116th Cavalry Brigade
soldiers returning home
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August 18, 2011 |
 After
their yearlong mobilization and deployment to
Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, the
deployed members of the 116th Cavalry Brigade
Combat Team (116th CBCT) are scheduled to return
to the U.S. beginning late this month.
Deployed Army National Guardsmen of the 116th
CBCT include about 2,700 Citizen Soldiers from
Idaho, Montana and Oregon, with about 1,500 from
Idaho, 600 from Montana and 600 from Oregon.
They will return from Iraq in groups of 200-300.
The first charter flights are expected to arrive
at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (also known as JBLM,
near Tacoma, Washington) at the end of August
and lasting several weeks until all soldiers are
back.
Out-processing there should take more than a
week per soldier; in some cases, it could take
several weeks. The Idaho soldiers will then
return to their homes from there in small
groups, or even individually, by flying to local
airports around Idaho.
“I am immensely proud of the great work the men
and women of the Idaho Army National Guard’s
116th Cavalry Brigade have done in Iraq,” said
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, commander in chief of
the Idaho National Guard. “I have been following
their progress since before they deployed last
year and was proud to shake each of their hands
as they left. Lori and I look forward to
personally expressing the gratitude of our
entire state for a job well done when they
return.”
“In the nine months they’ve been there, the men
and women of the 116th have done an outstanding
job in Iraq as they’ve helped prepare that
nation for the challenges that lie ahead,” said
Maj. Gen. Gary Sayler, commanding general of the
Idaho National Guard. “I’d like to recognize and
thank the soldiers’ family members and their
civilian employers, who have also faced
challenges over the past year in the absence of
these fine men and women who have so bravely and
capably served our nation.”
Another challenge lies ahead for about 600 of
the deployed Idaho Guardsmen who will soon
return: a shortage of civilian employment
opportunities in the Gem State.
A survey of the deployed soldiers has shown many
will return without the prospect of jobs.
For Idaho employers who would like more
information on hiring some of them as part of
our ‘Hire One Vet’ program, please contact Col.
Tim Marsano at (208) 422-5268.
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