Minnesota unit trains for deployment

A member of a Minnesota Army National Guard unit detains an unidentified visitor at a Patriot missile defense site. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

Capt. Mark Schnabel, the personnel officer of the 2nd Battalion/135th Infantry (Air Assault) of Mankato, Minn., said the unit decided to come to Fort McCoy in October to conduct training on the installation's Patriot missile defense sites.

"We thought it would be difficult to do this training when it's really cold and there's snow on the ground and then go to Southwest Asia," Schnabel said. "The temperatures there are in the 100-degree range at that time of year so it would have been a difficult acclimatization."

The soldiers involved in the training were very enthusiastic and eager to put the training they've received to use in a real-life mission, he said. Many of the Minnesota soldiers being deployed are volunteers.

Pfc. Gabriel Piepenhagen, B Company, 2nd/135th of Rochester, Minn., said the training required the personnel to be observant at all times and to be aware of the situation.

"We're learning fast to carry out our tasks quickly and efficiently," Piepenhagen said.

Cpl. Jason Birkle of B Company, 2nd/135th, said he had never done this kind of training with such an in-depth set up that Fort McCoy has.

"Having guard duty is all new for me," he said. "You learn how to keep your mind on the job. It's super exciting to go to a foreign country, and it's nice to work with a group that wants to be here."

Maj. Jamie Dodson, 2nd Brigade/85th Division (Training Support) mobilization officer, said the unit accomplished its training objectives and is on schedule to validate its theater battle tasks prior to deployment to Southwest Asia.