3-116 BN Soldier & Family Readiness Group

11/18/2025

Winter Camp in a Box will be a virtual camp from December 22nd – 25th 2025. Winter Camp in a Box can be mailed or picked up from one of the designated locations. Our four pick-up locations will be: PANG (Portland), Camp Withycombe (Clackamas), George White Building (Salem), and Kingsley Field (Klamath Falls). Lorene and I are hoping you all could post it to your pages, send it out to your SFRG’s, or send it out to families in your area. Please let your families know ASAP because this event always fills up SO fast!

I know that Camp Withycombe is currently closed, so we can always mail those boxes to the families if it does not open by then.



This is the information for our Winter Camp in a Box that we posted to our page:

“Our 6th Annual Winter Camp in a Box registration is now open!!

Open for military youth ages 6-12 years old.

Winter Camp in a Box will be December 22nd - 25th 2025.

Register here: https://wintercampinabox2025.eventbrite.com

Join us for family activities, photo challenges, crafts, holiday read aloud, interactive how-to videos, STEM activities, and much more!

*Winter Camp in a Box can be mailed or picked up from one of the designated locations.*

Participants will receive a camp box full of activities to do throughout the week. Details and joining information will be sent prior to the event.

Space is very limited, so sign up soon!”

Winter Camp in a Box can be mailed or picked up from one of the four designated locations.

11/18/2025

Help through the holidays….

For food www.oregonfoodbank.com foodbank.org to find food near you.

For FOOD boxes through AMEN - American Military Encouragement Network – Contact Phil -President at 971-291-8594. AMEN sometimes also has toys and baby food.
(The following cities are some that are in process of getting food boxes Medford, Bend, Hermiston, and Baker City , call Phil to see if delivery to your unit, is possible.)

There is Christmas help in many cities throughout Oregon.

Salvation Army’s in various cities, and they have Christmas assistance. Deadlines can be as soon as November 30th. Look up the nearest Salvation Army to find the county they cover that you live in.
For example:
Medford ;
https://jacksoncounty.salvationarmy.org/medford/christmas-assistance/ apply by November 30th.

Salvation Army in Pendleton – Tues and Thursday 10-2 must go in person, with supporting documents. 541-276-3369.


Salvation Army in LaGrande they have applications outside their door during their hours 541-963-8977.

https://www.uspsoperationsanta.com/

Write letters to Santa, the postmark must be by December 6th.
Write legibly
Include your full name and address in the letter
List the gifts you want in order of preference
Be specific about the gifts you’re asking for
Don’t ask for gifts that might be too expensive
*While we hope every letter is adopted and fulfilled, there is no guarantee. * The program’s success depends on the generous participation of adopters.*
Write Santa’s mailing address on the envelope
Santa
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888
Include your full name and return address along with your apartment number in the upper left corner

This is just an example, if you have service members and families that have more needs, please reach out to Darlene at 541-321-3050.

Adopt a child's letter to Santa this holiday season with the USPS Operation Santa® program. Spread holiday cheer and help make a child's holiday wish come true.

11/07/2025

Captain Booher being awarded the Army Achievement Medal for exceptional service as the HHC Commander during his tour. 3-116 Battalion Commander Major DeAnda pinning him.

11/07/2025

Change of Command between out going Commander Captain Booher and incoming Commander Captain Simpson with the new 3-116 Battalion Commander Major DeAnda.

11/07/2025

Change of Responsible between outgoing First Sergeant Sherrell and incoming First Sergeant Carson.

10/31/2025

🚨🚨 We have thousands of full-time Guardsmen nationwide who wear their uniform and rank every workday but, unlike their active-duty brothers and sisters, will miss another paycheck tomorrow. We need you to make your voice heard today! 🚨🚨
https://www.ngaus.org/write-congress/payourtroopsact

10/31/2025

EANGUS We Care for America Foundation is a National Guard Relief Foundation that offers a SARGE grant and loans for Service members (enlisted and officer). The SARGE Grant opens November 1st, it is a grant for up to $500 that is deposited into your bank account. You do need to have a verification form signed before you submit the application to attach, the verification form also needs to be done for the loan. I ( a MFRS) can sign the verification form or your unit can also sign it.

⚠️ Announcement: Our SARGE grant program reopens November 1, 2025. Please follow the official application process — email and voicemail submissions won’t be accepted.

10/29/2025

Today, NGAUS joined with AGAUS, ROA, and EANGUS to call on Congress to ensure all involved in force readiness are paid. This would include not just active-duty troops, but full-time Guard and Reserve technicians and drill-status Guardsmen and Reservists.
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States Reserve Organization of America

10/25/2025

The Soldiers’ Angels Adopt-A-Family Program is closing October 31. This program may really benefit families that qualify given the government shutdown, they help relieve the financial strain of the holidays by providing gifts for children and a grocery card to assist with a holiday meal.
Who qualifies for Adopt-A-Family support:
✔️ Active Duty Service Members (E1-E6) — CONUS only
✔️ Activated National Guard & Reservists (E1-E6) — CONUS only
✔️ Currently Deployed Service Members (E1-E6)

Children must be 18 years old (still in high school) or younger.

Families can register here:

Are you a Military or Veteran family that could use some extra support during the holidays? Register for holiday support with Adopt-A-Family.

10/23/2025

Today, retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president, sent a letter to Senate leadership to ensure Active Guard and Reserve members and Dual Status Technicians are included in the Shutdown Fairness Act.