News
Life in the military requires a significant commitment. At first, for those joining the National Guard, the classic “One weekend a month, two weeks a year” sounds simple and manageable enough. Over the years, though, those weekends add up. The annual training periods add up. Deployments have become almost inevitable, as well. If that gets
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Spc. Lula Lemieux, also as Mahnk Ska Jaing, embodies the spirit of resilience and cultural diversity within the Minnesota National Guard. At the age of 17, she enlisted as a human resource specialist because of the educational benefits the Minnesota National Guard provided. She also wanted to help educate Soldiers about their benefits. In a
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When Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke was appointed Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, he outlined three priorities, with “people” at the top of his list. The Minnesota National Guard views its people as the greatest strength and most valuable resource required to complete missions. Fast forward to August 2022 and the establishment of
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“’Do you want more money?’ That’s what I ask Soldiers,” said Nick Hirdler, the interim incentives manager for the Minnesota National Guard. “The biggest thing is Soldier care; I am very passionate about that.” Hirdler, who also serves as a cook and culinary specialist with I Company, 134th Brigade Sustainment Battalion has been a part
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As part of the Month of the Military Family observance in November, two Minnesota National Guard families shared their thoughts on life as a military family. The Trisco Family Air Force Master Sgt. Alyson Trisco and her husband, Air Force Master Sgt. Shane Trisco, have been serving in the military a combined total of 29
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Almost 100 individuals representing companies and organizations across Minnesota gathered at the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Fall Conference on Nov. 2, 2023 at Capital One in St. Cloud to connect, learn, and develop ways to support the state’s military community. November is Month of the Military Family, and the conference theme was “Helping our Military
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2023 ushered in a new era of modernization and partnership for the Minnesota National Guard’s 177th Cyber Protection Team, as they traveled across the globe to train with partners in other states and nations. These missions honed their proficiency in the cyber domain and took them to Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Tunisia, Morocco, and Norway. “This has
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“I really didn’t run until I joined the Army when I was 17,” said Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer St. Amand, a recruiter with the Minnesota National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “I was in basic training and the drill sergeants made a big deal about it; it lit a fire in me to continue to
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The Minnesota National Guard is receiving a brand-new facility to assist in their goal of keeping Soldiers in the Minnesota National Guard in peak condition with the help of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program and professionals. According to the Army’s website, www.army.mil/acft, Holistic Health and Fitness, known as H2F, is the Army’s new
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The 2023 state and federal legislative sessions can be described as a big win for the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs and the Minnesota National Guard. The capital resulting from the sessions will fund a variety of projects to improve facilities, readiness, and equipment. According to the Department of Military Affairs Executive Director, Don Kerr,
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Media Advisories
February 24, 2020 (ST. PAUL, Minnesota) – The Minnesota National Guard will see several milestone events this year, including the deployment of nearly 1,000 soldiers, the opening of a 150,000 square-foot readiness center in Arden Hills, completion of a large-scale training exercise and the implementation of a new fitness test for the more than 11,000
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February 20, 2020 (Coon Rapids, Minnesota) – Col. Shawn Manke will be promoted to the rank of brigadier general during a promotion ceremony Friday, February 21, in Coon Rapids. Manke currently serves as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Red Bull Infantry Division. He formerly served as the Chief
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January 9, 2020 (ST. PAUL, Minnesota) – Pvt. Connor J. McGurran, 19, was found unresponsive yesterday morning following a training exercise at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. McGurran was born May 3, 2000, in Owatonna, Minnesota. He obtained a GED in the fall of 2019, enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard on September 12, and
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UPDATE: August 5, 2020 – Minnesota National Guard releases summary of investigation results from 2019 helicopter accident At 1:55 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, a Minnesota National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter took off from the St. Cloud Airport to conduct a routine maintenance flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilots initiated a MAYDAY call
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December 7, 2019 (ST. CLOUD, Minn.) — The Minnesota National Guard releases the names of the three soldiers killed in the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, southwest of St. Cloud. The deceased are: Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr., age 28 Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles P. Nord, age
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Minnesota National Guard
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20 12th Street West
St. Paul, MN 55155-2002
(651) 268-8919