Volume 5August 2020

3,000 Minnesota Guard Soldiers Wrap Up Mojave Desert Exercise

Minnesota's Red Bull armored brigade finishes desert training ahead of a 2021 deployment. LockLeed spotlights Think GREAT founder Erik Therwanger and Todd Schnorr's veterans fundraiser, and makes the case for veteran recruiters.

By LockLeed Team
4 stories
3 min read
2-page print edition

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Print edition

News briefMinnesota National Guard

3,000 Minnesota Soldiers wrap up military exercise in the Mojave Desert

First reported by Minnesota National Guard. Summarized here; the full story ran in the printed issue.

About 3,000 soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, completed a rotation at Fort Irwin's National Training Center in California, the first exercise of its size since the Army resumed large-unit training during the pandemic. More than 2,000 pieces of equipment arrived by rail, and the brigade faced active-duty opponents from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment under COVID-19 precautions. The rotation was the unit's final major training event before its 2021 Middle East deployment.

Small Business Spotlight: Think GREAT

Founder of Think GREAT, Erik Therwanger, is a Marine Corps veteran, author, international speaker, and executive business coach.

Erik and the Think GREAT team works with organizations of all sizes and in any industry to transform their people and magnify their results by teaching others how to strengthen their 3 Pillars of Business Greatness: leadership development, strategic planning, and sales performance. Erik is also the founder of the Think GREAT Foundation, which awards scholarships to military spouses.

Erik and his team recently launched their own social media platform for GREAT Thinkers: www.ThinkGreatNow.com. This site is designed to share ideas on personal and professional development and allow you to connect with other like-minded people.

Recognizing Value of an Under-Tapped Resource

100+Reserve & National Guard Units Locally (20,000+ Candidates)
220,000+Service Members Complete Their Service Obligations or Retire Every Year
7,000Job Positions With An 81% Direct Civilian Equivalent In The Military

Should You Work with a Military/Veteran Recruitment Resource?

Let’s look at some of the basics to help you evaluate whether this sourcing strategy is right for your company. Benefits of Engaging a Military/Veteran Recruitment Resource include:

They typically have a large database of qualified veteran applicants who can serve your needs.
They are attuned to trends and happenings in the marketplace and issues veterans face.
They have developed relationships with veterans in the marketplace. Referrals often come to them from other veterans through their network.
They can help train and prepare the candidates for the interview and job environment before they arrive at your door.
They learn to understand the employer’s goals and brand.

Veteran Non-Profit Spotlight: Annual Schnorr Mudfest

Todd Schnorr is a US Army Veteran who now lives in the Iron Range of Minnesota and now dedicates his life to helping his fellow Veterans.

He is constantly involved in Veteran focused movements and organizations. Todd and his father started a Veteran ATV fundraiser ride in Chisholm, MN and he is currently on the 7th annual. Every dollar he raises goes to a Veteran organization that helps Veterans with PTSD, Homelessness, and so many other great causes. If you would like to donate, be involved, or attend one of his events, here is his information.

Facebook Page: 7th Annual Schnorr Mudfest Veterans Fundraiser

First published in August 2020 as LockLeed News Volume 5. Open positions, dates and program details describe that time. News briefs summarize stories first reported elsewhere; the printed edition carried them in full.