BOISE — These soldiers are preparing for deployment.
"I like chaining down and everything because it's kind of like grunt work, you're getting it done," said private first class Isaac Kosmann.
Each soldier is working together, like links on a chain.
"In the grand scheme of things, everybody's doing their part," said Kosmann. They're getting their equipment ready or the trip to California's National Training Center.
"This prepares you, this is as close to real combat as you're going to get in training," said 116th cavalry brigade combat team commander Scott Sheridan.
The Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team joins thousands of other soldiers from various states for the 29-day long training.
"The soldiers will range from years in experience, over 20 years experience, to soldiers that literally just got back from their basic training so the older soldiers can help the younger soldiers in learning the ropes, in showing them what to do, what not to do, and things that worked in the past," said Sheridan.
An Idaho soldier who was there in 2015 says she learned a lot.
"Everybody brings to the table a different skill set, and that makes us mighty because you might know one system but in your civilian job be an electrician, and so when we have something crazy happen where you need the skill-set it's right there," said first lieutenant Natasha Juch.
For those taught to expect the unexpected, having this experience under the belts helps for when it's not training.
"You try to absorb as much as you can, I don't think you realize how much you absorb until you're there," said Juch.
Soldiers deploy for the training next week, stretching from May 24 to June 21.
