Spec. Jeremy Parent (right) of Brainerd reenlisted to serve an additional 6 years while stationed at Joint Base Balad, Iraq with the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Combat Aviation Brigade. Spec. Parent, a 1999 More
"3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Happy New Year!" shouted Soldiers and Airmen at the stroke of midnight on Jan 1, 2009. Military members from Task Force 34 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq took a brief pause to recognize the chang More
Minnesota National Guard Biathlon Team member Travis Northway, a Soldier with the MN Army National Guard, skis at the start of the 2008 Central Region National Guard Biathlon competition held on Jan. 11 and 12 More
Members of the Chippewa County sheriff salute the 'Flag of Honor' as it is being presented to the wife and family members of the late Jason Zunker on Jan. 23rd at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington hotel in Blo More
Wisconsin Chippewa County sheriff Chris Kowalczyk prepares to receive the 'Flag of Honor' during a ceremony at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington hotel on Jan. 23. The 'Flag of Honor' arrived at the Hilton Minn More
Minnesota National Guard Airmen and Soldiers stand in formation during the 'Flag of Honor' event at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minn., on Jan. 23. The 'Flag of Honor' arrived at the More
Pvt. Audrey Devries learns how to disassemble the M240B during pre-deployment training at Camp Ripley on Jan. 25. All Soldiers of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade participated in weapons familiarization trainin More
Junior enlisted, non-commissioned officers and officers of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade participate in short combatives training, at Camp Ripley, on Jan. 25. The training is preparing the brigade for their More
Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash, commander of the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division visited the troops of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade during their aviation training exercise. Members from the 34th Combat Aviatio More
A Soldier is able to watch as a simulated exercise is being executed. Members from the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade from Minnesota, 3-159 Assault Reconnaissance Battalion from Germany and the 3-142 Assault Heli More
Task Force 34 Soldiers participated in port operations to include: unloading equipment from the ship, aircraft checks and maintenance, maintenance test flights and culminating in the aircrafts being flown to Ud More
Pvt. Andrew Deutsch, from St. Paul, Minn., Pvt. Gerald Britton, from White Bear Lake, Minn., Pvt. Rosa Gasparalfaro from Anoka, Minn., Pvt. 1st Class Emily Tepler from St. Paul, Minn., and Pvt. Kathleen from Ma More
Chief Warrant Officer Wade Olson of C. Co. 2-211 General Aviation Support Battalion Air Ambulance works on a tail of a UH-60 Black Hawk on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Nov. 11.
Soldiers from Task Force 34 participate in Rudolf's 5k Swim on Joint Base Balad, Iraq on Dec. 24.
Sgt. 1st Class Jason Goble, Sgt. Jacob Long and Spc. Angel River all reenlist during a routine training flight near Joint Base Balad, Iraq on Dec 25.
The Airmen from the 148th Fighter Wing of Duluth, Minn. take a break while performing routine maintenance on a F-16 Fighter Jet on Joint Base Balad, Iraq Dec 30.
Families, friends and loved ones gather together in Stillwater, Minn., to welcome home the members of the Minnesota National Guard after a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Minnesota Honor Guard Rifle Party stand at attention during the flyover of Staff Sgt. Brian Jacobson's Interment at Fort Snelling National Cementary, Minn., May 7. In 2006 Jacobson joined the 2-147 Assault Batt More
Fort Snelling, Minn., hosted the 2010 Military Funeral Honors Competition. The Army Guard will holds its annual honor guard competition to test the proficiency of eight teams from New York, West Virginia, Ten More
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Headquarters Company, conduct personnel searchs and do other training in the field prior to a deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn, June 8.
A volunteer from Serving Our Troops, a Twin Cities non-profit organization, hangs a large American flag in the seating area prior to soldiers and families arriving. Serving Our Troops - St. Paul to Fort McCoy s More
Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Sole, firefighter with the 133rd Air Wing in St. Paul, Minn., and native of Farmington, Minn., is currently deployed in support of Operation New Dawn.
On Thanksgiving Day 2011, Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash, Minnesota Adjutant General and Minnesota Senior Enlisted Advisor Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Kallberg join Col. Eric Kerska and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Herr to serve th More
On Thanksgiving Day 2011, Minnesota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash and Minnesota Senior Enlisted Adviser Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Kallberg visit Camp Buehring, Kuwait, and the troops of 2nd Battalion, 135t More
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles roll into the Redistribution Property Assistance Team Yard at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, Dec. 3, 2011. The RPAT assists soldiers and units coming out of Iraq to turn in miss More
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles roll into the Redistribution Property Assistance Team Yard at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, Dec. 3, 2011. The RPAT assists soldiers coming out of Iraq to turn in mission-essent More
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, Director of Strategic Effects and spokesperson for United States Forces-Iraq, visited Third Army/ARCENT's Command Press Information Center here Dec. 4. The CPIC will serve as an a More
The mini-gateway is bustling with activity as soldiers go through Customs Dec. 7. The mini-gateway allows soldiers and command an opportunity to ensure that baggage and soldiers do not contain any prohibited it More
After leaving their base in Iraq for the final time and traveling to Kuwait, Spc. Brandon Babiash, gunner with the 82nd Airborne and a native of Tucson, Ariz., hangs a flag on his vehicle at Khabari Crossing. T More
After leaving their base in Iraq for the final time and traveling to Kuwait, Spc. Brandon Babiash, gunner with the 82nd Airborne, and native of Tuscan, Ariz., hangs a flag on his vehicle at Khabari Crossing. Th More
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne, who were deployed to Iraq, cross the border to Kuwait. The reposturing of U.S. forces and equipment is being accomplished through a monumental collaborative team effort consisti More
"We have been into Iraq and logged a lot of miles ...and help closing this chapter gives me a great amount of pride and I am honored to do it," said Staff Sgt. Grandahl, Charlie Company 1-194 Combined Arms Batt More
A soldier ground guides tactical vehicles through the Four Corners yard here Dec. 10. The vehicles will wait in line to be downloaded and processed after their long journey from Iraq before they are staged for More
Mine resistant ambush protected vehicles traveling from Iraq arrive at the Redistribution Property Assistance Team yard Dec. 11. After coming to a stop at the RPAT yard, the MRAPs will be downloaded and staged More
Supporting the drawdown is accomplished many different ways. A Minnesota National Guardsmen 'Red Bull' from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor, parks a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle after it More
Supporting the drawdown is accomplished many different ways. Soldiers from 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor, inspect and fix a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, Dec. 15, More
Distinguished guests, service members and media from around the world came to witness the last convoy of service members cross over the border into Kuwait from Iraq on Dec. 18. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, “GRE More
Sgt. Joseph Novak, Pfc. Scott Olson, Spc. Chris Lee, Spc. Dan Olson, Spc. Nicholas Tichy and Sgt. Eric Holstein all soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division Headquarters Company Commo Secti More
Serving Our Troops embarked on their ninth project and largest since the organization started in 2004. "Saint Paul to Kuwait," occurred on Feb. 25, 2012 in both Kuwait and Saint Paul, Minn. There are more than More
Serving Our Troops embarked on their ninth project and largest since the organization started in 2004. "St. Paul to Kuwait" occurred on Feb. 25, 2012, in both Kuwait and St. Paul, Minn. There are more than 2,7 More
Twelve Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers from the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team returned to Minnesota on June 16 after a one-year deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. "I am tremen More
Despite the heat and rainy weather, Minnesota National Guard soldiers and airmen from the CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERF-P) conducted an exercise at Volk Field, Wis., July 25. The team is designed More
Soldiers of the 147th Finance Company, 347th Regional Support Group from Roseville, Minn., say good-bye to family and friends prior to getting on the bus for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. "The unit is s More
On Sept. 22 twelve soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard's sixth Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team returned home from a deployment to Afghanistan to the Roseville Armory in Roseville, Minn.
Travis Northway, of the Minnesota National Guard's Biathlon Team arrives at the finish line during the Central Regional completion held at Camp Ripley, Minn., Jan. 10 through 12. Minnesota was one of eight sta More
Members of the Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department and Minnesota State Patrol participate in the 'Flag of Honor' ceremony at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minn., on Jan 23. The 'Fla More
Minnesota National Guard Airmen and Soldiers stand in formation during the 'Flag of Honor' event at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington hotel in Bloomington, Minn., on Jan. 23rd. The 'Flag of Honor' arrived at t More
Chief Warrant Officer Pamela Howell follows an instructional handout for the M249 SAW during pre-deployment training at Camp Ripley on Jan. 25. All Soldiers of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade participated in w More
Maj. Patricia Baker, S-4, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, finishes a combatives drill with a fellow officer, on Jan. 25, at Camp Ripley, Minn. Baker and other members of the 34th CAB are preparing for a deploymen More
Members from the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade from Minnesota, 3-159 Assault Reconnaissance Battalion from Germany and the 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion from New York, have joined together at the Aviation W More
Soldiers were given a commanders coin as they were deemed 'heros of the battle' during the aviation training exercise. Members from the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade from Minnesota, 3-159 Assault Reconnaissance More
Capt. Mike Weaver of Maplewood, Minn. opens his federal ballot he received in the mail. Even though he is deployed with Task Force 34 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq he was still able to register and cast his vote fo More
Private 1st Class Joshua Vance, UH-60 Blackhawk Mechanic for the Iowa Army National Guard C Company 2-211 General Support Aviation Battalion Air Ambulance attached to 3rd Marine Air Wing, performs engine water More
Soldiers from Task Force 34 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, gather at the Freedom Chapel on Dec. 24, for a Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.
While in flight on a UH-60 Black Hawk, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Goble, Sgt. Jacob Long and Spc. Angel River touch an American Flag while saying their oath to symbolize reenlistment. The Soldier reenlisted during a More
Capt. Joseph Munger of Task Force 34 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, cooks hot dogs and hamburgers for his troops on New Year's Eve 2008.
Honor Guard Team Members carry the remains of Staff Sgt. Brian Jacobson into the shelter during the interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetary, Minn., May 7. In 2006 Jacobson joined the 2-147 Assault Battalio More
1st Brigade Combat Team Commander Col. Eric Kerska for STX training at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 3.
Sgt. Micheal Racky, and other soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Headquarters Company, practice manning a entry control point in the field prior to a deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn, June 8.
On Thanksgiving Day 2011, Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Herr, command sergeant major of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division serves his troops a Thanksgiving Meal on Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
Soldiers unload and clean their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles in the Redistribution Property Assistance Team Yard at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, Dec. 3, 2011. The RPAT assists soldiers and units coming ou More
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles roll into the Redistribution Property Assistance Team (RPAT) Yard at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, Dec. 6, 2011. The RPAT assists soldiers coming out of Iraq to turn in mission More
During their first stop in Kuwait after crossing the Iraq border, a little piece of pride sits with a kelvar of a soldier with the 82nd Airborne. The reposture of our U.S. forces and equipment is being accompl More
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne, who were deployed to Iraq, make the final stretch to cross the border into Kuwait. The reposturing of U.S. forces and equipment is being accomplished through a monumental collab More
1st Cavalry Division soldiers prepare for a post-deployment inspection of their weapons Dec. 11. The different types of arms include M16s, M4s, M203 grenade launchers and M249 squad automatic weapons, all of wh More
Supporting the drawdown is accomplished many different ways. Soldiers from 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor, park a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle after it was inspected at Camp Virginia, Kuwai More
Distinguished guests, service members and media from around the world came to the last convoy of service members cross over the border into Kuwait from Iraq on Dec. 18. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, "GREYWOLF," More
Minnesota National Guardsmen Sgt. Joseph Novak, Pfc. Scott Olson, Spc. Chris Lee, Spc. Dan Olson, Spc. Nicholas Tichy and West Virginia National Guardsmen Sgt. Eric Holstein all soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat More
A Patriot Guard person stands by to welcome the family and friends of twelve Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers from the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team returning to Minnesota on June 16 after a one- More
On Sept. 22, 12 soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard's sixth Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team returned home from a deployment to Afghanistan to the Roseville Armory in Roseville, Minn.
The wife of Jason Zunker puts a Chippewa Sheriffs patch in the case holding the 'Flag of Honor' at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington hotel on Jan. 23rd. The 'Flag of Honor' arrived at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bl More
Junior enlisted, non-commissioned officers and officers of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade participate in short combatives training, at Camp Ripley, Minn., on Jan. 25. The training is preparing the brigade for More
Spc. Nancy Charlton and Spc. Megan Hanft receive instructions from an instructor on how to disassemble the .50 Caliber machine gun during pre-deployment training at Camp Ripley, Minn., on Jan. 25. All Soldiers More
Soldiers prepare a prop which will be used to help Soldiers prepare for an simulated upcoming mission. Members from the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade from Minnesota, 3-159 Assault Reconnaissance Battalion from G More
With the upcoming election right around the corner, the Soldiers vote really does count. Spc. Sal Motten from Task Force 34, 834th Aviation Support Battalion, takes the online route to cast his vote this election season.
(left to right) Sgt. Gregory Opoien, Task Force 34 Headquarters network operations technician, Spc. Amber Anderson, TF 34 HQ aviations operations specialist, and Spc. Samantha Starbird, TF 34 HQ aviations opera More
Spc. Dustin Reecebenson and Sgt. Angelina Kielsa, both wheeled vehicle mechanics for the Minnesota Army National Guard C Company 2-211 General Support Aviation Battalion Air Ambulance attached to 3rd Marine Air More
Task Force 34 Soldiers on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, went Combat Caroling around the Task Force area on Dec 22. The Soldiers wanted to boost Soldier morale during the holiday season when troops are away from famil More
Sgt. Brian Jacobson of Headquarters Company, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force 34 takes a brief pause during his shift to recognize the changing of the New Year on New Year's Eve 2008.
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team have good weather during their field training prior to a deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn, June 8.
A volunteer preps the tables prior to 1/34th BCT soldiers and families arriving. Serving Our Troops - St. Paul to Fort McCoy served up approximately 6,000 steaks for the deploying soldiers of the 1st Brigade Co More