Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Post Falls Army National Guard on alert for deployment to Iraq

BONNERS FERRY — Guardsmen from Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Post Falls Army National were placed on alert Friday for possible deployment to Iraq.

The U.S. Department of Defense has advised Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch" Otter that more than 3,500 soldiers in the Army National Guard's 116th Cavalry brigade combat team could be called up for possible mobilization to support ongoing operations in Iraq. 

About 2,400 of those Guardsmen are from Idaho and the remainder are from Montana and Oregon.

Jennifer VanEtten, co-chair  of the Bonners Ferry Family Readiness Group, said it is unknown at this point how many, or if any, of the troops from North Idaho or elsewhere in Idaho will be deployed since it is an alert status.

“Out of the 2,400 it could possibly even exclude Bonners Ferry, but I have to say their training is fantastic and if they were to be the ones deployed, I am confident they would all be prepared to go and do what needs to be done,” VanEtten said.

The Idaho National Guard has readiness centers, also known as armories, in 27 communities throughout Idaho. Those with citizen soldiers assigned to units of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team include  Bonners Ferry,  Sandpoint, Post Falls, Blackfoot, Boise, Burley, Caldwell, Emmett, Gooding, Hailey, Idaho Falls, Jerome, Lewiston, Mountain Home, Nampa, Payette, Pocatello, Preston, Rexburg, Rigby, St. Anthony,  Twin Falls and Wilder.

"If the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is mobilized, they will likely be included in the rotation of forces supporting overseas contingency operations in Iraq," said Lt. Col Tim Marsano in a news relaese.  "If mobilized, these forces would replace deployed units sometime next year; there is no defined timeline, since this is only an alert. This alert notification does not automatically mean that citizen soldiers assigned to the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team will be deployed; Guardsmen should continue their day-to-day routines.  However, the Department of Defense is instructing those affected to begin putting their personal, financial and family affairs in order in the event of a one-year mobilization."

"The Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq from late 2004 to late 2005, and performed their mission extremely well," Governor Otter said.  "I have every confidence the brigade will represent our state well if our men and women are mobilized again.  Idahoans should be aware, however, that any deployment will impact communities, businesses, families and individuals throughout our state.  With the large number of our citizen soldiers potentially affected, Idahoans once again will have to adjust and come together as an Idaho family in support of those deployed and those who serve on the home front. Many of these same men and women serve in our communities as police officers, firefighters, doctors, dentists, paramedics and government workers.  They are our family members, employees, college students, teachers and neighbors. Please join me in supporting their service to us all."

"If our Citizen Soldiers are indeed mobilized, their families and civilian employers should prepare for a one-year mobilization," said Maj. Gen. Larry Lafrenz, Idaho adjutant general.   "This alert notification is a way to give our Citizen Soldiers time to get their personal affairs in order if in fact they are called to active duty.  Our men and women are trained to the same standards as other members of the United States Army, and they are prepared to quickly integrate with the Army if mobilized."

With its headquarters at Gowen Field in Boise, the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is commanded by Colonel Guy Thomas and is the largest unit of the Idaho National Guard.  Its Citizen Soldiers are assigned to the 116th's subordinate units in Idaho, Montana and Oregon; over half this number are Idahoans.

The Army National Guard exists in all 50 states, our three territories and the District of Columbia. The governors are the commanders in chief of the National Guard in their respective states and territories.  Adjutants general are answerable to their respective governors for training, readiness and command and control of the units.  At the state level, the governors reserve the ability to call up members of the National Guard for state emergencies.

"That mission is perhaps the most visible and well known," Marsano said.  "Nearly everyone has seen or heard of Guard units responding to battle fires or to help communities deal with floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms or other emergency situations."

When not federally mobilized, the governor of each state and territory is the commander in chief of their respective National Guard. During national emergencies, however, the President reserves the right to mobilize the National Guard, putting them in federal duty status.  While federalized, the units answer to the Combatant Commander of the theater in which they are operating and, ultimately, to the President.