An intensive effort to help Minnesota veterans find civilian jobs is paying off. National Guard officials say most of the 2,700 soldiers from the "Red Bull" Division who returned from the Mideast last spring have found work.
Minnesota's big group of returning military veterans is facing a delicate transition to family life and a rough road back into the working world. Three thousand National Guard members — the Red Bulls — have come home in the past month.
More reunions tomorrow (Friday) for members of the Minnesota National Guard and their families. About 220 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division are returning to Minnesota.
Hundreds of Minnesota National Guard soldiers are settling back into civilian life after returning to the state in the past few days. And if they don't have a job to come back to, they will soon be looking for work.
The 7th and 8th waves of soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be returning to Minnesota late tonight (Monday) and tomorrow afternoon. The National Guard says there are 500 soldiers in this latest group.
Another group of National Guard soldiers are coming home to Central Minnesota. They'll be arriving at the River's Edge Convention Center at 4:50 p.m. The general public is invited and encouraged to come out and welcome them home.
The second wave of National Guard soldiers are coming home today (Wednesday). There are 219 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team 34th Infantry that are returning to the state.
Several departure ceremonies for the Minnesota National Guard will be held in Central Minnesota over the next few days. The First Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, is scheduled to depart Minnesota in the next few weeks in support of Operation New Dawn in Iraq.