HASTINGS, Minn. – About 150 soldiers from Minnesota National Guard units in Hastings and Red Wing shipped off for Kuwait in a families-only ceremony. Captain Andrew Duitsman, commander of the 434th Chemical Company, said the unit’s mission is to provide chemical, biological, radiological training for Kuwaiti forces against weapons of mass destruction. Duitsman said the unit has had two years of training for the mission. The training was interrupted recently with deployment for in the Twin Cities for the Derek Chauvin murder trial for the death of George Floyd. In the Kuwait deployment the soldier will join other elements of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division for Operation Spartan Shield. The 34th has been on a nine-month to support Kuwait forces.

Hazmat training. Soldiers in the 434th in training at Camp Rileyiun February for chemical, biological radiological warfare.