Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division ‘Red Bulls’ will be deploying to the middle-east beginning in February

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) – Local soldiers will be among the 550 Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division Red Bulls heading to Kuwait for a ten month deployment.

In February, the unit will train at Fort Cavasos, Texas, before arriving in 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.

This will be the first deployment for 46% of the unit’s 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. Four soldiers within the division will be participating in their sixth deployment.

In a news release, Army Maj. Gen. Charles Kemper, 34th Infantry Division Commander, said: “The 34th Infantry Division Headquarters commands and controls Task Force Spartan from Kuwait, which is deployed across seven partner nations. 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.

Story by Jennifer Lewerenz / KNSI