34th ID heading to pre-deployment training

[unhappycamper]

34th ID heading to pre-deployment training
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 10, 2009 9:08:45 EST

ST. PAUL, Minn. — More than 1,000 Minnesota National Guard troops are getting ready to leave this week on a deployment that will send them to Iraq for a year or more.

The 1,037 soldiers are members of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and are based in Rosemount, Inver Grove Heights, Faribault and Stillwater.

A deployment dinner and ceremony is scheduled Tuesday evening at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul.

Unit spokesman Capt. Paul Rickert says a majority of the unit has been to Iraq before.

Rickert says the soldiers will be performing control and command duties in eight provinces in southern Iraq, and will be in charge of not only National Guard soldiers but active-duty soldiers as well.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_34th_deploy_iraq_021009/%2e