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By Sgt. Joseph Weichel
BAGHDAD—On May 5, 2010, the 94th Military Police Company, an Army Reserve unit, departed from their home station and embarked on a journey that only a small percentage of the United States population ever has the chance to experience—a deployment to Iraq.
The 94th MP Company was temporarily detached from its higher headquarters during its deployment and attached to the brigade residing in the Baghdad area of operations, most recently the Special Troops Battalion of the 2nd “Dagger” Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center.
“I remember leaving the company area [the day of deployment] and watching soldiers’ loved ones tearing up, waving farewell until we were out of sight,” said Spc. Pamela Rehal, an orderly room clerk with 94th MP Company and a Londonderry, N.H., native.
Before departing to Iraq, the 94th MP Company stopped at Fort Worth, Texas, for some pre-deployment training provided by Col. Marvin Benton, commander of 302nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
“Col. Benton spoke of the 94th MP Company’s history – of returning from two deployments with zero fatalities,” said Capt. Benjamin Hall, commander of the 94th MP Company and a Norwell, Maine, native. “And then he turned to me and ordered me to accomplish the same task.”
On Jul. 19, in the heat of midsummer, the company flew into Camp Liberty, Iraq. During the first several months of the deployment, 94th MP Company was attached to 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center. On Nov. 25, the Baghdad area of operations was turned over to the Dagger Brigade.
“I was told about the heat and dust prior, but it did not sink in until we walked off the plane,” said Spc. Chatry Ngoun, a cook with 94th MP Company and a Framingham, Mass., native. “It was like walking into a convection oven.”
The company was divided across the Baghdad area of operations in five different locations in order to support and establish relations with Iraqi leadership. Two squads from 2nd Platoon were sent to Camp Taji to run the ‘Law and Order’ cell.
“Our mission at Camp Taji is more than just writing tickets,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Robinson, a law and order policeman with 94th MP Company and a Billerica, Mass., native. “We do health and welfare inspections, as well as search for contraband items.”
Meanwhile, 1st Platoon was divided into three squads and sent to support the various patrol teams as operation cells and personal security details for both the representative patrol team leader and the various provincial reconstruction teams.
“At Joint Security Station Prosperity, our mission is different than at [Camp] Taji,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Dudley, the platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon, 94th MP Company and a Gardiner, Maine, native. “It includes providing personal security details for humanitarian missions like delivering wheelchairs to disabled Iraqi children. We also provide security for several high ranking U.S. military officers.”
1st Lt. Eric Giles, the platoon leader of 1st Platoon, 94th MP Company and a Franklin, Maine, native, said part of the platoon’s mission was also to work closely with Iraqi leaders to enhance their units’ effectiveness.
“Our primary missions were to advise the Iraqi Police commanders on methods to improve investigations, supply logistics and ensure command and control over their area of operations,” Giles said.
The command post remained on Camp Liberty in order to maintain command and control over all the missions the company was responsible for executing. 3rd Platoon, also on Camp Liberty, facilitated in the development of the Criminal Justice Center, an education center for the Iraqi Police that focuses on training Iraqi Police officers in investigative methods. The CJC also offers a course for working dog units.
“We advise and assist the Iraqi Police with their investigative skills [at the CJC],” said Sgt. Shaun Bellao, a military police officer with 94th MP Company and a Brockton, Maine, native. “The training with the working dogs is the most fun, and shows if you take of man’s best friend, the dog will take care of you.”
Currently, the soldiers are transferring over all their lessons learned to 212th Military Police Company, the unit that will take over all the 94th MP Company’s missions.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2011 11:02 |
| Story ID: | 68037 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 861 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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