Tag: National Guard

First Warrant Officer Candidates in Nation Graduate from Home Station Schools

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Eight Idaho Army National Guard and one Utah National Guard warrant officer candidates were among the first in the nation to graduate and pin on their new ranks in their home state or Regional Training Institute, on Aug. 4 under a revamped training timeline being implemented to the phased commissioning program across the country.

The graduates from the 2nd Modular Training Battalion 204th Regiment Warrant Officer Candidate School, Class 24-001 are: Warrant Officers Jesse J. Bliss, Simonne A. Boice, Tori J. Frederick, David G. McKenna, Devon K. Middleton, Phillip D. Pallister, David A. Reese, Jared A. Scott and Cade D. Terry.

Historically, National Guard warrant officer candidates who choose to commission through the phased program have begun Phase I of their Warrant Officer Candidate School training at RTI’s located on their home station or regionally over the course of five drill periods.  Phase II of the training took place over the course of two weeks at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, and candidates graduated and pinned on their new rank there.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chad Thomas, commander of the Idaho National Guard’s WOCS, said the change reverses the phases, allowing candidates to begin their training at Camp Atterbury and complete WOCS at their home station or regional RTI. It also reduced the number of training days in the accelerated course hosted at Fort McClellan, Alabama, from 28 to 24. Thomas said the modifications came about as the result of input received during a two-day Reserve Component Warrant Officer Candidate School Regional Training Institute Workshop. During the workshop, more than 80 personnel from all 27 RTI’s collaborated with senior leadership from the National Guard Bureau to modernize the program.

Thomas said the Idaho National Guard is also working to keep attrition low by including a pre-WOCS course to prepare candidates for Phase I prior to reporting to Camp Atterbury.

“This was the perfect class, said Thomas. “They really gave the cadre a lot of grace, the candidates understood the changes and it was a really good experience.”

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Edward Barnowski, Idaho’s command chief warrant officer, said the changes allow home state units to personalize the course, focus on local history and make graduation celebrations more accessible to family members. 

“The new schedule and POI (program of instruction) has really opened things up for us here and allows us to have culminating events,” said Barnowski.

The Idaho candidates participated in a staff ride to Minidoka, a World War II-era Japanese national internment camp near Twin Falls, hosted a mentorship dinner and took part in a victory run on Gowen Field.

“It’s just a more personable experience for the candidates,” he said. “There were so many families at the graduation. They were really excited to see their Soldiers graduate from this course, and they never got that opportunity before.”

State, Guard Conduct Cyber Discovery 2024

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The Idaho National Guard and the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services recently hosted Cyber Discovery 2024 at the state’s Chinden Campus in Boise. Cyber Discovery is a regional cyber exercise focused on security operations, incident tracking and response. The exercise takes place within the framework of the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program, enhancing its training value to both the state and Idaho National Guard while saving taxpayer dollars.

“One of the biggest benefits to conducting the training like this is that there’s minimal cost to either party,” said Col. Dan Lister, chief information officer for the Idaho National Guard’s Office of Information Management. “If you were to simulate this, you would be into the millions of dollars.”

During the exercise, 26 Guardsmen from Alaska, Idaho, and South Dakota Army and Air National Guards played the role of cyber threat actors while a team of 19 ITS employees, three Boise State cyber security program students and three Idaho Army National Guardsmen formed a defense team.

“We’re training to rapidly integrate Guard members for that cyber 911 that could come at any time,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jerred Edgar, a defense cyber operations element officer with the Idaho National Guard. “We’re able to use the IRT to form and shape that response and rehearse it with our partners.” 

Edgar said the ITS blue team made significant strides in threat detection, synchronized actions, and teamwork over last year’s performance in the exercise.

“Everything we do in these environments produces tangible results that the state can use to reduce cyber threats,” he said. “It’s process improvement, it’s building on efficiencies and identifying effective tools.”

The exercise provides exceptional training value to Guard members as well, said Lister.

“They’re training in a large-scale, real-world environment,” he said. “It really can’t be simulated and it’s very complementary to the skill sets they will use at various military echelon levels wherever they go in the world.”

Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Donnellan becomes Idaho’s 26th adjutant general

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The Idaho National Guard held a change of command ceremony June 25, signifying the transfer of authority between outgoing commander Maj. Gen. Michael J. Garshak and the incoming commander, Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Donnellan.
Garshak served as the commander of the Idaho National Guard and as the adjutant general of Idaho since his appointment in 2017 by former Idaho Gov. Butch Otter. Earlier this month, Gov. Brad Little appointed Donnellan as the state’s 26th adjutant general following Garshak’s retirement, which will occur in a separate ceremony later this week.
“My time as Idaho’s 25th adjutant general and commander of the Idaho National Guard has been the highest honor and most rewarding of my career,” said Garshak. “I am forever grateful for having had this opportunity.”
Under Garshak’s command, the Idaho Army National Guard completed multiple deployments, including the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s back-to-back deployments in support of Operation Spartan Shield from 2021-2023 in Southwest Asia. The 124th Fighter Wing completed its second largest deployment in 2020, deploying to 17 bases in 13 countries in support of four named operations.
Locally, the Idaho National Guard was activated four times during the Covid-19 pandemic to complete more than 100 missions throughout the state. The Idaho National Guard was also activated to support wildfire fighting efforts in California and Idaho and deployed twice to Washington D.C. to support civil authorities in the nation’s capital.
Donnellan had served as the assistant adjutant general- Air and commander of the Idaho Air National Guard since 2019. He was promoted to major general in a private ceremony prior to the change of command. In addition to commanding the Idaho National Guard, the adjutant general oversees the Idaho Military Division, which includes the Idaho Office of Emergency Management; the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy; the Public Safety Commission; STARBASE Idaho; and the Idaho Military Museum.
Gov. Little presided over the ceremony, which included the passing of the colors and other customary military traditions.
“Thank you, Gov. Little for your leadership as our Commander in Chief, and for your trust and confidence in me as the 26th adjutant general of Idaho,” Donnellan said. “It is my solemn promise to you and the citizens of Idaho that the Idaho National Guard will continue to be ready and relevant for any challenges overseas or at home.”
The Idaho National Guard consists of the Idaho Army National Guard and the Idaho Air National Guard. The Idaho Army National Guard comprises more than 3,000 citizen-Soldiers who serve in nearly two dozen Idaho communities. The Idaho Air National Guard includes more than 1,300 citizen-Airmen who serve primarily in the Treasure Valley. In addition, the Idaho Military Division is the state’s fourth largest employer.

Youth ChalleNGe Academy breaks ground on new barracks

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The Idaho Youth Challenge Academy broke ground on a new barracks building April 9 in Pierce. Representatives from the Idaho National Guard gathered for the ceremony along with staff members from Gov. Brad Little’s office.

The $13.5 million, 18,000 square foot building will replace temporary billeting facilities currently in use at the academy. The new barracks also allows for potential expansion of the program with room to house up to 180 students and cadre.

Academy Director Trevor Sparrow said building strong relationships has been an important aspect of its success and growth over the years.

“We are so grateful for the support of all of our partners around the state from the cadets who attend, their families, local businesses and communities, the Idaho State Legislature and the Governor’s office,” said Sparrow. “This building solidifies the commitment that Idaho has to ensure the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy stands ready to ensure a legacy of excellence for decades to come.”

The Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy opened its doors in 2014 with the mission “to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-disciple necessary to succeed as responsible and productive citizens and adults.” Since then, the academy’s focus on providing education and developing employment and life skills among its student body has helped more than 2,000 Idaho youth earn traditional or general education diplomas.

Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, Idaho adjutant general and commander of the Idaho National Guard, served as the presiding official during the ceremony.

“Two thousand and seventy-five young men and women from the state of Idaho have completed this and have really improved the citizenship and the future for our state,” said Garshak. “It’s time now that we move out of a temporary facility and build permanent barracks because I think the Youth ChalleNGe Academy has demonstrated that it is here to stay.”

The project is slated to be completed in November 2025.