An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 14, 2024

Oregon National Guard Mobilized for Middle East Deployment

By John Hughel, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – About 230 members of the Oregon Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, were recognized Aug. 9 during a mobilization ceremony as they prepared for a year-long deployment to the Middle East.

Before departing overseas, they will train at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on the equipment and systems they will operate as the primary air defenders U.S. and coalition partners rely on for force protection.

The service members will be assigned to Iraq and Syria to support Operation Inherent Resolve, whose mission is to advise, assist and enable partner forces to defeat terrorist elements across the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

“The 218th Field Artillery has an exceptionally rich unit history and lineage in which you now are part of,“ Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, adjutant general, Oregon National Guard, told the Soldiers, friends and family members at the ceremony. “... Remember the heavy responsibilities that rest upon your shoulders.” 

As part of Task Force Defender, the Oregon Citizen-Soldiers will conduct rocket, artillery, mortar and drone defense operations in the Middle East. 

“The Oregon National Guard continues its legacy of simultaneously serving Oregonians with domestic operations here at home while also answering the call for federal mobilizations supporting the United States,” Gronewold said. 

The 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, has a long record of answering the state and nation’s call to service. The unit was organized Feb. 3, 1866, as the Portland Light Artillery. Federal service action has included tours in France during World War I, the Europe and the Pacific theaters in World War II, and numerous missions in the post-9/11 era in the Middle East.

“There are a lot of things in the air that are threats. Our job will be to take out those threats,” said Lt. Col. Manuel Robledo, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment.

“This will be a different mission and rotation than a lot of us have experienced before as we will be separate and spread out over a wide geographical region and have to rely on leaders at the lowest levels,” Robledo said.

Deploying for her first overseas mission, Capt. Beth Biggs said she’s mindful of the challenge but believes all the training will pay off.

“I am a little nervous, but the more I’ve gotten to work with the people I am going with, the more confident I am,” she said. “I am really confident that we’re going to go over there, learn a lot before we go, and gain a lot of skills over there during the deployment.”

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Stepfanie Glidewell, 142nd Maintenance Operations Flight unit deployment manager, rests on a bench press at Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., Sept. 6, 2025. Glidewell is training to compete in the U.S. Military Powerlifting Nationals after recovering from major surgery in October 2024 that removed multiple tumors from her sciatic nerve.
Oregon Guard Member Rises Toward Powerlifting Nationals
By Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank, | Sept. 26, 2025
PORTLAND, Ore. — In October 2024, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Stepfanie Glidewell was preparing for surgery. For years, Glidewell had struggled with a debilitating pain that made even walking a challenge. While the cause had...

Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Aaron Stiner, assigned to the 102nd CERFP, demonstrates the procedures for removing a coverall hazard suit with members of the Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center staff taking part in a mass casualty training event at the Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center on September 16, 2025, in Clackamas, Oregon. The medical personnel and other first responders, along with members of the Oregon National Guard 102nd Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), collaborated during the exercise, which aimed to develop a response to a real-world incident, identify gaps, and improve response procedures.
Oregon Guard Supports Two Hospital Mass Casualty Training Exercises
By John Hughel, | Sept. 19, 2025
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard's 102nd Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, or CBRN, Defense Enhanced Response Force Package, known as CERFP, partnered with two regional medical centers during a four-day...

Peter DeJoseph, left, a Red Cat flight trainer, observes as Staff Sgt. First Class Gregory Mannen, center, and Staff Sgt. Timothy Powers operate the Flightwave Edge 130 unmanned aircraft system during training at the 249th Regional Training Institute, Rees Training Center, Oregon, Sept. 4, 2025. The Edge 130 provides vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with transition to fixed-wing flight, offering up to 90 minutes of flight time and advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for Oregon Army National Guard units.
Oregon Guard Advances Drone Capabilities With New Training Systems
By Maj. Wayne Clyne, | Sept. 16, 2025
RAYMOND REES NATIONAL GUARD TRAINING CENTER, Ore. – The Oregon Army National Guard is transforming its unmanned aircraft systems training at the 249th Regional Training Institute, introducing advanced platforms while...