Rosemount, MN (KROC-AM News) - Hundreds of Minnesota National Guard soldiers have arrived in the Middle East. A news release says over 600 members of the Rosemount-based 34th Red Bull Infantry Division were aboard transport planes that landed in Kuwait on Monday.

The unit will be spending the next 9-months headquartered in Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The National Guard says the soldiers are relieving a Pennsylvania-based unit and will be stationed at U.S. Central Command locations throughout the Middle East with responsibility for mission command of Task Force Spartan, which spans 20 countries through 6 time zones, with 22 ethnic groups speaking 18 different languages and a total population of over 550 million people.

“It’s all about building relationships with our partner nations,” said Master Sgt. Gregory Byrd. “We are ready to start operating at our normal battle rhythm and get to work at the job we have been training to do.”

The Minnesota Guard members spent the past month undergoing training at Fort Hood, Texas.

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