Minnesota National Guard sending team to Columbia for drug countering mission

(Fargo, ND) -- A Minnesota National Guard team is on its way to South America to give support to a transnational drug countering mission.  

The six-member unit left yesterday for Bogota, Columbia for a nine-month assignment.  

As part of the mission, the team will conduct flight operations, transport passengers and cargo within the U.S. Southern Command area.  

The National Guard members are required to speak and write Spanish fluently.