Tag Archives: idaho

26 January 2023 (12:29-UTC-07 Tango 06) 06 Bahman 1401/04 Rajab 1444/05 Gui-Chou 4721/26 январь 2023 года

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has ranked 10 of Idaho’s 80 nursing home operators as ‘worst’, and one nursing home has so many violations it didn’t make any ranking!

The CMS looks at data from health inspections, staffing levels, and the vague sounding ‘quality measures’ which I suspect means quality of care. You can go to the Medicare.gov ‘Find and Compare Providers near you’ website and enter the name and state of the nursing home to see their ‘star rating’, the 11 losers are:

Caldwell Care of Cascadia

Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society – Silver Wood Village

Ivy Court (for abuse)

Coeur d’Alene Life Care Center of Post Falls (for abuse and under Special Focus Facility Program)

Post Falls Prestige Care & Rehabilitation

Lewiston Royal Plaza Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia

Lewiston Silver Ridge Care

Coeur d’Alene Skyline Transitional Care Center (for abuse)

Boise Twin Falls Transitional Care of Cascadia (for abuse)

Twin Falls Valley View Nursing & Rehabilitation

Boise Valley Vista Care Center of Saint Maries

KREM-2: The rate at which Kootenai County senior citizens are entering into homelessness is on the rise, due to skyrocketing costs of living: “There were a lot of times we couldn’t get food, or a place to eat or anything else. We went to the food bank when we could, but we couldn’t store anything because we didn’t have a fridge.”-Gary Martin, 82 years old, living in his car with his wife and adult daughter

PR Newswire: Idaho officials push old people to get boosted, says only 50% of nursing home patients are boosted.

Skilled Nursing News: Idaho-based Cascadia Healthcare spends its money on buying-up competitors, will take over 10 Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society nursing homes across the U.S.

November 2021: Department of Defense USES PANDEMIC healthcare AS EXCUSE TO COMPLETE ITS TAKEOVER OF STATE CONTROLLED MILITIAS, IDAHO LATEST VICTIM?

August 2021: MYSTERY(?) DISEASE KILLS 1000 DEER IN IDAHO! IS IT THE PANDEMIC?

July 2017: IDAHO ‘MORMON’ POLITICIAN SAYS YOU DON’T NEED HEALTHCARE; “Nobody dies because they don’t have access to healthcare”!

June 2016: OBAMACARE INSURANCE COST INCREASE FOR IDAHO!

April 2016: IDAHO HOSPITAL VIOLATES U.S. MEDICAL LEAVE ACT!

February 2016: DOCTORS SAY IDAHO’S OBAMACARE KILLED 1-THOUSAND PEOPLE, SO FAR!

October 2015: IDAHO TAXPAYERS PAY EXTRA FOR NOT MAKING OBAMACARE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY!

January 2014: SECRET COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL PLAN BY IDAHO HOSPITAL AND BLUE CROSS TO JACK UP COSTS BY 60%! REVEALS IDAHO INSURANCE PAYMENTS HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE!

FEMA SAYS ALMOST 60% OF IDAHO’S FIREFIGHTERS SCREWED OVER BY so-called AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE!

December 2011: HEALTH INSURANCE RATES IN IDAHO COULD GO UP MORE THAN 10%, THANK YOU OBAMACARE

Idaho, International, Technology

Idaho invades Morocco, swan song of the M109A6?

Video January 11, 2023 Hutchins AAron

My Idaho National Guard alma mater, photo by me.

During the month of June, 2022, the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (aka Snake River Brigade) pounded the countryside of Morocco, on the African continent. Apparently it is part of having good international relations, and somehow reduces deployments: “One goal of the National Defense Strategy is to have good international relations and partnerships. Building multinational relationships, increasing their tactical proficiency and understanding how to work together reduces deployment requirements for our military and our international partners, and helps provide global security.”-Major Ryan Batt, 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team

A now all too familar sight in Idaho, boarding a contracted plane for deployment, this time to Morocco, 18JUN2022. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

I say ‘somehow’, because the past few decades of this ‘National Defense Strategy’ has actually increased deployments, especially for the Idaho National Guard, and has not made the United States any more international friends, nor has it increased international security.

Somebody needed some attention from an Idaho -Snake River- Medic, this was not a drill (real blood folks). Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 25JUN2022.

“Global security and the National Defense Strategy is important not only to us in Idaho but as a whole nation and should be important globally. This relationship has always been there, and we want to keep it strong moving forward.”-Major Ryan Batt, 1st Battalion-148th Field Artillery Regiment-116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team

Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 21JUN2022.

Back to the pounding of Morocco. This was part of what has become the largest yearly U.S./NATO wargame on the African continent, called African Lion. About 80 Idaho Army & Air Guard personnel joined others from Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin Army National Guards, as well as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve unit from California, and a Regular Army (RA, aka full-time active duty) unit from Texas, along with military personnel from Brazil, NATO-Canada, Ghana, Morocco, NATO-Netherlands, Senegal, Tunisia and NATO-United Kingdom. Whew, more than 8-thousand military personnel!

‘Rock Drill’ before the action. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022. Named Rock Drill because most of the time you use rocks to represent different things on the battlefield.

Originally, Exercise African Lion started as a computer simulation in 1998, between a U.S. Army airborne unit in NATO-Italy and an airborne unit in Morocco. It was held every two years. By 2005, it involved actual military personnel on the ground in Morocco. In 2007 it became a yearly wargame, involving more and more U.S. personnel and other NATO countries (again proving that this type of National Defense Strategy does not reduce deployments, or anything else). Interestingly, in March 2020, General Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S. Africa Command (USAfriComm), stated “African Lion has been significantly reduced in scale and scope based on concerns that we all have about the safety of our troops and those of our partners.” Really?

‘Punching the Tube’. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.

The Idaho National Guard also took part in African Lion in March 2019.

Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.

The days of Idaho’s M109A6 Paladins are numbered; during this wargame it was revealed that Idaho will be getting the new M109A7 (and I say don’t call it a Paladin because it is a totally different beast).

FiSTs & COLTs, I was a 13F decades ago in Pocatello. They get to call in and direct the artillery fire. Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.

COLT=Combat Observation Lasing Team

FiST=Fire Support Team

“Fire!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 22JUN2022.

“Shot Out!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.

“Splash!” Idaho National Guard photo by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 24JUN2022.

Video sequences recorded by Idaho Air National Guard’s Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26JUN2022, edited together by me:

Vehicle I-D: M109, COLD WAR to UKRAINE CRISIS

2022: IDAHO BASED SNAKE-RIVER INVADES TEXAS, NEXT STOP; KUWAIT & IRAQ!

KING OF THE STALLIONS STAMPEDES IDAHO!

IDAHO INVADED BY APACHES FROM ARIZONA & SINGAPORE?

CALIFORNIA, IOWA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, UTAH, WASHINGTON INVADE REBEL IDAHO!?

2021: Snake River Brigade deploys yet again!

IDAHO GETS ‘SMART’ ARTILLERY ROUNDS, REVEALS “UPCOMING MOBILIZATIONS”

SINGAPORE’S IDAHO BASED SKY PIRATES BOMB LAS VEGAS?

2020: T-A-C-P-S USE HORSE POWER TO CALL IN AIR STRIKES ON IDAHO MOUNTAINS!

2019: UNITED STATES INVADES IDAHO!

2017:

Utah Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Annie Edwards, 14OCT2017.

UTAH’S SECRET(?) WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION EVENT IN EAST IDAHO!

2012: IDAHO’S MICRON TECHNOLOGY INVADES JAPAN!

Idaho, U.S.

Hunger Games: University offers free food preservation tips, for a price!

January 7, 2023 Hutchins AAron

07 January 2023 (00:06-UTC-07 Tango 06) 17 Dey 1401/14 Jumada t-Tania 1444/16 Xin-Chou 4720/07 январь 2023 года

Anybody who spends some time on social media knows there are plenty of free advice/video posts about how to preserve food at home, yet the University of Idaho apparently thinks they can make money off food preservation classes.

The University of Idaho is based in northern Idaho’s Moscow (don’t confuse with Idaho State University based in Pocatello), but is offering home-food-preservation classes in eastern Idaho’s City of Rigby, and southeast Idaho’s City of Pocatello, for a price!

The cost to attend the entire food preservation series of classes is $75, or, if you want just one or two classes the price is $15 per class. There are five classes, registration must be done before 24FEB2023. A quick scan of the classes revealed to me that, yes, you can find these basic food preservation ideas online and for free!

And if you live in Napoleon Dynamite country, the U of I offers an online Preserve@Home course in Franklin County, for $35 bucks beginning 19JAN2023! Yes, you can find the info free, elsewhere!

If you don’t like social media, then you can always checkout the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s National Center for Home Food Preservation, yes it is free! The state and federal taxpayer funded National Center for Home Food Preservation has instructions for canning, drying, freezing, smoking/curing, fermenting, pickling, jams/jellys, and storage (whew)!

U.S. Hunger Games 2023: CHICKENS & COWS STARVING TO DEATH, BLAMED ON UNION PACIFIC, CLIMATE CHANGE, LABOR SHORTAGE?

Idaho

Blizzard a’comin!

December 20, 2022 Hutchins AAron

National Weather Service claims Blizzard about to hit East/Southeast Idaho, air temps climbing into the 20s Fahrenheit, but the evil winds are howling back, with gusts up to 55mph, wind chills down to minus 25F! Starting tonight, 20DEC2022.

18DEC2022, CHUBBUCK, IDAHO

Idaho

18DEC2022, Chubbuck, Idaho

Image December 18, 2022 Hutchins AAron

11:00 hours, 18DEC2022, air temp 07°F(-14C), Chubbuck, Idaho. Love it! Want more of it! (as long as there is no evil wind)

Garage being used as storage unit.

June 2020: SOUTHEAST IDAHO PANDEMIC ROAD-TRIP (yes, there are beaches in land-locked Idaho)

December 2017: NO MORE XMAS LIGHTS FOR CHUBBUCK? THE TRUTH ABOUT GENTRIFICATION

Idaho, U.S.

Drugs, the American Way: National Drug “Take Back” day proves they originate with the government/healthcare industry?

Video November 13, 2022 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete (tip-o-the iceberg, seriously this isn’t the half-of-it!) list of United States drug related crimes and oddities for the month of October 2022:

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Information Systems Technician First Class Vincent Aguirre, 12OCT2022.

The U.S. Coast Guard claims it captured 2-thousand-980 kilograms of opium, and 4-hundred Kgs of methamphetamines, while patrolling the Gulf of Oman on 12OCT2022.

U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Corporal George Nudo, 29OCT2022.

The 29th of October was the official DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) National Drug Take Back Day in the U.S. Grammatically, by the DEA saying it is a drug ‘take back’ it indicates the drugs originated with the DEA.

ALASKA: The National Guard, and even the State Parks, was deployed for an anti-drugs propaganda mission in Alaska’s grade school system. Alaska National Guard video by Victoria Granado, 25OCT2022:

CALIFORNIA: Doctor charged with insurance fraud, money laundering and drug crimes.

In San Diego, the DEA announced the creation of the new Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team.

CONNECTICUT: An illegal, from Dominican Republic, gets 10 years in U.S. federal prison for drug smuggling.

Yale University-Yale Medicine fined $308-thousand-250 after it was proven that a Yale nurse stole fentanyl that was being used at the Yale Fertility Center.

FLORIDA: A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee charged with shipping cocaine from Puerto Rico to Florida.

USCG photo by Petty Officer Third Class Mikaela McGee, 01OCT2022.

Crew members aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge (WPC 1102) offload approximately 1-thousand-4-hundred pounds of cocaine, and 1-thousand-840-pounds of marijuana, on Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, 01OCT2022.

In this U.S. Navy video by Mineman Second Class Justin, dated 12OCT2022, the narrator brags how the crew of the USS Billings-LCS 15 (which is based out of Mayport) tripled the captures of illegal drugs, among other operations, on its most recent patrol of the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific:

IDAHO: Washington man convicted of using fentanyl to kill Idaho teenager.

MARYLAND: Three MS-13 gang bangers convicted of racketeering, murder, extortion, and federal drug crimes.

MISSOURI: Nurse confesses to stealing fentanyl, to feed her own addiction.

NEW YORK: A dentist is fined $60-thousand for allowing his employees to ‘prescribe’ Oxycodone to themselves.

Doctor confesses to illegally selling more than 100-thousand Oxycodone pills.

Suffolk County politician confesses to drugs for prostitution crime.

In Brooklyn-NYC, a doctor, and a pharmacist, accused of illegally selling more than 1.2-million Oxycodone pills.

OKLAHOMA: Apparently, illegal drugs have become such a problem that the Army and Air National Guards have been called-up.

Oklahoma National Guard Photo by Anthony Jones, 27SEP2022.

From September 27th to October 7th, 75-thousand marijuana plants were captured and then thrown into trash-burn pits.

Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Specialist Tyler Brahic, 06OCT2022.

Video interview, by Sergeant Reece Heck, from anti-marijuana operation 07OCT2022:

After the Oklahoma National Guard’s participation in the ganja bust, they then took part in a local, state and federal law enforcement training session concerning the “rising tide” of fentanyl. Oklahoma Army National Guard video interviews, which explains why it will never go away (it is actually used by the healthcare industry), by Specialist Haden Tolbert, 19OCT2022:

PUERTO RICO:

Video by Ricardo Castrodad, the crew of the USCG Cutter Winslow Griesser (WPC-1116) offloaded 721-pounds (327kgs) of cocaine on San Juan, 05OCT2022. Four alleged smugglers are waiting trial in a federal court:

TEXAS: An investigation led by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) resulted in the arrest and conviction of a Texas man for selling fentanyl, which led to the death of a Fort Hood Soldier. The Soldier thought he was taking Percocet, which is a pain reliever that contains opioids, instead he was taking pure fentanyl: “This case shows CID, along with our law enforcement partners, is dedicated to bringing justice to those that harm the public, and members of the Department of the Army, through the distribution of fentanyl. CID remains committed to protecting the force, and the public, from the scourge of the fentanyl epidemic.”-Maria Thomas, CID Special Agent

An illegal immigrant, who also acted as the attorney for a Mexican official, gets 70 months in U.S. federal prison for smuggling cocaine.

WASHINGTON: A state prison guard gets 46 months in U.S. federal prison, for smuggling drugs into the state prison.

Drugs, the American Way, September 2022: SMUGGLERS USING ‘DARK’ BOATS & AIRCRAFT, NAVY COUNTERS WITH ANTI-DRUG ROBOTS?

United Police States of America: ARE COPS BEHIND THE RISE OF GUN VIOLENCE? NEW HUNGER GAME!

Biden’s Borderland: BOAT PEOPLE, 200% INCREASE IN OCTOBER! ALL FROM CUBA? HUGH INCREASE IN ILLEGAL FISHING OFF TEXAS COAST BY MEXICANS!

Kit Bashing, Technology

F-15 50th Anniversary: The A-Sat, with some visual tips for the kit builder

Video November 5, 2022 Hutchins AAron

ASat=Anti Satellite

Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) ASM (Anti Satellite Missile)-135A: Two solid-rocket stages (first stage made by Boeing), third rocket stage with telescopic heat seeker known as the Miniature Homing Vehicle, speed of 15-thousand miles per hour.

McDonnell-Douglas F-15A Eagle: F-15 EAGLE NOW 50 YEARS OLD, a quick visual history

Boeing promotional photo dated August 1982. Note, the F-15A in the background is not the F-15A used in the ‘Capture Carry’ part of the ASat testing program.

First ‘capture carry’ flights of F-15A Eagle #76-0086 armed with ASat were in December 1982.

F-15A Eagle armed with the ASM-135A, 21DEC1982. U.S. Air Force photo by H.L. Wilson.

Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, 21DEC1982. U.S. Air Force photo by Al Chang.

Over Edwards AFB, California. Boeing photo released in January 1983.

Model kit builders take note, the ‘fin flash’ on 76-0086 is changed sometime between 1983 and 1985.

ASat equipped Eagle over Vandenberg AFB, California, 03APR1985.
USAF photo by Paul E. Reynolds.

The actual launch of the ASM-135A was done in September 1985, by F-15A #76-0084 first seen in the photo from August 1982. Model kit builders note that back in August 1982, 76-0084 did not have the fin flash.

F-15 launches an ASat, somewhere off California’s Pacific Coast. USAF photo by Paul E. Reynolds, 13SEP1985.

In September 1985, a Solwind P78-1 satellite was destroyed by the ASM-135A ASat, launched by F-15A Eagle 76-0084.

Major Wilbert ‘Doug’ Pearson successfully launched the ASM-135A. USAF photo by Paul E. Reynolds, 13SEP1985.

The successful ASat program was canceled in 1988, due to U.S. public concern over the possibility of war in space. However, that concern seems to have disappeared as the U.S. now has a dedicate military Space Force, co-chaired by the British empire.

Father gives his son some pointers about flying ‘his’ Celestial Eagle. USAF photo by Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer, 13SEP2007.

In September 2007, an anniversary flight of 76-0084 was arranged, with Major General (retired) Doug Pearson’s son, Captain Todd Pearson (and for those of use in Idaho, this is the Idaho connection), at the controls. It was then that 76-0084 was dubbed ‘Celestial Eagle’. Model builders note that it was not named Celestial Eagle at the time of the launch.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer, 13SEP2007.

08MAR2015, USAF Space Systems Command releases this video about the only launch of ASM-135A:

Computer generated scenario of resulting debris field created by an ASat strike. As you will see by the date code on the video, it was made in 2014, yet the U.S. Air Force didn’t publicly release the video until November 2021:

F-15 50th Anniversary: LAST HURRAH FOR OREGON’S 173RD FW?

SANDMAN’S SWAN SONG?

EAGLE GETS CANNIBALIZED, LEFTOVERS SENT TO THE BONEYARD, NO MORE OREGON EAGLES?

DESERT STORM FIRST BLOOD FOR USAF F-15s, THE NEVER ENDING TAR BABY CALLED IRAQ!

F-15A POLE DANCER, OR WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 72-0113?

Terminator, October 2022: SPACE FORCE JOINS N-A-S-C-A-R!

Idaho, Opinion, Technology

Vehicle I-D: King of the Stallions stampedes Idaho!

Video October 21, 2022 Hutchins AAron

At least 50 wild horses roam the Saylor Creek Herd Management Area. Photo via the BLM.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is always complaining about the wild Mustangs that roam across Idaho, but this new King of the Stallions actually flies!

U.S. Marine Corps graphic by Corporal Lauren Salmon.

During the month of August 2022, the U.S. Marine Corps conducted the first ever live-fire ‘wargame’ for its new CH-53K King Stallion, over the Saylor Creek bombing/gunnery range in South-Central Idaho.

USMC photo by Corporal Adam Henke, 11AUG2022.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 had the honors, and launched out of the U.S. Air Force’s Mountain Home Air Force Base, in Southwestern Idaho. HMH-461 in based in North Carolina, they chose Idaho to test their new mount, because Idaho is geographically and climatically different from North Carolina.

USMC photo by Corporal Adam Henke, 17AUG2022.

USMC video, by Corporal Adam Henke, HMH-461 gets their King Stallion acquainted with the High Desert terrain of Idaho, 08AUG2022:

The USMC, and Lockheed-Sikorsky, claim the new-build CH-53K is more powerful, can fly higher, can stay airborne longer, is safer and easier to maintain than the older CH-53E Super Stallion.

USMC Corporal Adam Henke video of heavy lift operation, 17AUG2022:

In my opinion, the King Stallion is different enough that it should be considered its own helicopter family, apart from the CH-53 lineage.

USMC Corporal Adam Henke video of GAU-21 .50-cal ‘door-gunner’ live-fire, 17AUG2022:

USMC music video, by Corporal Adam Henke, of the first ‘exercise’ of the King Stallion, 30AUG2022:

March, 2021: CH-53K KING STALLION UPDATE

Weapon I-D, 2021: DOOR GUNNER .50 CAL

Idaho, Saylor Creek Range: 4TH TIME IS THE CHARM, IDAHO ‘HAWGSMOKES’ THE COMPETITION, AGAIN!

Idaho, OCTC: IDAHO INVADED BY APACHES FROM ARIZONA & SINGAPORE?

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: USAF SENDS 27 BLOCK-25 FALCONS TO THE BONEYARD!

Vehicle I-D: SUKHOI-75, THE CHECKMATE, WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY?

JORDANIAN COBRAS الكوبرا الأردني, OR HOW TO REBUILD (and then sell) YOUR U.S. FUNDED AH-1S/F.

Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Biden’s War: Idaho based Snake-River invades Texas, next stop; Kuwait & Iraq!

Image October 17, 2022 Hutchins AAron

17 October 2022 (12:39-UTC-07 Tango 06) 25 Mehr 1401/21 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1444/22 Geng-Xu 4720/17 октября 2022 года

Snake River M1A2SEPV2 Abrams. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13SEP2022.

In September 2022, the Snake River Brigade’s 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT) was busy in Texas, where it was transformed into Task Force Rattler, next stop Kuwait and Iraq.

The Army National Guard’s 116th CBCT is based in Idaho, but has units spread through Florida, Montana, Nevada and Oregon.

South Carolina MRAPs. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13SEP2022.

Ohio’s HMMWV Ambulances. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 14SEP2022.

The 118th Infantry Regiment from South Carolina Army National Guard, as well as the 285th Medical Company from the Ohio Army National Guard, have joined with the 116th CBCT. They are all being deployed to relieve another 116th CBCT led unit which was deployed in November 2021.

Snake River M113 Mortar Carrier. It is basically an upgrade to the old M113 based M106/M125 mortar tracks. New version can carry the 120mm mortar. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 14SEP2022.

It is all part of the ongoing Operation Spartan Shield. The U.S. Army side of Operation Spartan Shield is called Task Force Spartan, which is dependent upon part time Army National Guard and Army Reserve units. Task Force Rattler will be the second, back to back, 12 months deployment for the 116th CBCT.

Snake River M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 15SEP2022.

Before they actually deploy to The Middle East, units must spend 45 days on Fort Bliss, Texas, conducting final deployment training, despite having trained in their home states for as long as two years, and very likely having been deployed many times before.

This AH-64 Apache was being used by the evaluation team out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 14SEP2022.

To make things more confusing, the U.S. Army evaluation team on Fort Bliss is not based in Texas. The U.S. Army evaluators are from the 189th Infantry Brigade Combined Arms Training Battalion, normally based on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Biden’s War: IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON DEPLOY, YET AGAIN!

IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON STUCK IN A DEPLOYMENT LOOP!

2017: IDAHO MILITIA HAS RECORD NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS IN ONE YEAR?

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

4th time is the charm, Idaho ‘HawgSmokes’ the competition, again!

Video October 16, 2022 Hutchins AAron

Idaho Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph R. Morgan, 14OCT2022.

On 14OCT2022, the families of the Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th FW-124th FS were treated to some A-10C Thunderbolt-2 action on Saylor Creek bombing and gunnery range. Even enjoying the view from atop an Idaho Army National Guard M109.

Idaho Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph R. Morgan, 14OCT2022.

The moment was sweeter because the 124th FS had just won its fourth Hawgsmoke competition, setting a new benchmark for number of wins.

Gowen Field (East end of Boise Airport), Idaho, 07SEP2022. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds.

Probably the most non-combat gathering of A-10C Thunderbolt-2s you will ever see! 37 ‘Warthogs’ from Air National Guard, as well as Reserve and Active U.S. Air Force units congregated on Idaho’s Gowen Field, hungry to chew on the Saylor Creek bomb/gun range, for the biennial (normally every other year, except during Pandemics) Hawgsmoke competition, from the 6th through the 8th of September, 2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 07SEP2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 06SEP2022.

On the official opening day of Hawgsmoke 2022, a P-40 Warhawk and a P-47 Thunderbolt (from Idaho’s Warhawk Museum) conducted a ‘heritage flyover’ as part of the opening ceremonies.

A 47th FS ‘Dogpatchers’ A-10C arrives from Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 06SEP2022.

A 354th FS ‘Bulldogs’ A-10C, also from Davis-Monthan AFB. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds, 06SEP2022.

104th FS Air National Guard A-10C out of Maryland. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 08SEP2022.

Air National Guard A-10C, 122nd FW ‘Blacksnakes’ out of Indiana. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 08SEP2022.

Missouri’s ‘KC Hawg’ of the 442nd FW. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 08SEP2022.

Air National Guard’s 124th FW ‘Red’ Idaho (there are ‘Blue’ ones) A-10C. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 08SEP2022.

A 124th FW A-10C lets one rip. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 08SEP2022.

Idaho Air National Guard video by Ryan White, A-10Cs passing gas all over the Saylor Creek range, 08SEP2022:

For the fourth time, and setting a new record for wins, Idaho Air National Guard 190th Fighter Squadron’s 124th Fighter Wing took the Overall Team Award. That is four wins: 2008, 2010, 2021, 2022.

Other winners of Hawgsmoke 2022: Top A-10 Overall Attack Pilot; Lieutenant Colonel John Marks, 303rd Fighter Squadron (FS)-442d Fighter Wing (FW), Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB), Missouri. Top Strafe Team; 303rd FS-442d FW, Whiteman AFB, Missouri. Top Tactical Team; 47th FS-442d FW, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Top Bombing Team; 354th FS-355th FW, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

In 1995 the decades old ‘Cold War’ era Gunsmoke ground attack competition came to an end, in 2000 a new ground attack competition was started called Hawgsmoke.

Hawgsmoke 2021: IDAHO AIR-MILITIA BRINGS HOME THE BACON!