Army National Guard does well in Minnesota
by The Associated Press

ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Army National Guard is attracting more recruits than other parts of the military and beating its recruitment goals.

Recruiter 2nd Lt. Mindy Davis says 43 percent of the people who join the military in Minnesota sign up for the Army National Guard.

The Indiana and Mississippi units have comparable enlistment rates. But nationwide, only about 20 percent of recruits go to the Army National Guard.

The Minnesota unit has about 11,600 members.

Davis says deployments have attracted a lot of media attention and communities are rallying around soldiers. She says that has helped the Guard attract quality recruits.

Willmar-based recruiter Sgt. 1st Class Sarah Stafford says recruits sign up because they want to serve the country and they like the Guard's education benefits.