Willmar-based National Guardsmen to return home Saturday

August 25, 2016 (WILLMAR, Minnesota) — More than 150 Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard’s 682nd Engineer Battalion will return to Willmar Saturday following a mobilization in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

“The Soldiers of Task Force Wild excelled in their mission, and were recognized across the theater for their hard work and dedication,” said Lt. Col. Keith Ferdon, battalion commander. “I couldn’t be prouder of how our Soldiers represented the State of Minnesota.”

The mission of the Task Force was to provide horizontal and vertical engineer construction in support of coalition forces in the region. The Soldiers oversaw the planning and execution of 285 construction projects with an approximate total value of 20.2 million dollars in seven countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.

The unit’s forward support company was responsible for distribution support and maintenance of equipment that increased the battalion’s operational readiness from 59 percent to 91 percent.

Members of the media are invited to attend the return ceremony, Saturday, August 27 at 3:30 p.m. at the Willmar Senior High School, 2701 30th St NE, Willmar, MN, 56201. Members of the media are invited to arrive 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.

For more information on the Minnesota National Guard, visit www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org.