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Minn. Marines head to Lejeune, then Djibouti

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — More than 200 Minnesota Marine reservists are headed to the small East African country of Djibouti.

The Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 leaves Tuesday for Camp Lejeune, N.C., where they train before heading to the Horn of Africa in September. They are set to be in Djibouti for seven months until next March, maintaining security for camps and other areas in support of the war in Afghanistan.

The Marines say it’s a show of force in a region that’s become very unstable. Almost 100 Marines from other parts of the country will join the unit.

Djibouti has the only U.S. military base in Africa. The Marines there spend much of their time vaccinating livestock, repairing schools and giving medical training.