1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment

11/18/2025

We are back!

Over 500 Vanguard Service members and families enjoyed the Battalion Trunk or Treat on October 29th.

We’d like to personally thank the following groups that made this event super special!

The Gary Sinise Foundation for generously donating 500 meals from Chick-fil-A for the entire battalion to enjoy.

Chick-fil-A Manhattan, KS for packaging the meals, assisting with loading and having everything ready for us when we arrived.

United Through Reading donating over 300 Books that were handed out to every child in attendance and promoting reading and literacy skills for militray families across the world.

Russell Stovers donating 35 cases of sweet treats to the battalion to enjoy during our costume celebration.

These generous donations allowed our Soldiers and families to attend a world class event at no expense.

09/23/2025

This Friday (28 Sept) head over to Custer Hill Parade Field for the Dagger Brigade Fall Fun Event from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM!

🍂🎉 DAGGER FALL FUN IS HERE! 🎉🍂

Come join us this Friday for an afternoon full of excitement, games, and community spirit! This event is FREE for all 2ABCT Soldiers and Families — you won’t want to miss it.

✅ Bouncy Houses
✅ Tug-of-War / Volleyball / Flag Football
✅ Food Trucks — including Filos Foods and the Dagger BDE Food Truck (💵 bring cash for food!)
✅ Static Displays
✅ Leadership Dunk Tank

📅 Friday, 26 September
🕒 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Custer Hill Parade Field

Bring your family, bring your energy, and let’s make it a great day together!

09/13/2025

Vanguards in Action!

As the current Danger Gauntlet exercise is concluding, here’s a look at what the Vanguards have accomplished to maximize our readiness and increase cohesion:

Air Assaults/ Air movements
Troop Leading Procedures
Conducting a Defense in defilade
Resupply and recovery
Casualty Evacuation

We are ready for gunnery and platoon live fire in October! ‘Til the last round!

09/12/2025

Congratulations to CPT Zerull (HHC),
SGT Conversino (HHC),SPC Scheese (A CO),
SPC Kohl (A CO) who spent the last three weeks training at Fort Benning for Airborne School, including successfully doing five jumps and obtaining their Airborne qualifications! ‘Til the last round!

09/08/2025

Join fellow Vanguard spouses this Thursday, September 11th, for the Vanguard Playgroup! Everyone is welcome so feel free to pop by whether you have kids or not. It's a great low-key way to connect with others from 1-18IN. It typically wraps up around 10 but you are welcome to come and go as you please!

08/15/2025

Thank you to all of those who attended last week’s Vanguard Ice Cream Social! We also would like to thank a few others for making it a great event:
- The Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard for bringing horses and the wagon
- The Fort Riley Firemen who let us explore the fire truck
- All of the grill-masters across the unit who kept the burgers coming
- Party Penguin Face Paint for the killer face paintings!
- ACS for the grab bags with books and resources for military life

Also a huge thank you to Operation Homefront and their partnership with the Dollar Tree stores in Manhattan and Wamego for collecting school supplies and generously donating them to our Vanguard kids, helping us to create over 150 back to school bags for kindergartners through high schoolers. (If you need one just shoot us a message!)

First to battle! ’Til the last round!

08/11/2025

Some new leadership was ushered into the Vanguard Battalion just the other week. Chaos Company hosted a Change of Command, welcoming CPT Dewberry as their new commander. CPT Dewberry is replacing CPT Gudorf after 19 months of outstanding leadership in Chaos Company.

Iron Company then hosted a Change of Responsibility, welcoming 1SG Eberting. We’re grateful for 1SG Sanchez, who worked tirelessly to support the soldiers of Iron Company on a daily basis.

‘Til the last Round!

07/17/2025

The Vanguard Ice cream social is back!

AUG 7th, 1200-1500 @ RCC (Riley Community Center)

Come enjoy the afternoon with family & friends as we celebrate all of the Vanguards accomplishments. There will be a FREE BBQ Lunch and ice cream, plus plenty of fun activities like free face-painting, arts and crafts, and a bounce house for the kids. Adults will have plenty of yard games to themselves and a cash bar. See you there!

07/16/2025

For all those new spouses settling into the Fort Riley area, fast track the pain of figuring out life in a new place by stopping by the Fort Riley Spouses Welcome event this Saturday. There will also be food trucks, games and giveaways. And if you're looking for a good way to give back - consider volunteering with the Vanguard SFRG! We have a few official spots available and always welcome any time or talent someone is willing to provide to help the soldiers and families of 1-18. Just email us at [email protected]! 'Til the last round!

07/14/2025

EDIT: CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER, see you alll next month!

This Thursday, July 17th get the kids out of the house and meet some fellow Vanguard spouses at the Vanguard Playgroup! This month we'll be meeting at the fenced in playground close to Ware Elementary on the corner of Ellis Place and Olympic Street. As always, free snacks and juice boxes will be there so swing by anytime between 9 - 10 a.m.! Directions are available here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/df7mxWWPk4BupJHj9

07/01/2025

Last week the Vanguards absolutely embodied the motto of “‘til the last round” by winning 2nd overall in Victory Week! Congratulations to Iron Company's PFC Riehle for winning the Lightweight Combative Championships, the football team for finishing 2nd, and the soccer team with their 3rd place finish.

Also, big thanks to everyone who volunteered and supported the cotton candy fundraiser at the concert and fireworks! ‘Til the last round!

06/26/2025

1-18 has continued to excel during Victory Week. Congratulations to the Vanguards that placed in archery, the 3/5/10k races, Danger Mudder, and to HHC’s LT Kaiser for winning the Bike Race!

Cheer on the Vanguard soccer team in their next round on Thursday morning at the Colyer Manor Youth Soccer Field and catch our football team in the final four competition in the afternoon at Sturgis Field.

On Friday, don’t miss PFC Riehle of Iron Company at the Lightweight Combative Championships! In the evening, head to the concert for the Victory Cup Presentation, grab the CG’s golden ticket and then hit up the 1-18 tent for the cotton candy fundraiser. Be sure to follow the 1st Infantry Division page for schedule changes and weather updates and check out more photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/firstinfantrydivision/albums/
'Til the last round!