Minnesota Index: Active military and veterans

Active military

Number of soldiers and airmen under governor’s control             13,204

Number of Minnesota National Guard soldiers  10,985

Number of Minnesota Air National Guard members        2,219

Percentage of all active state military members who are minorities          14

Percent who are female               18

Approximate number of Minnesota National Guard, Air National Guard currently deployed         150

Number of air bases       2

Number of Army facilities            61

Number of Minnesota National Guard international partnerships             2 (Norway, Croatia)

State economic impact of Minnesota National Guard      $23.7 million

Acres of Camp Ripley training facility       53,000

Veterans

Approximate number of veterans in Minnesota                361,000

Percentage of state population who are veterans            7

Number of Minnesotans discharged from active duty since Sept. 11, 2011            66,000

Number of Vietnam War-era veterans in Minnesota       124,179

Number of World War II-era veterans    2,472

Number of veteran-owned businesses 45,939

Median veteran household income         $61,793

Unemployment rate for Minnesota’s veterans, as percent          4.9

Number of state veterans homes            5

Number of beds in state veterans homes             815

Estimated number of homeless veterans 317

Number of state veterans cemeteries   2

Cost to veterans for burial services          $0

Department of Veterans Affairs two-year operating budget        $300 million

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota Department of Military Affairs Operational Brief to the House State Government Finance Committee, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Agency Overview to the House Veterans Affairs Division.