National Guard working with local officials on deployment

BONNERS FERRY — Idaho’s National Guard second deployment to Iraq will be shorter than the previous one.

“During our deployment in 2005, our soldiers were gone from home for 18 months, with pre-deployment training prior to their year in Iraq.” said Lt. Col. Darren Blagburn.

“This time, they'll be leaving Sept. 17, and they'll be coming home Sept. 17, 2011,” he said.

Blagburn, commander of the Idaho National Guard's 145th Support Battalion, and Cassandra Vig, a family assistance center specialist for the Family Readiness Group in Post Falls, visited county commissioners Monday morning to help smooth the soldier’s transition to the combat zone.

About 2,300 National Guard soldiers from three states, including 280 from North Idaho, are preparing for their second deployment to Iraq later this year.

Unlike their last deployment in 2005, not all soldiers will be deployed in September. Armories will remain open and troops will be available should a local need arise.

In addition, the mission of those who will deploy will be different this time as compared to last.

“During our last deployment, our units were used as combat brigade teams,” Blagburn said. “This time, as our mission in Iraq winds down, they will serve as force protection and transportation security, guarding bases and convoys moving supplies and personnel.”

They'll also be away from home for a shorter period of time, Blagburn said.

Instead of a long period of training away from home, local soldiers have been and will undergo more intensive training at home prior to their departure, he said.

“The National Guard is on a five-year deployment cycle, so we've known for a long time that this was coming,” Blagburn said.

“Our training locally has intensified and we're at about 95 percent readiness right now. By the time we deploy, everyone will be at 100 percent.”

In June, National Guard troops will spend seven days at Gowan Field in Boise training on mission-specific tasks  they will face in Iraq. In August, the annual two-week training period will increase to 26-days to further hone soldiers’ skills on the battalion and brigade level.

After that, soldiers will have a four-day furlough before departing to their mobilization point at Camp Shelby, Miss., then to Iraq.

No date has been set, but a departure ceremony is being planned at battalion headquarters in Post Falls later this summer. Idaho National Guard top brass and Gov. Butch Otter are expected to be in attendance.

“We are working with the mayor of Bonners Ferry to do what we can to help prepare our community for their departure, and to show our appreciation,” Commissioner Ron Smith said.

While the window for local send-off of our troops will be small, Blagburn said he would be available to help facilitate those ceremonies, which likely will take place between Sept. 17 and Sept. 19.

Another focus of commissioners is to ensure the families of those deployed aren't forgotten while their loved ones are serving their nation.

“We are focused on ensuring that families and the community will be taken care of,” Blagburn said.

“We are here to assist the families who remain behind,” Vig said. “We have a lot of resources to call on and the communities have been very supportive.”

Blagburn outlined the role of the Family Readiness Group, and spoke highly of local chair Glory Rossbacher, who was an active volunteer throughout the 2005 deployment.

In addition to the families left behind, the soldiers being called away will also leave jobs, and Blagburn said employer support is available through the Guard and Reserve to assist in answering any questions and to help employers address any problems arising from the deployment.

He also outline what procedures would be followed should a local service member be killed or severely injured during the deployment, from family notification to notification to the community as a whole.

“It's something we pray we don't have to do,” he said.