Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Allmaras | James Horven, of the Boise law firm Evans Keane LLP, is recognized by Brig. Gen....... read more read more
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The Idaho Army National Guard selected five civic and business leaders to serve as honorary battalion commanders in its combat units. The five community leaders are the first selections in the new program.
Attorney Jim Horven, of Evans Keane, was selected to serve with the 1-183d Aviation Regiment in Boise. Pocatello mayor Brian Blad will serve with the 1-148th Field Artillery Regiment, located in eastern Idaho and headquartered in Pocatello.
Jeffery Fox, president of the College of Southern Idaho, will serve with the 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion, which is headquartered in Twin Falls. Tom Dale, a former mayor and current city councilman in Nampa, will serve with the 2-116th Calvary Regiment, which is headquartered in Caldwell. CCI Speer’s Bill Mackleit will serve with the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, which is located in northern Idaho and headquartered in Lewiston.
The purpose of the Honorary Battalion Commander Program is to educate key community leaders about the Idaho Army National Guard’s mission and to foster a partnership with the community. Each commander will serve 12-24 months.
“This is a great opportunity to cement community partnership,” said Fox. “A lot of our students and community members are part of the Guard; it’s part of who we are. It’s unique and wonderful.”
The 116th BEB armory is located on the College of Idaho’s campus in Twin Falls. Fox said the unit is an important part of the community and said several students and community members have deployed with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat team in the past.
“We are excited to welcome each honorary battalion commander to our team,” said Col. Farin D Schwartz, assistant adjutant general- Army/commander, Idaho Army National Guard. “Over the next 12 to 24 months they will get the chance to learn about their local Idaho Army National Guard unit’s mission firsthand. Each honorary battalion commander volunteered to participate in the program because they are interested in learning more about the organization and there’s no better way to do that than alongside their local unit’s commander.”
Each honorary battalion commander will work closely with their assigned unit’s commander and staff and be invited to participate in unit ceremonies and observe selected training events.
Honorary commanders are invited to participate on the basis of their willingness to gain an increased awareness and understanding of the Idaho Army National Guard’s mission, policies and programs.
“The strength of the National Guard lies in our partnerships with our local communities,” Schwartz said. “This program provides the opportunity for the unit’s commander and staff members to build a strong relationship with a key leader in their community.”
The Idaho Army National Guard is headquartered on Gowen Field in Boise and consists of nearly 3,000 Soldiers. Its largest unit is the 116th Calvary Brigade, with armories in nearly two dozen Idaho communities and battalions in Montana, Nevada and Oregon. The 1-148th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 145th Brigade Support Battalion and 2-116 Cavalry Regiment are four of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s seven battalions. The 1-183rd Aviation Regiment, located in Boise, completes the majority of the Idaho Army National Guard’s combat power.
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2018 19:00 |
| Story ID: | 269597 |
| Location: | BOISE, ID, US |
| Web Views: | 496 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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