Oregon Army National Guard soldiers spent four days training at the Salt Creek Training Area from July 30 through Aug. 2, giving some local young adults an opportunity to see firsthand what Army training is like.
Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment conducted weapons training, land navigation and small-unit drills in preparation for a demanding Army skills competition next year that will test soldiers on core combat tasks.
On Aug. 1, part of the training was opened to local recruiters, students participating in the Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program and other interested young adults.
Visitors were able to participate in some of the same activities soldiers had been conducting throughout the week, including hands-on experience with several Army weapons systems.
“This event was a great opportunity for future Soldiers to get hands-on training from Soldiers they will serve alongside in the future,” said Sgt. 1st Class Erik Andreason, an Oregon Army National Guard recruiter based in Medford.
For Andreason, the event also provided an example of how young recruits can eventually become leaders in their own Southern Oregon communities.
“Some of the NCOs running the lanes were my enlistments over the last few years, some even graduated from the same high schools as the Soldiers enlisting now,” Andreason said. “They’ve grown into NCOs and officers, and now the Soldiers I enlisted are going to be responsible for raising the next generation of local troops.”
Wildfire Precautions Taken During Training
With wildfire danger a concern across Southern Oregon, additional precautions were taken during the four-day exercise.
Because some of the training involved soldiers firing blank ammunition, the Oregon Military Department brought wildland firefighters from Camp Rilea to the training area to remain on standby throughout the week.
Jeremy Carver, deputy director of installations for the Oregon Military Department, said the additional fire protection was arranged to help prevent the military training from sparking a wildfire.
“I called 1SG Warren to get the details and coordinated our fire coverage to prevent a wildfire from starting,” Carver said.
The battalion wrapped up its four-day training period Aug. 2 with a road march along the Bear Creek Greenway in Medford.
Reach Publisher Teresa Pearson at [email protected].