FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today joined the community in honoring about 30 North Dakota Army National Guard soldiers who are deploying soon for a yearlong mission in Cuba. Hoeven presented the soldiers with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to take with them as a reminder of the community’s support during their mission. He commended the soldiers, who serve in the 191st Military Police Company, and their families for their service to the country and thanked them for their sacrifices at a send-off ceremony.

“We’re proud of the members of the 191th Military Police Company. We thank them for their sacrifices on our behalf. These soldiers represent the best of our state, and we know they will show skill and honor as they conduct their mission in Cuba. We are proud of their service, and we look forward to welcoming each of these soldiers home when they have completed their work,” said Hoeven.

The soldiers hail from 15 communities in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. They will be led by Lt. Col. Mark Tibor of Bismarck, N.D. with Maj. William Nels of Surrey, N.D. serving as deputy commander and1st Sgt. Dean Richter, of Bismarck, serving as senior noncommissioned officer on the deployment. They will join about 120 U.S. Army Reservists as part of a 1,000 personnel mission at Joint Task Force Guantanamo. They will provide police, detainment and stability operations. The mission of the Task Force is to conduct safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, as well as conducting intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination.

In June 2011, Hoeven inspected operations at Guantanamo Bay and said the military is managing the center professionally and effectively. He is a cosponsor of legislation to maintain Guantanamo Bay as an open and operating facility for current and future detainees. Hoeven is a member of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.