Idaho Guardsmen serve together in childhood town as Commander, First Sergeant

Sgt. Derek Clemence and Capt. Robert Taylor are currently serving as Commander and First Sergeant of A Company for the 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion here in Mountain Home.

Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers Capt. Robert Taylor and 1st Sgt. Derek Clemence share a similar past; they grew up in Mountain Home and both shipped off to basic training shortly after graduating from Mountain Home High School in 2002.

Approximately 18 years later, both Guardsmen were reunited in their childhood town to serve as Commander and First Sergeant of A Company, 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Mountain Home.

“It’s great to be part of a team so deeply rooted in the same town,” said Taylor. “That type of thing only happens in the National Guard and is what the Guard is all about; community and being tied to where you serve and serving with your neighbors.”

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