News
As a veteran with nearly two decades of service, Army 1st Sgt. Steven Cox has had plenty of experience, but his latest achievement took him to a different kind of field – a softball field. Cox, the first sergeant assigned to the Minnesota National Guard’s Faribault-based 224th Transportation Company, recently competed with the 2024 All-Army
Read the full article…
For most of her life, Airman 1st Class Lydia Marsolais never imagined serving in the military. It felt unfamiliar, with everything she knew gathered from movies or history books. However, a desire to follow in her adoptive mom’s footsteps by serving others, and a love for aviation as a private pilot, pushed her towards the
Read the full article…
Mother’s Day is a day dedicated to recognizing and appreciating mothers from all walks of life. Their roles and duty to families and their children are immeasurable amidst all the other responsibilities they take on to uphold society. This Mother’s Day, we honor two remarkable mothers who are currently deployed overseas with the Minnesota National
Read the full article…
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon representatives from 20 communities and 29 companies and organizations across Minnesota attended a workshop at Camp Ripley on April 30 to share best practices in supporting the military community. A statewide program that began in 2008, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, known also as BTYR, establishes and sustains a community and corporate
Read the full article…
The Month of the Military Spouse is observed in the United States every May to honor the contributions and sacrifices of military spouses. Lauren Shegstad is one of the almost 10,000 military spouses of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members in Minnesota. She and her husband, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas (Nick) Shegstad,
Read the full article…
The Minnesota National Guard’s Child & Youth Program hosted Purple Up at Mall of America® on April 25 to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of military youth to the nation. “The children in our military families must often overcome difficulties that many people may not be aware of,” said Joy Luedeman, Child & Youth Program
Read the full article…
For four intense days, 25 service members from the Minnesota National Guard and NATO allied nations Canada and Croatia, pushed themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally through 18 warrior tasks, all for a shot at being named the Minnesota National Guard’s 2025 Best Warrior. Held April 21-26 at Camp Ripley near Little Falls, the competition was
Read the full article…
Every April, Month of the Military Child is observed across the United States Armed Forces to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of military youth for the nation. Air Force Master Sgt. Devin Duryee, 133d Airlift Wing Maintenance Squadron, and his wife, Leigh, have four children – Emma, 16; Claire, 15; Evelyn, 11; and Nora, 7.
Read the full article…
The Arden Hills-based 34th Infantry Division, also known as the Red Bulls, held its annual Operational Division Alignment Conference, or ODAC, on March 28, 2025, at the division headquarters in the General John W. Vessey Readiness Center at the Arden Hills Army Training Site. Last year’s conference did not take place as the division was
Read the full article…
April 11, 2025 (CAMP RIPLEY, Minn.) – Teams from the Minnesota National Guard Joint Operations Center (JOC) conducted an exercise April 8-10, 2025 at the Camp Ripley Training Center as part of the U.S. Army NORTHCOM Joint Operations Center Training Course (JOC-TC). The capstone scenario of the exercise challenged participants to demonstrate lessons learned from
Read the full article…
Media Advisories
August 5, 2020 (ST. PAUL, Minnesota) — The Minnesota National Guard is releasing a summary of the results from the military investigation board appointed by the Adjutant General to provide an accurate account of the Dec. 5, 2019, crash of a Minnesota National Guard UH-60L aircraft that resulted in the tragic death of three crew
Read the full article…
July 30, 2020 (ALEXANDRIA, Minnesota) – Nearly 100 Soldiers from the Alexandria-based Battery C, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery will deploy to U.S. Central Command region in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. “Our Soldiers come from more than 60 Minnesota communities,” said Company 1st Sgt. Adam Vanderwal. “We have worked hard over the last several
Read the full article…
July 7, 2020 To the citizens of Minnesota, Last year, the Minnesota National Guard reported its sexual assault numbers publicly for the first time. This was not a heroic gesture, but a necessary one to shed light on a dark topic. In conjunction with that announcement, we held three town hall meetings to confront sexual
Read the full article…
Serving Our Troops to Host Virtual Deployment Ceremony and Cook Out for National Guard and Families June 16, 2020 (CAMP RIPLEY, Minn.) — Nearly 700 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s Mankato-based 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry will be honored Friday, June 19, at Camp Ripley, prior to deployment to the Horn of Africa. The soldiers
Read the full article…
June 2, 2020 (SAINT PAUL, Minn.) – The Minnesota National Guard conducted more than two dozen missions across the Twin Cities last night. Capitol Complex Security was one of those missions, and guardsmen found themselves serving as allies to all peaceful protestors. Master Sgt. Acie Matthews, Equal Opportunity Advisor for the Minnesota National Guard, was
Read the full article…
Contact Us
Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs
Veterans Service Building
20 12th Street West
St. Paul, MN 55155-2002
mn.ng.web@mail.mil
News Media Inquiries
651-282-4410