Associated Press - June 7, 2009 9:04 PM ET

WINCHESTER, Idaho (AP) - Citizen soldiers with the Idaho National Guard are getting training in running heavy equipment, patrolling and other basic soldier skills during a 9-day drill in north-central Idaho.

The work has 125 men and women camped on a hillside near the small town of Winchester, working in three construction platoons and one headquarters platoon.

Capt. Mike McDonald of Grangeville says the camp is where members of his 126th Engineer Company become operators, not just drivers, of road graders, back hoes and other equipment.

The base camp has been used many times before by the Idaho National Guard for training exercises. It's been dubbed Forward Operating Base Mongoose.

Information from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.