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Army Reserve Unit Headed To East Africa

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It was an emotional morning for family and friends of more than 40 soldiers Wednesday as they prepared for deployment that will send them to Africa for the next year.

Soldiers from the Army Reserve's Charlie Company, 407th Civil Affairs Battalion are headed out of Minnesota after a deployment ceremony early Wednesday at the Arden Hills Army Reserve Center. They're going to Djibouti, Africa, for a one-year deployment.

The troops are first headed for training in New Jersey, which will take about two months. They'll eventually be deployed to the Horn of Africa. They're headed there to make sure the local government and community leaders know their needs are reflected to the military and that the military's needs are reflected to the local population. It's more of a humanitarian effort to form more allies in the region.

For about 75 percent of the troops, it's at least their second deployment.

Troops Prepare For Humanitarian Work In East Africa

Soldiers Prepare For Deployment To East Africa

Soldiers Say Goodbye To Families In Arden Hills

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