A second wave of soldiers with the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division returned to Minnesota on Saturday following a 10-month deployment to the Middle East.

They reunited with their families at the General Vessey Readiness Center, the division’s headquarters in Arden Hills. An earlier group arrived on Wednesday.

In total, more than 550 soldiers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota are returning from the deployment in time for the holidays.

The soldiers took part in a mission to conduct military exercises with partner nations in the region, according to a statement from the unit. The goal is to build the partner nations’ military capacities.

The Red Bulls, as the 34th Infantry Division is known, were responsible for operations across seven countries.

“Soldiers of the 34th Infantry Division have made the Minnesota National Guard proud as they assisted allies and partners in building security throughout the Middle East,” said Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, the Minnesota National Guard’s adjutant general. “We are happy to see them return to spend the holiday season with their families.”

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