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

 

"Countless young men and women walk through these doors, taking their first steps as soldiers, and within these walls, thousands of experienced leaders have helped prepare the next generation to carry our mission forward," said Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment. "As we celebrate this occasion today, let us remember that while buildings may be renovated, it is the people who leave legacies."

 

-30-

 

Released Photos:

 

260825-Z-CH590-1003: A display of memorabilia and other artifacts is on view during the ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the recently updated Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, held August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1013: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon (left), and Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment (right), along with other members of the Ashland community, stand for the National Anthem during the ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the recently updated Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The project includes modernizing the building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1022-1023: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon; Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment; and other members of the Ashland community came together to cut the ribbon at the rededication ceremony of the Ashland Army National Guard Armory on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The project involved collaborative efforts to modernize the building, including interior and exterior upgrades and parking lot improvements, demonstrating a shared commitment to community progress. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)(Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1026: Oregon Army National Guard Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott delivers the benediction to close the formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the recently updated Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1041: The Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory opened its doors for a formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1085: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, delivers remarks to attendees at the formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. This armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1120: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, addresses attendees at the formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. This armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

 

 

 

The Oregon National Guard Hosts A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For Recent Renovations At The Ashland Armory (Photo) - 08/25/26

ASHLAND, Ore. - A formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony marking the recent completion of renovations at the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory was held on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon.

 

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, served as the presiding officer for the event, joined by elected officials, City of Ashland representatives, and Oregon National Guard dignitaries.

 

In a historic 1911 special election, Ashland residents voted overwhelmingly (427 to 73) to tax themselves to help build the original armory, designed by William C. Knighton, Oregon's first State Architect. The current Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory at 1420 E. Main Street, a 22,620-square-foot building, was built in 1988 and serves full-time and part–time traditional National Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry.

 

"Long before the state and federal government stepped in, this community decided that the Oregon National Guard belonged here in Ashland," Gronewold said, after welcoming current and past serving Soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard along with members of the community. "We honor the same spirit of local support from 1911, ensuring that the National Guard will have a home here in Ashland for at least another 25 years."

 

The updates to the armory include modernization of the building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as the replacement of failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. These upgrades not only enhance the armory's daily functionality but also ensure it remains a durable and effective facility for ongoing training and mission preparedness.  

 

The Armory Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) and Regional Emergency Enhancement Program (REEP) project received approval and funding to move forward in 2023.

 

"Long after today's ribbon is cut, this armory will continue to do what it has done since the people of Ashland first voted to build here. Standing watch, ensuring continued readiness and remaining part of the community," Gronewold said.

 

The 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, has a distinguished lineage dating back to the Ashland Mountain Rangers and the Southern Oregon Volunteers in the 1860s. Officially constituted in 1921, the regiment earned battle honors in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. In recent decades, the Battalion has supported global operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. It has also provided critical domestic disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina and security support for the United States Capitol during the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

 

"Countless young men and women walk through these doors, taking their first steps as soldiers, and within these walls, thousands of experienced leaders have helped prepare the next generation to carry our mission forward," said Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment. "As we celebrate this occasion today, let us remember that while buildings may be renovated, it is the people who leave legacies."

 

-30-

 

Released Photos:

 

260825-Z-CH590-1003: A display of memorabilia and other artifacts is on view during the ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the recently updated Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, held August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1013: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon (left), and Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment (right), along with other members of the Ashland community, stand for the National Anthem during the ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the recently updated Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The project includes modernizing the building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1022-1023: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon; Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment; and other members of the Ashland community came together to cut the ribbon at the rededication ceremony of the Ashland Army National Guard Armory on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The project involved collaborative efforts to modernize the building, including interior and exterior upgrades and parking lot improvements, demonstrating a shared commitment to community progress. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)(Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1026: Oregon Army National Guard Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott delivers the benediction to close the formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the recently updated Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1041: The Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory opened its doors for a formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. The armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1085: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, delivers remarks to attendees at the formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory, on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. This armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

260825-Z-CH590-1120: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, addresses attendees at the formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory on August 25, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon. This armory project includes modernizing building finishes, such as interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters, as well as replacing failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

 

 

 

 

The Oregon National Guard To Host Ribbon-cutting Ceremony For Renovations At The Ashland Armory (Photo) - 08/24/26

MEDIA ADVISORY

OREGON MILITARY DEPARTMENT

 

 

SALEM, Ore. - A formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony marking the completion of renovations at the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at 1420 E. Main Street, Ashland, Oregon.

 

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, will preside over the event, joined by elected officials, City of Ashland representatives, and Oregon National Guard dignitaries.

 

In a historic 1911 special election, Ashland residents voted overwhelmingly (427 to 73) to tax themselves to help build the original armory designed by William C. Knighton, Oregon's first State Architect. The current Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory at 1420 E. Main Street was built in 1988 as a 22,620-square-foot facility and serves full-time and part–time traditional National Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry.

 

“The very foundation of the Guard in Ashland was built on a community vote. Our current state-funded investment honors that 1911 spirit of local support,” Gronewold said.

 

The Armory Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) and Regional Emergency Enhancement Program (REEP) project was given approval and funding to move forward in 2023.

 

The updates to the armory include modernization of the building finishes, including interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, stainless steel kitchen counters, and replacement of failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. These improvements will ensure that Ashland Armory continues to serve as a cornerstone of training, readiness, and community engagement over the next 25 years.

 

Media representatives wishing to attend may contact Major Leslie Reed, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Oregon Military Department. 503-990-0178

 

-30-

 

Ashland Armory File Photo:

 

​110305-Z-RW508-1002: Oregon Army National Guard Honor Guard prepares for the gun salute during the memorial service of retired Col. Christian P. Hald at the Ashland Army National Guard Armory, Ashland, Oregon, on March 5, 2011. (File Photo by Staff Sgt. David Overson, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

     

 

Attached Media Files: 110305-Z-RW508-1002.jpg,

The Oregon National Guard To Host Ribbon-cutting Ceremony For Renovations At The Ashland Armory (Photo) - 08/24/26

MEDIA ADVISORY

OREGON MILITARY DEPARTMENT

 

 

SALEM, Ore. - A formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony marking the completion of renovations at the Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at 1420 E. Main Street, Ashland, Oregon.

 

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, will preside over the event, joined by elected officials, City of Ashland representatives, and Oregon National Guard dignitaries.

 

In a historic 1911 special election, Ashland residents voted overwhelmingly (427 to 73) to tax themselves to help build the original armory designed by William C. Knighton, Oregon's first State Architect. The current Oregon Army National Guard Ashland Armory at 1420 E. Main Street was built in 1988 as a 22,620-square-foot facility and serves full-time and part–time traditional National Guardsmen from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry.

 

“The very foundation of the Guard in Ashland was built on a community vote. Our current state-funded investment honors that 1911 spirit of local support,” Gronewold said.

 

The Armory Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) and Regional Emergency Enhancement Program (REEP) project was given approval and funding to move forward in 2023.

 

The updates to the armory include modernization of the building finishes, including interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, main entry foyer wood accents, new carpet, polished floors, stainless steel kitchen counters, and replacement of failing pavement and curbing in the parking lot. These improvements will ensure that Ashland Armory continues to serve as a cornerstone of training, readiness, and community engagement over the next 25 years.

 

Media representatives wishing to attend may contact Major Leslie Reed, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Oregon Military Department. 503-990-0178

 

-30-

 

Ashland Armory File Photo:

 

​110305-Z-RW508-1002: Oregon Army National Guard Honor Guard prepares for the gun salute during the memorial service of retired Col. Christian P. Hald at the Ashland Army National Guard Armory, Ashland, Oregon, on March 5, 2011. (File Photo by Staff Sgt. David Overson, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

     

 

Attached Media Files: 110305-Z-RW508-1002.jpg,