269th MP Company returns from unique deployment

Photo By Adam Holguin | Capt. Mitchell Thompson, center, commander, 269th MP Company, is greeted by Lt. Col. Kevin Ellison, right, commander, 2213th Mission Support Battalion, after arriving at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival Departure Control Group at Fort Bliss, Texas Dec. 6. The 269th MP Company completed missions in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

12.18.2014

Story by Adam Holguin 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas--The 269th Military Police Company, Tennessee Army National Guard from Murfreesboro, converged for their return stateside Dec. 6, after completing a deployment that split the unit into multiple areas of operation. The unit arrived at the Silas L. Copeland Departure Arrival Control Group on Biggs Army Airfield after spending the duration of the deployment separately in three areas – Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and Bahrain, to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 269th MP Co. was able to adjust to a change of mission that was not put out until hours before they departed Fort Bliss.
“Originally we were to have 93 Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan and then within 12 hours of wheels up, we were re-missioned,” said Capt. Mitchell Thompson, commander, 269th MP Company. “We had done a lot of planning and training prior for various military police operations, so my guys were adapted and able to overcome. We were successful in all the operations.”

The uniqueness of the deployment brought challenges, and upon completion, a sense of accomplishment within the unit, due in large part to their ability to adjust while remaining focused on new tasks.
“The guys in Bahrain did a lot of force protection, area security operations, which is base defense and troop control point operations, (and) main supply route security. Guys in Afghanistan and UAE supported specialized task force doing various operations
… (it was) a very rewarding mission,” said Thompson.

First Lt. Aaron Michael Johnson, leader, 3rd Platoon, 269th MP Company, led his Soldiers who spent four months in Qatar and the remainder of time in the United Arab Emirates.

“It was stressful, but you’ve got to roll with the punches,” said Johnson, “We got to work with the Special Operations Command Central. It was very eye-opening … (to) learn and train with the Special Forces elements.”

Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Turnovsky, platoon sergeant, Bahrain Detachment, led his 28 Soldiers on the Bahrain component.
“We were on Isa Air Base (Bahrain) under the Navy to run their security operations for the gates, the vehicles, personnel coming in and approve whoever came on the post. We had to work with the embassy and the Bahraini embassies, and we worked daily with the royal Bahraini security forces in order to allow U.S. service
members and local nationals access to work on the base,” said Turnovsky.

This was Turnovsky’s fifth deployment, having previously been to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, twice deploying to Iraq and once to Kuwait for OIF/OEF missions, but this deployment was the most unique.

“This one (deployment) was totally off the spectrum; was nothing I ever expected. There were so many moving parts, with the local nationals, the Bahrainis, the Navy, elements that I’ve never worked with before,” said Turnovsky. “It was definitely an experience. It is something that I will look back on years from now and say, ‘wow that was definitely an interesting … deployment.’”

All three components of the 269th MP Company gave credit to the family readiness group and Tennessee organizations that provided unwavering support.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the 269th FRG, in particular their leader, Melissa Joyner. I have been a commissioned officer for 10 years and without a question she is, and her staff and the group as a whole, is the best I have ever seen,” said Thompson. “We received well over 200 care packages in a nine-month time (period). You talk about a way of feeling honored and feeling special, so that is pretty incredible. I was able to share that with units and with individual Soldiers that did not have that support.”

After completing the de-mobilization process here with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, the 269th MP Co. will return to Tennessee in time for the holidays.

• Date Taken: 12.18.2014
• Date Posted: 12.19.2014 10:50
• Story ID: 150733
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: MURFREESBORO, TN, US