Minnesota National Guard News

'OUR MISSION IS NOT DONE'

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has made several visits to Minnesota Soldiers serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Bosnia. He recalled this week that during one of his visits, a Minnesota Soldier asked him, "Do people remember us? Do they appreciate what we're doing?"

Minnesota leads nation in veteran assistance

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

More than 700 veterans receive benefits that allow them to attend the University of Minnesota. With two wars happening simultaneously, the University of Minnesota has spent the last four years building its services to assist veterans seeking education post-deployment.

Minnesota State Hockey Tradition Not 'Iced'in Afghanistan

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Rep. Newton carries legislation on folding Minnesota flag

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Minnesota National Guard Col. Eric Ahlness, director of government relations, testified to a House committee today (Wednesday, March 10) on legislation carried by career Soldier, Rep. Jerry Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, dealing with properly folding the state flag. A properly folded state flag can be seen in the upper triangle of the display next to Ahlness. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Lessons from the Siege of Sarajevo

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Dragomir Milosevic, a Bosnian Serb general, commanded troops who laid siege to the city of Sarajevo and conducted a campaign of shelling and sniping attacks that killed or injured more than a thousand civilians. It took more than ten years, but Milosevic was tried and convicted of terror and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague, Netherlands. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison. As part of the ongoing series of Medtronic Business and Law Roundtables, two prosecutors from the Milosevic trial and a professional photographer who remained in Sarajevo during the siege talked about the challenges of prosecuting Milosevic at the University of St. Thomas Tuesday afternoon. It was part of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions.

Citizens Committee seeks to bring Community and Military together

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Those attending the meeting were: Mike Grote(Madelia), Doug Gappa(Madelia), Joe McCabe(St. James), Deb Grote (Madelia), Jose Carron(St. James), Tom Mayberry (St. James), "Doc" Durheim(St. James), Paul Nordstrom(St. James) Dave Holmgren(St. James) and Ron Olson(Butterfield).

North Hudson woman has busy life as civilian and soldier

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

Major Chris Ostendorf is a nurse at Hudson Hospital in civilian life. She recently returned from a deployment to Iraq in the Medical Services Corps. At first glance, Christine Ostendorf looks anything but a 23-year Army National Guard veteran who has attained the rank of Major.

Guard off to Afghanistan again

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

The Minnesota National Guard deployed its latest team to begin training for Afghanistan earlier this week. While the number of Soldiers involved is small -- just 13 -- their task ahead is enormous. The group is the third team from the Minnesota Guard to be dispatched to Afghanistan. Its mission is to work with the Afghan Army to improve Soldiering skills. The second team is completing its yearlong deployment in northern Afghanistan near the town of Mazar-I -Sharif, and the third team will combine with a group from the Croatian Army to mentor fledgling Afghan security forces.

St. Michaels hopes to become a 'Yellow Ribbon church

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

When John Hamre returned from serving in the Vietnam War, he was afraid to even tell people he was in the Army. "We were treated pretty badly when we got back," Hamre recalls.

Our view: Military pay mistakes happen all the time? They shouldn't

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

It's pretty bad when you have to make a special effort to pay Soldiers for fighting in Iraq. It's even worse when you wait to pay many of them for 36 months. But that's exactly the case with almost 3,000 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers, nicknamed the Red Bulls. Many who read about the Pentagon's tardiness and lack of responsibility turned red with anger.

Greater Brown County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon at Brown County Congress

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

SFC STEPHEN WHITEHEAD explains the purpose of the Greater Brown County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program and talked about the post deployment yellow ribbon being "untied" after Soldiers return.|

Spring Lake Park commits to military families

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

The city, seeking Yellow Ribbon City designation, is gathering community support. Spring Lake Park Mayor Bob Nelson wants his city to feel like home for service members and their families. So last month, the City Council voted unanimously to seek Yellow Ribbon City designation -- an outward sign of the community's commitment to helping military families get through their loved ones' deployments and to assisting returning veterans in re-acclimating to their daily lives.

MN Soldiers deploy to improve Afghan security forces

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST

ST. PAUL, Minn.-- Thirteen Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard will leave Minnesota Tuesday for a one-year deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

148th Fighter Wing has new command chief

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

Photo & information provided by 148th Fighter Wing DULUTH - The 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard has a new command chief.

Coveted new jets en route to Duluth fighter wing

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

An updated fleet of F-16s means longevity for Duluth's 148th. The 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth will receive the first of 18 Block 50 F-16C jets in April or May. Here, F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 22nd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, line a ramp in November.