Adjutant General visits Sidney National Guard unit

General Daryl Bohac, the Nebraska National Guard's new Adjutant General knows the importance of small transportation units like the one based in Sidney.

Bohac, who was sworn in on July 14, oversees three large divisions. These include the Army National Guard which currently consists of 3,800 soldiers, the Air National Guard which lists slightly less than 1,000 airmen and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

"It is responsible for coordinating and managing disaster response," Bohac said.

NEMA is capable of responding to all types of disasters, including fires which are a fairly worrisome in the panhandle.

"That's a big concern, particularly with the drought," Bohac said. "So far, so good this year."

NEMA also responds to all sorts of other disasters such as flooding, winter ice and snow storms and tornados. The unit of the Army National Guard that works out of Sidney, which Bohac visited yesterday, is a detachment of a transportation company.

"They have a responsibility to move cargo and assets and support other units," Bohac said.

Guardsmen in Sidney are mostly truck driver and mechanics. Such small support operations are crucial to the rest of the guard, Bohac said.

"Its critical that we're connected with the communities and the populations," Bohac said. "That they know who we are and what we do."

It's vital that the National Guard be dispersed throughout the state to provide the governor with a responsive force in case citizens are threatened in any way, Bohac said.

"We don't want the force all concentrated just in one area," he added.

Bohac stressed the importance of the guard's integration into the community.

"When we get ready to deploy and go overseas, the two key components to our success are community support and employers support," Bohac said.

The unit of the Army National Guard stationed in Sidney just joined the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce to help connect with the area, said Staff Sergeant Rachell Rowley who works in recruiting and retention.

"Really the National Guard isn't about what the community can do for us, it's more about what we can do for the community," Rowley said.

This area does look out for its guard men and women, said Staff Sergeant Cody Green who works in training for the Army National Guard in Sidney.

"I do think the community supports us, as in supporting our soldiers," Green said. "We have a lot of part time soldiers that have full time careers out in the community."

These employers have allowed enlisted employees to take part in weekend drills and two week summer trainings with no problems, Green added.

Mostly the Sidney unit travels in convoys around Nebraska and Wyoming and brings in new soldiers and to incorporate them into its training. When members of transportation units, like the one in Sidney, are deployed, their main duty is usually to supply troops on the front lines, which is vital to any operation.

"Without supplies, the whole mission of the army wouldn't be able to happen," Green said. "It's just as important as the guys that are fighting in the front lines."

Thirty-eight Army National Guard members gather once a month for a drill weekend in Sidney, and then have an annual training event for two weeks each summer. During the summer training, the guard might travel to areas where it could take part in larger exercises.

"We try to find meaningful, challenging rewarding training for our soldiers to go to," Bohac said.

This helps the guard to retain members.

Bohac believes his varied background adds to his ability to lead.

"I have both enlisted experience and officer experience," Bohac said. "That helps me be a better officer."

He thinks this helps him connect with enlisted soldiers.

Bohac started out in the Marine Core Reserve and then transferred to the Air National Guard, but has worked closely with the Army National Guard in the past.

"I know a fair amount," Bohac said. "I certainly don't know it all, and I think recognizing that helps me be a better leader."

He spent 25 years of his military service as a traditional member of the guard and became a full time member in 2003.

When Bohac found out that Gov. Heineman had appointed him as Adjutant General he was ecstatic.

"I did a little fist pump," Bohac said. "I was pretty excited and I still am."

Those employed with the Nebraska National Guard have a lot of talent and determination and do great things, Bohac said.

"To be a part of that and to lead something like that," Bohac said. "That's a real privilege and honor."

One of his goals is to preserve the number of forces in the state and maybe increase it. The national government could save defense money by taking some units out of active duty and moving them to reserves.

"On average we cost one third less in any given year than an active component soldier or airman does," Bohac said.

He thinks that the government might be able to save some money while maybe even growing the numbers of those enlisted in the National Guard.

"We can preserve capability in the reserve component when the nation needs it," Bohac said. "But the nation doesn't always need a large standing army."

The guard's leadership will have to be creative to present rewarding and challenging training to members in the upcoming year. At the moment Nebraska National Guard doesn't have any members scheduled for deployment.

"We're gonna have to find things for them to do that keep them engaged," Bohac said. "And wanting to come back month after month and year after year. We have a very experienced force at the moment and I'd like to retain that."

The guard received reduced operation funds this year due to sequestration. Military technicians, who are full time member of the guard were furloughed every Monday for six weeks.

"We were very directly impacted in the National Guard," Bohac said.

It's yet to be seen what will happen in fiscal year 2014, because the guard does not have a budget yet.

"That uncertainty is challenging," Bohac said.