Idaho National Guard hosts employers and civic leaders

Stan McKie
Boise City Buzz Examiner
August 26th, 2010 7:14 pm MT

The Idaho National Guard played host to 179 employers, civic leaders, representatives from Idaho government agencies and members of the legislature at its annual 'Boss Lift' today August 26, 2010. The 'Boss Lift' is conducted every year by the Idaho Chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The state chapter is part of a nationwide organization of business and civic leaders to provide support for members of the guard and reserve, and to assist their civilian employers to understand the importance of part-time military service, and provides help to businesses that have employees called away from their civilian jobs to active military duty.

The Idaho National Guard Public Affairs office under Col. Tim Marciano of the Idaho Air Guard, took the participants in the 'Boss Lift' on a tour of training facilities on Gowen Field, and then by helicopter to the Orchard Training Area where soldiers from the 116th Cavalry Brigade are doing their annual training. They are also preparing to begin deployment to Iraq next month.

The civilians toured the training simulators for both small arms and vehicle-borne weapons and were allowed to actually use the trainers under the supervision of retired guard soldiers, CW3 Don Robbins and MSG Bill Nuttal. They were able to experience what if feels like to use M16A4 Rifles and M4 Carbines in a fire-fight, and how it looks to drive a HummVee through downtown Baghdad and engage targets with a .50 caliber machine gun.

Afterwards, they toured the facilities of the Idaho Air Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron. On display were the simulators for the A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft, as well as other supporting units of the Air Guard, including a display of equipment of the 101st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Defense Team.

The 116th continues their annual training through next week, and then will begin deployment around the middle of September.

Source

Note: From the associated slide show I selected the following pictures:



A-10 Warthog. (Photo by Examiner)



Actual A-10C cockpit. (Photo by Examiner)



A-10's main weapon, 30mm rotary cannon 'Gatling Gun'. (Photo by Examiner)



A-10 pilot trainer. (Photo by Examiner)



30mm round. (Photo by Examiner)