The 34th Red Bull Infantry Division recognized a new division commander Saturday during a change of command ceremony at the Rosemount National Guard Armory.

“Brig. Gen. Neal Loidolt is a proven leader, and I have confidence in his ability to command these great men and women of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division,” Army Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash said in a press release.

“The challenge to maintain the reputation of our division and charge to provide the highest level of soldier care across all of our formations is an order I welcome and am committed to seeing through without compromise,” added Loidolt, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division commander.

“Brig. Gen. Loidolt has been a member of the Minnesota National Guard since 1984 and later received his commission in 1987 through Saint Cloud State University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program,” said Army Lt. Col. Kevin A. Olson, Minnesota National Guard public affairs director. “He has served in a multitude of senior staff positions and commanded troop units at the company, battalion and brigade levels. He deployed to Iraq in 2006 as the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office’s deputy director of operations and again in 2009 as the United States Division-South chief of staff.”

Loidolt will take over command from Maj. Gen. David Elicerio. The change of command ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding or flag officer to another. The National Guard says the passing of colors from an outgoing commander to an incoming one ensures the unit is never without official leadership, a continuation of trust, and signifies an allegiance of soldiers to their unit’s commander.

For more information on the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division visit: www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=PUNRR. For more information on the Minnesota National Guard visit: www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org.