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By Staff Sgt. Noshoba Davis, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

 Erbil Air Base, Iraq – Louisiana National Guard’s Spc. Beau Toups, a medic with 769th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, is currently deployed in support of U.S. Central Command’s Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.

Toups, a native of Houma, Louisiana, has served in the military for nine years and this is his first deployment.

While deployed Spc. Toups works in the Troop Medical Center (TMC) and with Security Forces on Union III in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. While working at the TMC, Spc. Toups has assisted with COVID-19 testing during a Relief-In-Place for Coalition Forces. He also supported Canadian forces in distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Spc. Toups recently joined the 1000 pound club at the gym by successfully completing three lifts totaling 1,175 pounds. He placed 7th out of 29 service members from different Coalition Forces.

Spc. Toups also completed the Danish Contingent (DANCON), a 25km ruck march. The DANCON has been a tradition for the Danish Defense since the Royal Danish Army deployed to Cyprus in 1972. Toups completed the event in four hours and ten minutes.

The 256th IBCT will return home to Louisiana later this year.