LITTLE FALLS - More than 220 Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard's 34th Combat Aviation Brigade are set to start pre-deployment training at Camp Ripley on Friday in preparation for deployment to Kuwait.

The Brigade will leave Minnesota for additional training on June 14th for the one-year mobilization in Kuwait to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

Soldiers will spend two weeks completing the training designed to establish readiness for the unique challenges they will face as members of an aviation group.

The 34th CAB will be part of a task force to conduct aviation operations and security activities in support of the U.S. Army Central Command. The Brigade is expected to Arrive at Camp Buehring in Kuwait between July and August and will return to MInnesota in June 2015.

The 34th CAB has soldiers from 43 Minnesota Cities. Including a handful from Central Minnesota locations:

St. Cloud - 6 Soldiers
Sartell - 2 Soldiers
Sauk Rapids - 3 Soldiers
Little Falls - 2 Soldiers
Elk River - 2 Soldiers
Waite Park - 2 Soldiers
Becker - 2 Soldiers 

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