Military Police Company suits up to save lives

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Sgt. Thomas Belton

Date: 07.26.2014
Posted: 07.27.2014 10:29
News ID: 137441
Soldier sprints to assist civilians

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. – Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, 293rd Military Police Company, conducted joint operations with Task Force 83, the 83rd Chemical Battalion, both from Ft. Steward, Georgia as part of Vibrant Response ’14 here, July 26.

MP’s set up decontamination lines with showers and radiation detectors to aid the local populace after Soldiers from TF83 clear irradiated structures. MP’s also serve as escorts to keep them safe, and establish checkpoints to triage incoming people. Role-players act as displaced civilians.

This kind of training is invaluable to soldiers who need to be able to react to any emergency situation, be it a chemical attack or natural disaster, said Sgt. Eugene Perez, acting platoon sergeant for 3rd Platoon.

“This training has a huge impact on our unit readiness,” said 2nd Lt. Jacob Garrison. “We’re more ready than we’ve ever been.”
TF83’s mission is to check all nearby structures for radiation and provide medical support to the MP’s triaging the steady flow of citizens.

Getting injured people to medical staff and trying to save their lives is an imperative part of the MP mission, said Perez.

In addition to moving injured people, being ready for an attack or natural disaster are all trained on during Vibrant Response. MP’s cordon an area and set up security checkpoints to help prevent further contamination from spreading.

U.S. Army North conducts VR ‘14 to train the nation’s military Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) response capability and ensure that units are interoperable and can act as national CBRN responders. Military units work in a support role with civilian agencies, such as FEMA and DHS to ensure a measured response.

“I don’t think training like this should ever go away,” said Garrison. “Especially when you’ve got multiple units coming in conjunction like this. This is invaluable training.”

Federal military forces may be employed if requested by a state. Given any kind of natural or man-made disaster, military forces work with civilian agencies to support the life-saving efforts of first responders.