Oregon cavalry unit plays key local role

Photo By Staff Sgt. Patrick Caldwell | Lt. Col. Brian Dean, a resident of Salem Oregon, chats with Staff Sgt. Johnny Barnes, a resident of Kuna, Idaho, on a tank gunnery range in mid-June. Dean is the commander of the Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment and said that along with is critical national defense mission his unit also plays a pivotal local role for the small towns that dot the Interstate 84 corridor in Oregon.  

SALEM OREGON, OR, UNITED STATES

06.30.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Patrick Caldwell 

116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon’s Army National Guard cavalry unit waved goodbye to its horses a 100 years ago but according to its commander the unit’s versatile nature and ability to tackle an array of emergencies make it a valuable asset to the small communities across the region.

Lt. Col. Brian Dean, a Salem, Oregon, resident, and commander of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard said the unit’s unofficial moniker, “Eastern Oregon’s Own,” fits with the fact the battalion’s heritage is tied to the people and history of the eastern part of the state.

“The 3rd Battalion, or ‘Eastern Oregon’s Own’ represents the best of Oregon,” he said.

Yet while Dean readily admits the unit is configured to be a lethal, battalion-sized element on the battlefield, its wartime mission is just one level of a multi-tiered state and federal defense mission. Dean said a unit like the 3rd Battalion is also a critical local institution for Eastern Oregon.

“A force like ‘Eastern Oregon’s Own’ is important to the community in several ways. Through membership in the battalion, people gain the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves. For the community we provide employers a workforce with additional training,” he said.

The versatility – based on training – of battalion members is critical, Dean said.

“They are good under pressure, in production and in problem solving,” he said.

The battalion’s peacetime mission is as important as its wartime focus, Dean said.

“Our Soldiers provide a dedicated work force in an emergency or disaster, along with equipment that may not be readily available during a time of crisis,” he said.

Dean pointed out that through the battalion, a young commander secures some of the best leadership training in the world and that pays off for civilian employers.

“Our senior leaders in each community are seasoned leaders and problem solvers that are ready to work with local governments for crisis planning and engagement,” he said.

Dean said he is very familiar with the emergency response aspect the battalion sometimes must fulfill.

“I personally have worked in uniform to support the city of Union (Oregon) during its flood in the mid-1990s, two deployments for fires in Eastern Oregon and worked with the Union County Emergency Manager for response planning,” he said.

The battalion could go from fighting forest fires or assisting a local community during a natural disaster to exercises at the U.S. Army’s premier training site, the National Training Center at Fort Irwin California. The battalion – more than 700 Soldiers – is slated to journey to the National Training Center (NTC) in August. Recently, the battalion conducted gunnery and other training at the Orchard Combat Training Center south of Boise, Idaho, in preparation for its NTC rotation.

Dean said he understands that the battalion will be in the spotlight when it deploys to the National Training Center. Not only will the Eastern Oregon Soldiers go up against the best opposing force in the world at NTC but they will also face a harsh climate and a host of other challenges. In a sense, Dean said, the August rotation isn’t just about the 3rd Battalion or the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team.

“As the first National Guard Brigade Combat Team to rotate through the National Training Center in a long time our actions speak for the entire 345,000 member National Guard,” he said.

Dean said it will be important for his unit to perform well.

“We must prove we are worth the investment and provide a significant return on the taxpayer’s investment in us. Sure, we feel the pressure of the spotlight but we are eager. We know our worth. We are ‘Eastern Oregon’s Own’ and excellence is part of our culture,” he said.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2015
• Date Posted: 06.30.2015 12:58
• Story ID: 168605
• Location: SALEM OREGON, OR, US