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
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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,
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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“I’m really glad that I joined the Army,” said Spc. Uriel Rosario, a cavalry scout assigned to “Crazy” Troop, 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry Regiment. “I enjoyed my time at [one-station unit training], even with it being 22 weeks; it was an experience that I will never forget.” As one of the newest members of the
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The Month of the Military Child is observed in April to highlight the role of military children in the armed forces community and provide a way to recognize and show support for them. In Minnesota, there are more than 15,000 children who have at least one parent serving in the National Guard or Reserve. Minnesota
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The Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon was recognized for 15 years of supporting Minnesota’s military community at a city council meeting at Hugo City Hall on March 17.  Before the meeting, guests, including Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, the Minnesota National Guard’s Adjutant General, and Army Brig. Gen. Charles Kemper, 34th Infantry Division commander, were
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