Minnesota Army National Guard
1st
Brigade Combat Team,
34th
Operation New Dawn
Unit Overview
Infantry Division
www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org
Deploying unit
2,400 Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard will leave Minnesota for
training on May 22, 2011, for a one-year deployment in support of Operation New
Dawn. This is the second largest deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since
World War II.
Mission
Operation New Dawn is the drawdown phase of US military operations in Iraq, and
these Minnesota Soldiers will play an important role in the final drawdown of U.S.
forces from Iraq. The 1st Brigade Soldiers, stationed in Kuwait, will provide base
defense in Kuwait and perform route security operations in support of U.S. Forces
throughout Iraq.
Area of Operations
The Brigade Headquarters will be at
Camp Arifjan with subordinate units
stationed throughout Kuwait. The
Brigade will be working under the
overall control of Army Central
Command - Kuwait. They will be
responsible for providing base
management and security. In
addition, the brigade will be
responsible for securing the ground
convoy transport of troops,
equipment and supplies throughout
Iraq.
Geography
Iraq is nearly twice the size of Minnesota and borders the Persian Gulf and the
countries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait. It is comprised of
mostly broad plains; there are reedy marshes along the Iranian border in the south
with large flooded areas; there are mountains along the borders with Iran and
Turkey.
January 23, 2011
Minnesota Army National Guard
1st
Brigade Combat Team,
34th
Operation New Dawn
Unit Overview
Infantry Division
www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org
Age
Race
The average age of the deploying
Minnesota Soldiers is 28 years old. The
youngest Soldier is 18, and the oldest is
55.
Of the 2,400 total deploying Minnesota
Soldiers, 96% are Caucasian, 2% are
African-American, 2% are Asian, less
than 1% are Native American, and less
than 1% are of another race.
Gender
Of the 2,400 deploying Minnesota
Soldiers 94% (2,256) are men and 6%
(144) are women.
Previous Deployments
This is the first deployment for 60%
(1,440) of the 2,400 Minnesota Soldiers.
40% (960) have previously deployed.
This is the second deployment for 23%
(534) of the Soldiers, third deployment
for 12% (288) of the Soldiers, fourth
deployment for less than 1% (16) of the
Soldiers, fifth deployment for 5% (115) of
the Soldiers and sixth deployment for less
than 1% (7) of the Soldiers.
Dependants
39% (936) of the deploying Minnesota
Soldiers have at least one dependant.
Timeline
Highest Civilian Education
All of the deploying Minnesota Soldiers
have at least a high school diploma or
equivalent. 91 Soldiers have earned an
Associates Degree. 283 Soldiers have
earned a Bachelors Degree or higher.
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Media Contacts
Brigade Public Affairs Officer: Major Paul Rickert
Office: 651-282-4729
Email: Paul.D.Rickert@us.army.mil
Minnesota National Guard State Public Affairs
Office: 651-282-4410
Email: Public.Affairs@mn.ngb.army.mil
January 23, 2011
Minnesota Army National Guard
1st
Brigade Combat Team,
34th
Operation New Dawn
Unit Overview
Infantry Division
www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org
Hometowns
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division
represent 530 communities throughout Minnesota and fifteen other states.
Communities with more than ten deploying Soldiers include:
St Paul
Duluth
St Cloud
Mankato
Minneapolis
Brainerd
Rochester
Little Falls
New Ulm
Cloquet
Superior WI
Eagan
Coon Rapids
Cottage Grove
Burnsville
Hutchinson
Albert Lea
Woodbury
Blaine
Elk River
Owatonna
Austin
Bloomington
Brooklyn Park
Luverne
Fairmont
Alexandria
91
86
67
58
57
38
37
33
33
29
27
25
24
22
21
21
20
20
19
19
19
18
18
18
18
17
16
Maple Grove
Rosemount
Sauk Center
White Bear Lake
Anoka
Farmington
Big Lake
Fargo ND
Ramsey
Sauk Rapids
Princeton
St James
Inver Grove Heights
Lakeville
Oakdale
Pipestone
Worthington
Hastings
Hibbing
Roseville
Sartell
Winona
Andover
Moorhead
Plymouth
South St Paul
Stillwater
16
16
16
16
15
15
14
14
14
14
13
13
12
12
12
12
12
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
10
January 23, 2011
Minnesota Army National Guard
1st
Brigade Combat Team,
34th
Operation New Dawn
Unit Overview
Infantry Division
www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org
Units Deploying:
The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division consists of 29 units from 27
Minnesota communities. During this deployment, the following units will deploy as
part of the Brigade:
2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry
Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Mankato;
A Company from West St. Paul;
B Company from Rochester;
C Company from Winona and Owatonna;
D Company from Albert Lea.
1135th Combat Support Company from Austin.
1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor
Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Brainerd;
A Company from Alexandria;
B Company from East St. Paul;
C Company from Sauk Centre;
D Company from St. Cloud;
F Company (Forward Support), 134th Brigade Support Battalion from Camp Ripley and St. Cloud.
1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry
Headquarters and Headquarters Troup from Duluth;
A Troup from Hibbing;
B Troup from Pine City;
C Troup from Cloquet;
D Company (Forward Support), 134th Brigade Support Battalion from St. Cloud.
1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery from New Ulm;
A Battery in Pipestone;
B Battery in Jackson;
G Company (Forward Support), 134th Brigade Support Battalion from St. Peter.
1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion
Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Bloomington;
34th Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Bloomington;
C Company from Hutchinson.
134th Brigade Support Battalion
Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Camp Ripley;
A Company from Brooklyn Park;
B Company from Camp Ripley;
C Company from Cottage Grove.
January 23, 2011