Category: Idaho Military Divison

MORE THAN JUST COMMUNICATIONS
BOISE, ID, UNITED STATES
03.19.2018
Story by 2nd Lt. Crystal Farris

The Idaho Army National Guard recently signed an agreement with the Idaho Military Division’s Public Safety Communications and Information Technology Division that establishes a maintenance plan for the long-term sustainment of a microwave radio system for its Orchard Combat Training Center. The agreement will go into effect beginning April 1 with the purchasing and installation of multiple microwave radio sites across the training center.

The agreement comes at a perfect time, establishing a new and up-to-date communication system necessary for the training center’s planned growth and increased use during the Idaho Army National Guard’s annual training events over the next several summers. The new system will enhance communications and operations between Gowen Field and the training center.

“The current network has been out there for a while and is at a point in its lifecycle where it needs to be replaced,” said Ben Call, communications and IT services branch chief. “We are providing engineering and analysis for what should be replaced and how we can improve data consistency and reliability for that infrastructure to remain working at an optimal level.”

Using line-of-sight wireless communication and radio waves, the microwaves will provide high speed wireless connections for sending and receiving voice, video and data information from one point to another. Information is passed within a private network, as opposed to a commercial provider, making it more secure and less vulnerable to cyber-attack, said Call.

The Public Safety Communications and IT Services Division, formerly the Bureau of Communication and Microwave Services, is responsible for managing and maintaining the state microwave network and its 130 microwave sites located throughout Idaho.

Previously part of the Idaho Military Division’s emergency management office, the division now falls under and reports to the state’s adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Michael Garshak. It provides a data network for the day-to-day operations of employees working within state components of the Idaho Military Division on Gowen Field that are not part of the Department of Defense network.

The network also provides secondary communication capability between the state emergency operations center and the 44 counties and three tribal emergency centers in Idaho, should regular communication systems fail.

“With our support they have equipment that comes in via the microwave network instead of the public network that would not be affected by an outage,” said Call. “So it is our hope and intent that our system would stay up and be available in an emergency even if the regular system dies.”

Maintenance teams are located in six different regions within Idaho, along with an IT group on Gowen Field to manage all data traffic carried by the microwave network for agencies that they serve. Along with the Idaho Army National Guard, its customers include the Idaho State Police, Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho State Courts System.

In addition to the microwave network, PSC is responsible for maintaining and operating the Land Mobile Radio networks that serve state agencies, such as Emergency Medical Services, Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department. Directed by state statute, they are the responsible party for all state of Idaho radio frequency licensing.

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“We Believe in Second Chances”
BOISE AIR TERMINAL AIR GUARD STATION, ID, UNITED STATES
09.17.2018
Story by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur
PIERCE, Idaho – The National Guard Bureau’s Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy is a relatively new program to Idaho and is nearing Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s goal of 1,000 graduates by the end of its fifth year. The current class is the largest to date with 135 cadets currently enrolled, scheduled to graduate in December 2018.

What is the IDYCA? Administered by the Department of Defense, it is a cooperative state level program between the Idaho Military Division and the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. It is among 40 other programs nationwide.

The primary focus is reclaiming the lives of 16 to 18-year-olds who are at risk or have dropped out of high school, by getting them back on a path necessary to succeed as adults. It prepares cadets for graduation, as a fully state-accredited alternative high school, and provides an opportunity to earn up to 14 high school credits towards their diploma.

Idaho opened the doors to the academy’s first class in January of 2014 in the small northern town of Pierce, Idaho under the command of Maj. Gen. Gary Sayler, former Adjutant General.

“Maj. Gen. Sayler laid the groundwork for the program, which I plan to build upon. One of my goals is to increase the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy Foundation in order to improve the academy’s infrastructure. New barracks, new roofing, and improvements to the laundry facility are among my priorities,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Garshak, commanding general of the Idaho National Guard.

Garshak, along with other state officials, as well as principals from local Treasure Valley high schools, had the opportunity to fly to Pierce in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to visit the facilities, staff, and cadets. They were able to tour several classrooms, see the living quarters, and eat lunch with the cadets. They concluded their visit by judging a drill and ceremony competition.

“Our military leaders bring state and local officials, school administrators, and teachers up to visit the academy and cadets to demonstrate the good return on investment that is happening up here,” said Collier Lipple, executive officer to the adjutant general of Idaho. “When they see firsthand the hundreds of lives this program positively effects each year, the program sells itself.”

Centennial High School principal, Mike Farris, has three Centennial students enrolled in the current class. He took the opportunity to visit with the three cadets and learn about their accomplishments and future goals for graduating the academy.

“I learned a lot about the Youth ChalleNGe Academy and what it is doing for the young men and women that are a part of it. Today was an awesome learning experience for me,” said Farris.

Margaret Flowers is the treasurer of the foundation for the IDYCA. She became involved with the academy because of the positive outcome it had on her personally. This is her second visit to the academy, the first was the graduation of her son.

“My son was in the very first class, Class 14-1. The program saved my son’s life. He turned 18 while enrolled in the academy and if he had not gone through the program, who knows where he would be now, probably homeless. After he graduated, we have a fantastic relationship. He has a full-time job and he can take care of himself. He is doing amazing and I am very thankful,” said Flowers.

The current class, Class 18-2 is in week nine of the 22-week program. The program starts with a disciplined Acclimation Phase, where they learn to adjust to the physical, mental, and social discipline the program offers. Not all of the potential cadets can handle this phase, but those who successfully complete the acclimation period continue on as IDYCA cadets and begin the ChalleNGe Phase, or the Residential Phase. This phase emphasizes self-discipline, self-esteem, education, and the development of healthy lifestyles.

“I have seen the results and this program saves lives. So many of these teenagers complete graduation and go on to become successful and valued contributors to their communities. Their motto is ‘we believe in second chances’ and so do I,” said Garshak. “I believe in each and every one of these cadets.”

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