Idaho guard to deploy for second time

BONNERS FERRY — The Idaho National Guard, including members from  Boundary County, will deploy to Iraq in September.

The unit also includes soldiers from Bonner and Kootenai counties.

The Department of Defense announced this week a replacement unit is mobilizing to deploy as part of the force rotation in support of Operation New Dawn, a year-long mission.

Approximately 2,700 soldiers from Idaho, Montana and Oregon will be deployed to Iraq this fall.

Nearly 80 soldiers attached to the Post Falls armory will be effected by the mobilization, along with 25 soldiers each from Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint, said. Col. Tim Marsano, Idaho National Guard Spokesman.

Rumors of the deployment have been circulating since last fall, but had not been confirmed until this week.

Marsano said the soldiers were given notice of the pending deployment in September.

“This is the other shoe dropping, saying that they are in fact going,” he said.

The soldiers have been trained in tasks related to transportation, storage, equipment management and maintenance.

“But we anticipate these soldiers will be providing security both for convoys and U.S. and Coalition installations in Iraq,” Marano said.

It is not known how many drilling soldiers out of the 35 in the Bonners Ferry’s 145th Brigade Battalion will be deployed in September.

“We are making a list of people right now and it is an on-going process,” said Lt. Col. Barren Blagburn, 145th Brigade Support Battalion commander.

The soldiers received notice Friday.

“Not everyone is going to go, but everyone is preparing for mobilization just in case someone is unable to go due to family or medical reasons,” said Blagburn. “Things may come up between now and September and adjustments made accordingly.”

Although the mobilization date is set for Sept. 17, it can adjusted based on requirements, Blagburn said.

Boundary County Commissioner Chairman Ron Smith  said commissioners are concerned about the safety of the men and women deployed and  hope it is not for an extended amount of time. 

He said he wants to meet with city officials so they can plan a proper send-off for the men and women.

Smith said after they know more about specific dates,  plans will be set in place for a recognition send-off for the local soldiers who will be deployed.

“We are just now of course hearing about it,” said Smith. 

“The community does need to pull together to do something to recognize them, we are concerned with their safety and with the well-being of the family members who will be waiting at home for their return.”  

The deployment will start in September when the soldiers  become active for duty.

 From Post Falls, the soldiers will be sent to Camp Shelby in Mississippi for a 60-day training , then mobilize to Iraq for approximately 10 months.

“After collective training is complete at Camp Shelby they will go to various locations throughout Iraq and won’t be in one specific place,” Blagburn said.

Blagburn said he will be in Sandpoint in May to talk with drilling members and their families for a family planning session. The time and place of this session will be announced.

Updates on how many and who are going to be deployed from Bonners Ferry will be given as soon as the information becomes available.

To make a donation for local Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint soldiers and their families, contact Glory at 267-7686.