Eastern Oregon Guard unit receives meritorious honor

The Observer, La Grande, Ore.
·2 min read

ORCHARD, Idaho — The 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment of the Oregon Army National Guard received the Meritorious Unit Commendation on Wednesday, May 8, during its annual training at the Orchard Combat Training Center in Idaho for exceptional service during a 2010-11 deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

The 3-116th Cavalry has units across Eastern Oregon.

Col. Russell Gibson, commander of the 82nd Troop Command Brigade, presented the battalion with the unit honor during a ceremony at OCTC. The commendation recognized the unit's "exceptionally meritorious service" providing convoy security and personal protection details throughout two-thirds of Iraq from September 2010 to September 2011. Many former members of the 3-116th 2011 deployment traveled to OCTC to witness the ceremony and receive their award.

"Despite enduring over 45 improvised explosive device attacks and 100 indirect fire attacks, the battalion's mission preparedness ensured these attacks resulted in no significant casualties," Gibson said before hanging the unit streamer on the battalion's colors.

The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a prestigious award for outstanding service during armed conflict. Lt. Col. Christopher Miller, the unit's commander, underscored the magnitude of this honor.

"The degree of achievement required for this commendation is the same as that which would warrant the award of the Legion of Merit to an individual," he said.

Miller highlighted the unit's soldiers' commitment to the mission and each other during the challenging deployment, where they conducted more then 1,500 convoy missions and 100 personal security details, covering a staggering 140,000 miles.

Miller expressed pride in the unit's dual role, serving its local communities and the country.

"Eastern Oregon can be proud of its National Guard members," he said. "They have a record of meritorious service in helping their local communities during disasters and serving overseas to defend our country. This is why the Oregon National Guard is seen as the military service of dhoice for Oregonians."

The 3-116th Cavalry traces its lineage to 1888 militia cavalry companies. Since the 2010-11 Iraq deployment, the battalion has frequently mobilized for state missions and overseas, including Ontario's Adder Company's recent 2023 deployment, providing rapid reaction forces for U.S. Central Command in the Middle East.