Idaho National Guard

Congratulations to Spc. Omar Rios Cardenas for earning top honors as Soldier of the Year at the 2026 Region VI Best Warrior Competition.

The five-day competition, held in North Dakota last week over five days, tested military knowledge, technical proficiency, physical fitness, leadership and warrior tasks. Soldiers completed a military board, land nav, weapon qualifications, a 12-mile ruck march, combatives and more.

Sgt. Braxton J. Mason, an engineer, competed in the eight-state competition as well in the NCO category. Rios Cardenas, a cannon crewmember, will advance to the National Guard Bureau Best Warrior Competition later this year.

The Idaho Army National Guard’s 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is hosting Armor Day at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa tomorrow. The event, free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is the brigade’s farewell to armor as the unit transitions to a mobile brigade combat team.

The open house will feature an Abrams main battle tank, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a Paladin howitzer, additional static displays and family-friendly activities.

The unit has operated armor equipment since 1949 and is currently reorganizing as part of the U.S. Army’s Transformation Initiative. The strategic modernization effort is designed to strengthen the military’s capabilities in response to emerging global threats by adapting fighting formations and integrating new technologies to prepare units and Soldiers to fight on the battlefield of the future.

The brigade’s combat forces will transition from combat arms battalions consisting of tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to infantry battalions utilizing the Infantry Squad Vehicle.

The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team will retain its cavalry lineage and designation following its transition, which will impact every subordinate unit across the state.

Students from Idaho Falls traveled to Gowen Field last month to visit the Idaho Military History Museum, tour a UH-60 Black Hawk, conduct marksmanship training with the Engagement Skills Trainer and participate in the Leadership Reaction Course.

The students attend Idaho Falls High School, Skyline High School, Bonneville High School, Hilcrest High School and Thunder Ridge High School and participate in the Idaho Army National Guard's Military Leadership Program. The program brings Idaho Falls area students together to develop leadership, teamwork and Army Values.

Idaho National Guardsmen and civilian personnel closed out the month of May with a Memorial Day Murph workout in honor of Medal of Honor reipient Navy Lt. Michael Murphy and all servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice throughout the nation's history. The May 28 event included a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups 300 squats and a second 1-mile run. Morale, Welfare and Recreation provided certificates of achievement to the top finishers for weighted & unweighted individual competitors and fastest teams.

Idaho National Guard aviation crews conducted water bucket training alongside Idaho Department of Lands personnel May 19 and 20 in preparation for the 2026 fire season. The IDL experts employed reflective panels to simulate active fires and communicated with Army National Guard pilots to maximize the efficiency of each 530-gallon bucket of water dropped.
Adjutant General of Idaho Maj. Gen. Tim Donnellan flew on a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter during the May 19 training event to observe and learn more about the mission while the crew conducted the water bucket training.
“Wildfire response demands teamwork, preparation and trust,” said Donnellan. “I’m proud of the professionalism our Soldiers and crews demonstrate while training with our state partners to ensure we are ready when called upon by the governor to protect lives, property and critical resources across Idaho.”
In addition to the fleet of Black Hawks and crews standing by to support seasonal wildland firefighting efforts, Orchard Fire and Emergency Services is providing initial and refresher Wildland Firefighter 2 training to Idaho National Guard members. To date, more than 250 Idaho Guardsmen have completed the qualification course. This certification ensures Guardsmen are ready to work fire lines in support ground operations.
The IDL and Idaho Military Division cooperation is facilitated by a Reciprocal Fire Protection Agreement, which allows the IDL to initiate a request for assistance when its own resources become strained.
“Wildfire response is a team effort, and aggressive attack is critical,” said Dustin Miller, Director of the Idaho Department of Lands. “Through our partnership with the Idaho Army National Guard, we're building the readiness, coordination and capability needed to protect Idahoans when every second counts.”

The Idaho Army National Guard teamed up with the Boise Fire Department Friday to help rescue two hikers near Red Fish Lake.

The hikers experienced altitude sickness. One hiker was able to eventually hike down from the peak. The Idaho Army National Guard's flight crew and a technical rescue medic crew were able to hoist the second hiker to safety, where they were transferred to Ada County Paramedics for further treatment.

The Idaho Army National Guard and Boise Fire Department train together several times a year to be ready when it matters most!

The Idaho National Guard held its annual Memorial Day observance last week at Gowen Field Memorial Park. The event honors those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

The ceremony included a multi-service color guard, the singing of the National Anthem by the Idaho Army National Guard 550 Chordsmen, a flyover by an Idaho Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota, a cannon salute by the Idaho Military History Museum and the playing of Taps on bugle by Sgt. 1st Class Michael Robinette of the 25th Army Band.

Idaho Air National Guard Airmen Maj. Robert Steiner provided the keynote speech and Chief Master Sgt. Denton Golden was the master of ceremonies. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Porter offered words of prayer.

We should never forget that Memorial Day is not only about history. It is also about responsibility.

Responsibility to remember.

Responsibility to teach future generations what these sacrifices mean.

Responsibility to live lives worthy of those who never had the chance to finish theirs.

The men and women we honor today did not die for political parties, personal gain or recognition. They died for something greater than themselves. They died for the enduring ideals of this nation — liberty, duty, justice and the belief that freedom is worth defending.

Say their names.

Tell their stories.

Remember them not only for how they died, but for how they lived.

Remember the laughter they shared, the families they loved, the uniforms they wore with pride, and the oath they upheld until their final breath.

Because a nation that remembers its fallen remains worthy of their sacrifice.

And a nation that forgets, risks losing sight of what those sacrifices were made to protect.

Kortney Shorts is a shift lead at Micron. She has no military experience or affiliation, but she does have an employee who serves in the Idaho Army National Guard. Shorts was one of nearly 100 local employers to participate in the annual Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Boss Lift at Gowen Field May 14. She said the day-long experience at Gowen Field opened her eyes to the complexity of military operations and the importance of mechanics and maintainers to the success of the organization.

“It’s just insane, the coordination that goes into it,” she said. “Now that I have a little more context, I’ll have a better foundation to ask him the right questions to better understand what he does when he’s here.”

Boss Lift participants took a flight in a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to view the Camp Orchard training area, learned about M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles at the 204th Regional Training Institute, and visited with A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots and maintainers of the 124th Fighter Wing. They also had ample opportunity to learn about the positive impact their employees’ service has on Idaho communities across the state.

While in uniform, Sgt. Sophia Harris is an aviation operations specialist. During the week she works as a dispatcher at Idaho Materials and Construction. Harris nominated her manager, Jaden Mason, to take part in the program. She said Mason has always given her ample time off to accommodate her training schedule and professional development, including her upcoming Advanced Leader Course in June.

“I was really excited to nominate him and I’m glad he got selected to come out,” said Harris. “I love that they get to see what we do, even if its just for a little while. I hope it’s a really great experience for him and one that gives him some background on what I’m doing when I’m away from work.”

ESGR is a Department of Defense program established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component service members and their civilian employers. It is supported by volunteers from small business and industry, government, education and prior military service, who assist employers, service members, and their families in balancing military and civilian life.

The Idaho Military Division joined state leaders, family members, veterans and citizens from across Idaho last week to honor the life and legacy of former Governor and Idaho National Guard Commander-in-Chief Dirk Kempthorne, who passed away April 24 at the age of 74.

Governor Kempthorne served as the constitutional Commander-in-Chief of the Idaho National Guard from 1999 to 2006 during one of the most demanding operational periods in modern military history. Under his leadership, the Idaho National Guard supported sustained combat operations during the Global War on Terrorism, including the historic 2004 deployment of the 116th Brigade Combat Team to Iraq—the largest deployment in Idaho National Guard history.

Throughout the week’s memorial events, Idaho Guardsmen rendered military honors as Governor Kempthorne was transferred to the Idaho State Capitol, where he lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Soldiers and Airmen joined Idaho State Police to stand watch as thousands of Idahoans paid their respects to a leader remembered for his deep and personal commitment to those who served.

Governor Kempthorne’s support for the Idaho National Guard extended far beyond ceremonial responsibilities. He personally attended deployment ceremonies, visited troops during mobilization training and traveled to Kirkuk, Iraq, to stand alongside Idaho Guardsmen serving in combat. His leadership and presence left a lasting impact on Soldiers, Airmen and military families across the state.

Before becoming the state’s 30th governor, he was a United States Senator and served on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, continuing his lifelong support of the military community.

Funeral services were held May 16 at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise before a procession escorted Governor Kempthorne to the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery for interment honors.

Even after leaving office, Governor Kempthorne remained a steadfast advocate for service members, veterans and military families.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions and enduring support of the Idaho National Guard, Governor Kempthorne was previously awarded the Idaho National Guard Distinguished Service Medal—one of the organization’s highest honors.

The Idaho Military Division extends its deepest condolences to the Kempthorne family and joins the people of Idaho in remembering a statesman, patriot and unwavering supporter of Idaho’s Soldiers and Airmen.

A celebration of life ceremony will also be held in Washington, D.C., at a later date.