More than 100 soldiers are sent off for deployment...

National Guard Send off

By Aleah Burggraff
Published: Jan. 5, 2022 at 7:45 PM EST

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -

“I can’t imagine what the coming months will bring for those soldiers that are going that will be leaving us and their families and the great state of South Dakota behind to go do this mission, but I am ever so grateful that they are,” said South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem at The Monument. More than 100 soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 235th Military Police Company are set to depart for a year-long deployment to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

“We’ve been preparing for a really long time. When you first hear about it, you’re kind of like ‘oh that’s a long time away not really worried about it,’ but it sneaks up on you,” said 235th Military Police Specialist, Tucker Bedford.

Governor Kristi Noem addresses the men; women and their families

"On January 5th, I joined several state and local officials for a deployment ceremony honoring the 235th Military Policy Company. The unit from the South Dakota National Guard is heading to Guantanamo Bay for a challenging operational mission."

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