Military service: U.S. Army and Utah Army National Guard
Key assignments: 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and 640th Regiment Regional Training Institute
Organization: Founder, Common Task Tactical Training (CT3I)
Professional Biography
Lieutenant Colonel Ihor Balaban was a military leader, educator, tactical trainer, and longtime member of the Utah Army National Guard and 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) community.
Balaban commanded Group Support Company, 19th Special Forces Group, as more than 160 soldiers prepared for and deployed to Iraq in support of the active-duty 5th Special Forces Group. The company provided capabilities required to sustain special-operations missions, including logistics, maintenance, transportation, communications, administration, and surveillance support.
Military Education and Leadership
Balaban later commanded 2nd Battalion, 640th Regiment at Utah’s Regional Training Institute. The organization conducted military occupational specialty training as well as Officer Candidate School, Army Basic Instructor Course, Small Group Instructor Course, medical sustainment, driver training, and other professional military education.
That assignment extended his influence beyond the soldiers he directly led. Developing an instructor or officer affects future students and subordinate personnel, making institutional education a form of long-term force multiplication.
Earlier in his career, Balaban also participated in developing U.S.–Ukrainian military relationships. His Ukrainian language and cultural background supported communication involving military terminology, doctrine, organizations, and professional cooperation.
Common Task Tactical Training
Balaban founded Common Task Tactical Training, Inc., or CT3I, extending his military and educational experience into professional tactical training. The organization connected military, law-enforcement, and civilian training communities.
Matt Landfair assisted CT3I as a law-enforcement training coordinator, creating a direct professional relationship between Balaban’s organization and the later founder of Primary & Secondary. Balaban also continued his own development through advanced training at the Direct Action Resource Center.
Legacy
Later in his military career, Balaban served in Europe in association with U.S. European Command. He died in Germany on February 19, 2015, at age 53.
Balaban’s legacy combines operational support, military leadership, instructor development, international cooperation, and tactical education. His profile holds particular significance for Primary & Secondary because Matt’s CT3I work was part of the professional foundation from which P&S later grew.