Photo By Sgt. Darius Kirkwood | Spc. Nicole Rizo, a human resources specialist at HHC, 800th Military Police Brigade,...... read more read more
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FORT DIX, N.J. – Midshipmen from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy participated in weapons training with the headquarters company of the Uniondale, N.Y.-based 800th Military Police Brigade here March 25-28.
A handful of the future mariners in attendance intend to join one of the Army’s three components upon graduation, when they will be obligated to perform a number of years of service as a condition of matriculation, though they have far more options for accomplishing this than graduates of the other four United States service academies.
“My job there is to counsel, mentor, and advise midshipmen upon graduation if they want to join the Army. They have a couple of options to fulfill their military service obligation … I provide them everything they need to assist them with the transition from midshipman to soldier.” Said Capt. Luis A. Burgos, of the academy’s Army Liason Team.
From the beginning, the 800th has supported the liaison team with several requests for assistance.
“This unit adopted us, and told us that we could train with them,” said Burgos. “The unit allowed me to borrow weapons for weapons classes at the academy, and they even had gore-tex jackets today for my midshipmen,” he added, speaking of the brigade’s provision due to the frigid weather they encountered at Fort Dix.
According to Capt. Frederick Moss, commander of HHC, 800th MP Brigade, the partnership between his unit and the USMMA’s Army Liason Team was born of a chance introduction to the Merchant Marine academy.
“The relationship came from a recruiting partnership conference that the New York City Recruiting Battalion had done,” said Moss. “Also, my former first sergeant was also a former cadre member at the academy. He took me over to the Merchant Marine Academy, and I found out about their mission commissioning students to be either merchant mariners, or any branch of service – to include the Army.”
Seeing an opportunity to increase the Army Reserve’s footprint at the academy, Moss jumped at the opportunity. He explained that he wanted to expose the midshipmen to the Army, in hopes that they will choose that branch of the military to fulfill their service commitment, in addition to helping Burgos with his demanding mission, for which he has limited resources at hand.
“Anytime we can help the Merchant Marine Academy ... we offer them the opportunity to come out here and train with us,” said Moss.
During the weekend’s training, which was facilitated by the very capable Regional Training Center-East, the group received preliminary marksmanship instruction and live fire familiarization in the use of the M500 combat shotgun, the M9 semiautomatic pistol, and the M16A2 Rifle. The Soldiers present were also able to conduct individual weapons qualification with the M9 and M16.
The Soldiers that comprise RTC-E team, which is responsible for providing pre-mobilization training to Army Reserve Soldiers, are experts at making the training a practical learning experience, according to Spc. Jesus Martinez, a military police Soldier at the 800th.
“No doubt about it, you know a good professional instructor when you see one,” said Martinez, who is a former recon marine and currently commander of a SWAT team at the Perth Amboy Police Department in New Jersey.
Martinez, who has served in the Army Reserve for nearly a year after a long break in service, was also impressed by the quality of the material being taught.
“Training is always advancing, always moving forward,” he said.
The unit’s special guests appreciated the training as well.
“It’s been an absolute blast! This is the most I’ve gotten to fire a weapon in my entire life,” said Plebe Brian M. Ulrich, a Phoenix native in his first year at the academy.
Being able to interact with the soldiers of the 800th only solidified Ulrich’s plans for after he completes his studies. He has wanted to join the military since elementary school, he explained.
“It’s been really nice to see what an actual unit in the Army is like, and how it operates, because when I graduate from the academy, my plan is to commission into the Army,” explained the marine operations and technology major.
Burgos was also pleased with the results of the time his students spent with the 800th.
“It’s been great. The feedback that I’ve gotten from the midshipman is unbelievable.”
He explained that besides the students enjoying themselves, he was able to accomplish a key part of his mission at the academy. They were able to interact with Soldiers at all levels, including junior enlisted, noncommissioned officers, and warrant officers, as well as company, field grade, and general officers.
Despite the weather, Burgos looks forward to future opportunities with the Soldiers of the 800th.
“It’s the first of many training events to come. It’s a cold day, but for me, it’s a very successful day.”
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2011 15:40 |
| Story ID: | 68057 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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