1. Minnesota Army National Guard Operation New Dawn Unit Overview www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org Deploying unit 2,400 Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard will leave Minnesota for training on May 22, 2011, for a one-year deployment in support of Operation New Dawn. This is the second largest deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II. Operation New Dawn is the drawdown phase of US military operations in Iraq, and these Minnesota Soldiers will play an important role in the final drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq. The 1 st Brigade Soldiers, stationed in Kuwait, will provide base defense in Kuwait and perform route security operations in support of U.S. Forces throughout Iraq. Mission Area of Operations Geography Iraq is nearly twice the size of Minnesota and borders the Persian Gulf and the countries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait. It is comprised of mostly broad plains; there are reedy marshes along the Iranian border in the south with large flooded areas; there are mountains along the borders with Iran and Turkey. The Brigade Headquarters will be at Camp Arifjan with subordinate units stationed throughout Kuwait. The Brigade will be working under the overall control of Army Central Command - Kuwait. They will be responsible for providing base management and security. In addition, the brigade will be responsible for securing the ground convoy transport of troops, equipment and supplies throughout Iraq. 1 st Brigade Combat Team, 34 th Infantry Division January 23, 2011

2. Minnesota Army National Guard Operation New Dawn Unit Overview www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org Age Gender Previous Deployments Dependants Highest Civilian Education The average age of the deploying Minnesota Soldiers is 28 years old. The youngest Soldier is 18, and the oldest is 55. Of the 2,400 total deploying Minnesota Soldiers, 96% are Caucasian, 2% are African-American, 2% are Asian, less than 1% are Native American, and less than 1% are of another race. Race Of the 2,400 deploying Minnesota Soldiers 94% (2,256) are men and 6% (144) are women. This is the first deployment for 60% (1,440) of the 2,400 Minnesota Soldiers. 40% (960) have previously deployed. This is the second deployment for 23% (534) of the Soldiers, third deployment for 12% (288) of the Soldiers, fourth deployment for less than 1% (16) of the Soldiers, fifth deployment for 5% (115) of the Soldiers and sixth deployment for less than 1% (7) of the Soldiers. 39% (936) of the deploying Minnesota Soldiers have at least one dependant. All of the deploying Minnesota Soldiers have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. 91 Soldiers have earned an Associates Degree. 283 Soldiers have earned a Bachelors Degree or higher. 1 st Brigade Combat Team, 34 th Infantry Division Timeline January 23, 2011 May 22, 2011 Departure Ceremony St. Paul May –July 2011 Pre-Deployment Training Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin Summer 2011 Arrive in Kuwait United States Forces - Iraq Spring 2012 Return to Minnesota ( To be determined) Spring 2012 30-, 60-, 90- Day Beyond the Yellow Ribbon January 23, 2011 Official Announcement St. Paul River Center Spring 2012 Return Ceremony ( To be determined) Follow us via Social Media http://www.facebook.com/minnesotaredbulls http://www.youtube.com/MinnesotaRedBulls http://www.twitter.com/MnRedBulls http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnesotaredbulls Media Contacts Brigade Public Affairs Officer: Major Paul Rickert Office: 651-282-4729 Email: Paul.D.Rickert@us.army.milPaul.D.Rickert@us.army.mil Minnesota National Guard State Public Affairs Office: 651-282-4410 Email: Public.Affairs@mn.ngb.army.milPublic.Affairs@mn.ngb.army.mil

3. Minnesota Army National Guard Operation New Dawn Unit Overview www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org Hometowns Soldiers from the 1 st Brigade Combat Team, 34 th Infantry Division represent 530 communities throughout Minnesota and fifteen other states. Communities with more than ten deploying Soldiers include: 1 st Brigade Combat Team, 34 th Infantry Division St Paul 91 Duluth 86 St Cloud 67 Mankato 58 Minneapolis57 Brainerd38 Rochester37 Little Falls 33 New Ulm 33 Cloquet 29 Superior WI 27 Eagan 25 Coon Rapids 24 Cottage Grove22 Burnsville 21 Hutchinson 21 Albert Lea 20 Woodbury 20 Blaine 19 Elk River 19 Owatonna 19 Austin 18 Bloomington 18 Brooklyn Park 18 Luverne18 Fairmont 17 Alexandria 16 Maple Grove 16 Rosemount 16 Sauk Center 16 White Bear Lake 16 Anoka15 Farmington15 Big Lake 14 Fargo ND14 Ramsey14 Sauk Rapids14 Princeton13 St James13 Inver Grove Heights12 Lakeville12 Oakdale 12 Pipestone12 Worthington12 Hastings 11 Hibbing 11 Roseville 11 Sartell 11 Winona 11 Andover10 Moorhead 10 Plymouth 10 South St Paul 10 Stillwater 10 January 23, 2011

4. Minnesota Army National Guard Operation New Dawn Unit Overview www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org Units Deploying: The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division consists of 29 units from 27 Minnesota communities. During this deployment, the following units will deploy as part of the Brigade: 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Mankato; A Company from West St. Paul; B Company from Rochester; C Company from Winona and Owatonna; D Company from Albert Lea. 1135th Combat Support Company from Austin. 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Brainerd; A Company from Alexandria; B Company from East St. Paul; C Company from Sauk Centre; D Company from St. Cloud; F Company (Forward Support), 134 th Brigade Support Battalion from Camp Ripley and St. Cloud. 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry Headquarters and Headquarters Troup from Duluth; A Troup from Hibbing; B Troup from Pine City; C Troup from Cloquet; D Company (Forward Support), 134 th Brigade Support Battalion from St. Cloud. 1st Battalion, 125 th Field Artillery Headquarters and Headquarters Battery from New Ulm; A Battery in Pipestone; B Battery in Jackson; G Company (Forward Support), 134 th Brigade Support Battalion from St. Peter. 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Bloomington; 34 th Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Bloomington; C Company from Hutchinson. 134 th Brigade Support Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Camp Ripley; A Company from Brooklyn Park; B Company from Camp Ripley; C Company from Cottage Grove. January 23, 2011 1 st Brigade Combat Team, 34 th Infantry Division