U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar met with members of the Minnesota Army National Guard this week to congratulate them for winning the 2010 Army Communities of Excellence award in the Special Category, given to the best-performing Army National Guard in the country.

“I am delighted to congratulate the members of the Minnesota National Guard on their achievement,” Klobuchar said. “Those who choose to serve this great nation and our great state deserve our respect and gratitude. That the Minnesota Army National Guard has done so with such distinction makes all of us in Minnesota incredibly proud.”

The Minnesota Army National Guard has taken the top prize in four of the last seven contests. The award comes with a $400,000 cash prize.

The Army’s chief of staff presents these awards annually, judging between candidates on the basis of continuous business process improvement, individual innovation, groundbreaking initiatives, and dedication to efficiency, effectiveness, and customer care.