13 Minn. National Guard members preparing for deployment
Thirteen members of the Minnesota National Guard went on active duty Monday and will continue preparations to be deployed to Afghanistan.
The soldiers will train in Louisiana until June and are expected to be deployed to northern Afghanistan after that. The members of the combined Operational Mentoring Liaison Team will work with the Croatian Armed Forces during the time they're in Afghanistan.
During the deployment ceremony in St. Paul Monday morning, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant Gen. Larry Shellito praised the soldiers' leadership.
"This is not just a roster of just who's next. This is a roster of selected individuals whose expertise is needed and whose expertise will be shared," Shellito said.
The group is expected to serve nine months in Afghanistan and return to Minnesota next March.
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