Ashland-Based 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment Gets New Commander

Boise, Idaho– In a traditional military ceremony held Saturday, April 20, at Orchard Combat Training Center in Idaho, a change of command took place for the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during their one-weekend-a-month training duty. Lt. Col. Jared Carpenter handed over command to Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp in a ceremony presided over by Col. Peter Helzer, Commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Ashland, boasts over 150 years of service to the state, including deployments in World War II and recent mobilizations supporting the global war on terrorism.

Reflecting on his tenure, outgoing commander Lt. Col. Carpenter expressed pride in leading a unit with such a rich legacy of service. “As someone who grew up in Southern Oregon, I am proud to have led a unit that has over 150 years of service to the state, including service in WWII and recent deployments in support of the global war on terrorism,” he stated.

Incoming commander Lt. Col. Rapp emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of soldiers and their families. “In order for us to do anything to the best of our ability, we must first take care of ourselves, each other, and our families. That has to be the foundation of everything we do,” Rapp affirmed.

Col. Helzer commended Lt. Col. Carpenter’s accomplishments during his tenure, particularly navigating challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and transformation efforts for large-scale mobilizations. Looking to the future, he expressed confidence in Lt. Col. Rapp’s leadership. “The 1st of the 186th, the ‘Guardians,’ are a historical unit in Oregon. I’m incredibly proud of Lt. Col. Carpenter’s work over the last two years, bringing us through COVID and transformation in preparing for large-scale mobilizations. I look forward to Lt. Col. Rapp’s contributions and leadership as we move into the future, mobilizing parts across the Middle East and North Africa,” Helzer remarked.

Lt. Col. Rapp is set to lead the Guardians on a rotation deployment to the Sinai later this year. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Carpenter has been appointed to a leadership role in the Oregon National Guard’s State Partnership Program, where he will collaborate with partner nations Bangladesh and Vietnam.