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Events
Fort Minnesota Express is your family's link to what's going on Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
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SOS Support Group
March 20 |
Survivor Outreach Services support group VTC
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Div. 60-Day/MIRT
April 10-11 |
60-Day Reintegration Event and MIRT at the Minneapolis Convention Center
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FRPC
April 16-18 |
Family readiness planning conference in the metro
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SOMK Retreat
April 23-25 |
Speak Out Military Kids retreat for military teens in Duluth
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114th & 204th FRA
May 1 |
Family Readiness Academy for 114th and 204th in Bloomington
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Military Kids Camp
June 13-19 |
Camp for military children in St. Croix
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1-151 & ETAB 30-Day
June 12, 13 & 19 |
30-Day Reintegration Event for 1-151 in Morris (12th), Marshall (13th) and ETAB in the metro (19th)
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Operation Purple Camp
July 4-9 |
Camp for military children in St. Croix
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1-151 & ETAB 60-Day
July 10,11,17 |
60-Day Reintegration Event for 1-151in Morris (10th), Marshall (11th) and ETAB in the metro (17th)
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204th, 114th & OMLT II 30-Day
July 31 |
30-Day Reintegration Event in the metro
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Operation Purple Camp
August 1-6 |
Camp for military children in McGregor
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| What to expect: 60-Day Reintegration |
More than 900 soldiers from the 34th Infantry Division and their families attended the 30-Day Reintegration Event at the Minneapolis Convention Center last month. April 10th and 11th they will come together again for the 60-Day event. Attendees may be asking, what can we expect?
"Mental Wellness 2010," will be unveiled. It is a brand new interactive training program that asks Minnesota Guard members to take a moment to take care of themselves. It's a lessons learned approach from Minnesota National Guard members to Minnesota National Guard members that addresses the real need for mental wellness in our ranks and in our lives.
Workshops that are designed to build upon 30-Day workshops will be offered. "If you attended the, 'Create an Effective Resume' workshop last month," says Cpt. Teresa Bobo, Advocacy and Program Development Branch Chief, "you can expect to get into interview skills this month."
"Meanwhile if you'd like to choose a whole new topic out of the menu of workshops available, you are free to do that as well," Bobo adds.
14 workshops were available at the 30-Day Event and will be available again at the 60-Day. Topics range from parenting and marriage building to educational benefits and skills needed to land a new job. |
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| Band of Brothers member helps Servicemembers transition from warrior to citizen |
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"Don't lose track of those you served with," said Herb Suerth during the Community Based Warriors in Transition Unit Conference in March at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Suerth was part of E Company 506th Infantry Regiment during World War II. The company was made famous in the book "Band of Brothers," the movie "Saving Private Ryan," and most recently in the HBO series, "Band of Brothers."
Suerth went to the conference to share insight with current Servicemembers about the military and how to transition from Soldier to citizen.
He recollected the day he was wounded, breaking both legs, climbing out of a hole during heavy artillery fire to get a better fighting position.
Suerth said he was lucky to keep both legs, but he had to go through the healing stages. Once he was up and on his feet again he had to start looking at life as a civilian again. He worked for many companies where he learned and grew from each one. Through his experiences he learned to understand that change and transition were constants throughout life.
Suerth's advice to today's wounded warriors, "Be the master of your own destiny and if you feel you have to change jobs do it right and check the company out first. Don't be afraid to throw yourself into (your job)." |
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Wild's Burns gives back to Soldiers |
Down in the player area after the Wild's four to two win, a smiling Brent Burns with his wife Susan by his side, happily signed autographs and chit chatted with a handful of Soldiers. "Thanks for letting us stay in your suite Brent," said one of the Soldiers.
Burns said he was more than happy to host the Soldiers in his suite coined, "Burnzie's Battalion," in fact he does it every game. Although he is Canadian, Burns embraces the US military as his own. Last summer he participated in a special training event at Camp Ripley, Minn. with the Minnesota Army National Guard where he enthusiastically tried his hand at shooting different weapon systems, learned military tactics and flew in a military helicopter.
The training event only helped to fuel the fire in his passion for the military, a passion that started with the interest and pride of his great grandfather and grandfather's service in World War I and World War II respectively.
Burns' suite is lined with military memorabilia including photos and the medals of his great grandfather and grandfather. Soldiers returning from deployment who are invited to Burnzie's Battalion not only receive a great view of the game but also refreshments, Burnzie's Battalion memorabilia and a pass to meet Burns and other Wild players after the game.
The Burns' gift to Soldiers is truly a heartfelt donation and their dedication to giving back is appreciated by numerous Minnesota National Guard Soldiers each year.
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| Refurbished computers for military families
by Spc. Thomas Keeler |
When Allen Frechette was deployed to Vietnam, the small outpost he was on had no phone communication and with his mail interrupted for a few months he had virtually no way of communicating with his wife or family.
Frechette, the manager for the Scott County Environmental Health and Building Inspections program, noticed county residents and companies were disposing of computers that could be refurbished and used by others. After speaking with 1st Sergeant Larry Lambert, of the 34th Infantry Division, and hearing about families having trouble maintaining communication with their loved ones because of their computers, Frechette sprung into action.
He got in touch with St. Paul based Asset Recovery Corporation, and they agreed to refurbish the computers Scott County provided, for use by military families who have a deployed loved one. After some success, Asset Recovery Corporation has taken the reigns of the project and is now expanding their efforts in order to provide more military families with a working computer so they can communicate with their deployed Servicemember.
For more information on receiving a refurbished computer to communicate with your deployed Servicemember or to donate an old computer contact Asset Recovery Corporation at (651) 602-0789 or arcorp1@AssetRecoveryCorp.com. |
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It started as a community emersion project, six months ago, each Auntie Anne's Pretzels restaurant manager could do what they wanted for the project.
Pam Gilley, manager of the Cambridge Auntie Anne's Pretzels started a Military Wall of Fame. She promised a free pretzel to anyone who brought in a good photo of a Servicemember. Pictures flooded in of those who served in World War II to those currently deployed.
"It gives you a sense of purpose," says Gilley, "We're here today because they were there."
Gilley says that the pictures she's collected are really nice. "No bad wallet sized photos," she jokes. She is most proud of the flag she was given that flew in Bosnia.
Gilley recently took on another restaurant, managing the Auntie Anne's Pretzels in Buffalo. Her Military Wall of Fame there is just getting started. Stop in, with a photo and be part of this new Wall of Fame. The free pretzel is just a bonus!
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