Guard unit from Little Falls builds outposts for new Iraq strategy
by The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- A group of 155 soldiers from the Minnesota  National Guard are helping with a new strategy in Iraq.

The soldiers have been building "combat outposts" for a  strategy that involves soldiers stationing themselves in  violence-prone areas rather than going home to large bases at  night. 

The members of the Little Falls-based 851st Vertical Engineer  Company have been in Iraq for the past eight months. 

Four of the major combat outposts used for operations in Sadr  City were built by the Minnesota soldiers.
The outposts allow soldiers to have a secure area to sleep, get  a shower, eat a meal and even use the Internet. 

Capt. Brian Winter is the unit's commander. He says there's been  injuries from mortar attack, and that the unit's work has taken  them places private contractors refuse to go.