Sendoff Ceremony Set as Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Red Bulls Deploy Thursday for Overseas Tour

(KNSI) — A sendoff ceremony is set for Thursday as 550 members of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Red Bulls head to the Middle East.

The unit will first go to Texas for training at Fort Cavazos, then, it’s on to the Middle East to provide leadership, command, and planning for future exercises for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. The Red Bulls will be responsible for operations across seven countries.

Their responsibilities include working with partner nations in the region to increase military capacity, promote self-reliance, and increase security.

The ceremony will be at Grace Church in Eden Prairie at 10:30 a.m. February 1st.

Locally, men and women from Becker, Big Lake, Buffalo, Cold Spring, Foley, Monticello, Paynesville, Princeton, Rice, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, St. Michael, Sartell, and Sauk Rapids are part of the unit.

The Red Bulls last went to the Middle East in 2018 and also deployed in 2009. This will be the first deployment for 46% of the soldiers, the second for 28% of the soldiers, the third deployment for 16% of the soldiers, and the fourth deployment or more for 10% of the soldiers. This will be the sixth deployment for four of the soldiers.

Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General Shawn Manke says the unit is ready. “I am extremely proud of our Red Bull Soldiers, and I know they will continue to add to the division’s rich history. Red Bulls have defended our state and nation for more than 100 years, and this deployment will assist our allies and partners in building security in the region.”

“The 34th Infantry Division Headquarters commands and controls Task Force Spartan from Kuwait, which is deployed across seven partner nations,” said Army Maj. Gen. Charles Kemper, 34th Infantry Division Commander. “As part of Operation Spartan Shield, we work with like-minded nations to reassure our partners, build interoperability, increase the capacity through combined exercises, and to deter malign influences in the region.”

The Arden Hills-based 34th Infantry Division Headquarters provides training and readiness oversight for nine National Guard brigades with more than 27,000 Soldiers across Minnesota and 29 other states.

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