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National Guard members, KTEC students find common ground

by Andrew Enriquez Special to
| December 3, 2018 12:00 AM

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Specialist Hunter Keller of the Idaho Army National Guard chats with KTEC students during an interactive presentation for the auto mechanic, diesel, and welding classes that brought National Guard personnel and trucks into the school. (ANDREW ENRIQUEZ/Courtesy)

RATHDRUM — Six members of Idaho Army National Guard introduced about 150 Kootenai Technical Education Campus students to some serious heavy equipment Friday.

The Guard members guided hands-on demonstrations of a medium tactical vehicle (MTV) truck and contact mechanical Humvee, as well as a towed welding station built onto a trailer.

Students of the auto mechanic, diesel engine and welding classes were able to examine the equipment up close, even climbing into the largest vehicle’s cab to rev the engine and honk the horn.

“It’s not just a normal assembly, another meeting, (students) are actually interested in it,” said Thomas Bradley, a 16-year-old Lake City High School and KTEC welding student. “They’re checking out the engines, the parts. They’re genuinely interested, and that’s just the coolest part.”

“The trucks and welding setup were awesome,” said Katie Johnston, welding instructor. “You don’t really realize that type of stuff is out there. It’s cool to see it in person.”

Students attend a traditional high school or homeschools in the area, but also attend several hours of technical class in either the morning or evening at KTEC.

“Instead of having first and second period (at Lake City High School) doing whatever I’d be doing, being able to come here and work on cars and learn more things — getting hands-on — is really nice, because that’s the best way for me to learn,” said auto mechanic student Ben Kubetz, a 16-year-old junior.

Auto technician instructor T.J. Robertson and diesel instructor John Mackesy and worked with the local National Guard unit to bring gear and personnel to the campus.

“I think it’s great what the Guard did today,” Robertson said. “We want to show our students the maximum of things we can. That’s what really sells a job in an industry or in the military — is actually talking to someone who’s doing it to see what it’s all about.”

“I learned that in the state of Idaho we have drone operators and people that fix nightvision gear, very technical jobs that guys can get into,” Mackesy said. “That surprised me.”

For welding instructor Johnson, a major part of the KTEC mission is to give students an option in future job markets.

“There’s a huge, huge need for all of our trades, and it’s only going to grow,” Johnson said. “A lot of people do have that mindset: Go to high school, go to college. Well, there are all these gaps, all the open positions that need to be filled.”

Staff Sgt. Jason Brewer, a presenter at the event, said he sees a common goal between KTEC educators and National Guard recruiters.

“It’s awesome to become a combat engineer and blow stuff up with C-4 (explosives),” Brewer said. “But we also have career paths like fuel specialists, who get hazardous material handling certifications that are expensive in the civilian world, or motor transport operators, who get most of the way to a commercial driver’s license with paid training. And our education benefits work for vocational school and certifications. You can go to Paul Mitchell and learn to cut hair if you want to.”

“Sgt. Brewer and I talked about this earlier,” Mackesy said. “How can we help you change the story? Don’t be like your uncle. Don’t be like your dad. Don’t be like your mom. Don’t only achieve this level of success in your life. You can do this. And how can we give you these tools? How do we get you there?”

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Andrew Enriquez is a staff sergeant in the Idaho Army National Guard.