Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW The Democracy Project at SOU: An Opportunity for Learning and Leadership ... Rail crossing work to close Walker Avenue Friday night through Monday morning ... Quills & Queues: The not-so-empty nest ... The Democracy Project at SOU: An Opportunity for Learning and Leadership ... Rail crossing work to close Walker Avenue Friday night through Monday morning ... Quills & Queues: The not-so-empty nest ... COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR Ashland-based regiment prepares to depart for Afghanistan Comment By Capt. James Ball For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Capt. James Ball For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 7:48 PM Updated Sep 25, 2014 at 1:31 PM By Capt. James Ball For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 7:48 PM Updated Sep 25, 2014 at 1:31 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Volunteers show gratitude by sewing quilts for National Guard... • Ashland-based regiment prepares to depart for Afghanistan • 'We are proud' • National Guard gets ceremonial send off • National Guard unit mobilizes for Afghanistan mission » Social News Editor's note: The 275 soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Ashland, includes citizen-soldiers from units in Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Coos Bay and St. Helens. FORT HOOD, Texas – Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Ashland, Ore., are wrapping-up their training at Fort Hood, Texas, and getting ready to depart for Afghanistan this month in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The soldiers have spent the last two months training for their mission and say they’re getting excited to move forward and take the next step. While many soldiers are looking forward to the mission, others are simply excited to get out of the central-Texas heat and into the relatively cooler weather in the mountains of Afghanistan. The training has been exceptionally relevant to the mission in Afghanistan. Soldiers have learned how to fire nearly every small arms weapon system in the Army inventory, from the 9 mm pistol to the .50 caliber machine gun. Another crucial training event was the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training where soldiers learned to recognize and react to IEDs. In early August, a group from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) office visited the soldiers during their training in Texas. The senator’s aides were given the opportunity to try on body armor and shoot an M4 rifle with the soldiers on a marksmanship training range. It was a brand new experience for one of the aides who had never fired a gun in his life. The soldiers based in Ashland have mostly administrative jobs and they say one of the challenges has been getting used to a seven-day work week schedule. “Things are a little bit slower on Saturday and Sunday, but it’s definitely a mental hurdle when you realize that the weekend is just another day at work,” one soldier shared. Another highlight from the training was our battalion’s “Staff Ride”. The leadership of the battalion took a trip to a historical site for professional development and a day away from training. This year’s “Staff Ride” was to The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, which is only about 200 miles from Fort Hood. Once we reached The Alamo, we analyzed the battle using modern warfighting principles and tactics, and discussed the strengths and weaknesses from both the offensive and defensive point of view. Whatever your views on the war in Afghanistan, it’s important to remember that these soldiers are answering the nation’s call and selflessly serving the United States. All of these Southern Oregon Soldiers are leaving families and jobs behind for nearly a year of military service. While nine months may not be an eternity, many Soldiers will miss important milestones in the lives of their family which they will never get back. Thank you for your continued support of our Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers! Capt. James Ball is commander of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment. By Capt. James Ball For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Capt. James Ball For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 7:48 PM Updated Sep 25, 2014 at 1:31 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501