The Oregon Army National Guard's 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment was recognized during a deployment ceremony held on August 26, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. The event was attended by family members, fellow Guard soldiers, and dignitaries, including Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read and District 39 House Representative April Dobson.
Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold, Oregon's Adjutant General, served as the presiding officer. During the ceremony, seven Oregon Citizen-Soldiers were mobilized to support joint operations in Europe after completing pre-deployment training at Fort Hood, Texas.
"The 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, known as 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 carries forward a proud legacy of telling the Oregon National Guard's story across the globe, from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to multinational exercises in Europe and missions at home in Oregon. Through their lenses and pens, they capture history as it unfolds, ensuring the voices and moments of the U.S. military are preserved for generations.
"For some, this will be their first deployment, a culmination of nearly a year's worth of training at the Defense Information School just outside of Washington, D.C. [at Fort George Meade, Maryland]," Gronewold noted, emphasizing the team's diverse backgrounds. "Other soldiers in the unit possess multiple military occupational specialties – meaning they have spent time as combat medics, cannon crew members, signal specialists, radio equipment maintainers, and engineers before selecting the public affairs career field."
Military Public Affairs Specialists do far more than create content. They orchestrate strategic communication, manage crises, coordinate events, and serve as the vital link between the military, government leaders, and the broader community. Their expertise shapes public understanding and builds lasting connections.
"It is both a privilege and an honor to stand here today, and for only the second time as battalion commander, to send citizen-soldiers forward to support federal missions," stated Oregon Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Rocky Kumlin, 821st Troop Command Battalion Commander. "I appreciate all you have done to prepare and what you are about to embark upon for us."
Kumlin reinforced Gronewold's praise, underscoring the invaluable support Public Affairs specialists offer commanders, whether on foreign soil or at home.
"Occupational code '46 Sierra,' or mass communication studies, is not exclusive to the Army but is conducted in a joint training environment with Airmen, Sailors, Guardians, Coast Guard personnel, and Marines," Kumlin explained. "This experience will be similar to the joint environment they will support over the next year in Germany."
Before this mobilization, members of the MPAD supported operations in Iraq from 2007 to 2008 and in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. They participated in multiple joint exercises, including Exercise Tiger Balm in Singapore in 2011 and Saber Guardian in July 2016 at the Romanian Land Forces Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania. They also supported the Presidential Inaugurations in 2009, 2017, and 2021 in Washington, D.C.
"Thank you for your continued dedication to telling the story, whether at home or overseas," Kumlin concluded. "I also know that your families, loved ones, and friends across the state are truly proud."