I have one of my email accounts setup through BIS through my OWA account at work. I understand the idle state and what not but is there a way to manually grab the messages when it's staying idle?

no, your BIS is on a schedule and you can't manually tell it to get mail.

Sorry.

if the BIS finds mail in its normal 15 minute cycle, it begins to search every 5 minutes.

The BIS cycle is every 15 minutes,
then two minutes,
if mail, then two again
if none, back to 15.

Roughly speaking.

hmm i was told 15min, if it finds any mail, then 3 cycles of 5min, if it doesnt find any then back to 15min cycles

JSanders is correct AFAIK, as that follows everything I have been told and heard.

hmm im gonna have to ask some buddies at RIM. not that i dont trust Jsanders, i just want to make sure i have it correct.