Idaho National Guard eager to hear president's message

 

BOISE -- Word of President Obama's Afghanistan plan came out Monday and so far, it's getting mixed reviews.

General Stanley McChrystal asked for about 10,000 more troops than the president is calling for.

Former President George Bush's adviser Karl Rove is backing the move, while some Democrats say sending more troops will lead to more violence.

The U.S. military focus will shift from remote areas to Afghan cities -- as well as training Afghan forces -- with the goal of leaving in 2011.

The call for additional troops could mean local soldiers are deployed.  The 116th Calvary Brigade is already on alert about a possible deployment.

So how does this affect our men and women in Idaho?

Their orders specifically say Iraq, so technically the expected news from President Obama does not affect our National Guard, but that could change at any given notice.

"We in the Idaho National Guard are eager to hear what the president has to say tonight," said Lt. Col. Tim Marsano, Idaho National Guard.

The day President Obama announces his plans for our troops, the Gowen Field base carries on, business as usual.  It's largest group, the 116th is already training for possible deployment.  Their focus -- Iraq.

"They were thinking Iraq, we just don't know what the future is going to hold, it may be Afghanistan or it may not happen at all, a lot of questions to be answered," said Marsano.

Along with physical training -- their one weekend a month and two weeks a year -- the 2,200 Idahoans who may be shipped out are taking classes and learning a number of different functions, including language.

"With Iraq being the focus they have been learning Arabic phrases, but they may have to switch to learning Pashto phrases, lots of questions to be answered still," said Marsano.

Whether it's what they speak in Iraq or what they speak in Afghanistan -- the 116th doesn't know when or if they will be called.

Their last deployment was five years ago.  They were put on notification in February and four months later they were mobilized.

"Our soldiers are prepared to go and leave their families, leave their jobs and leave their civilian world behind for a year they understand that is what they do," said Marsano.

Gowen Field isn't the only local base constantly preparing for a call to duty.

In Mountain Home, there are some 650 airmen deployed around the world.  And 200 Air Force personnel are already serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What happens next will depend on the Pentagon -- and local troops will be preparing as usual.

"When they signed the paperwork to join the National Guard and raised their hand to swear allegiance to the Constitution, they understood that they may be called up on to do that. Now whether that happens for Iraq, Afghanistan or somewhere else in the world, our folks are prepared," said Marsano.

There are 5,000 men and women in the Idaho National Guard. 
- 3,500 are with the Army Guard.
- 1,500 are with the Air Guard.

The guard says if the 116th is deployed, there will still be enough men and women to help if any issues a rise in our state, like too much snow, flooding or fire.