Local guard put on alert for Iraq
Guardsmen from Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Post Falls Army National were placed on alert 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-chairwoman of the Bonners Ferry Family Readiness Group, said it is unknown how many or if any of the troops from North Idaho or elsewhere in Idaho will be deployed since it is an alert status.
“Among them 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,” Gov. 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 its headquarters at Gowen Field in Boise, the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is commanded by Col. 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.