The Minnesota National Guard announced that its soldiers in the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division serving in Iraq are returning to Ft. Lewis, Wash., following a year-long deployment to Iraq.

The returning troops will undergo medical examinations and processing at Ft. Lewis before returning to Minnesota.

The exact return dates will be released when they become known, according to the guard.

Soldiers from some 273 Minnesota communities were involved in the 12-month deployment.

There are three major units deployed with the 34th Infantry Division: 468 Soldiers from the Rosemount-based 34th Infantry Division Headquarters, 400 Soldiers from the Inver Grove Heights-based 34th Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion and 169 Soldiers from the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company. -- T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter