CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – After a long year of providing force protection to Contingency Operating Base Adder, the 422nd Military Police Company, 3rd Brigade Special troops Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a transfer of authority with the 805th Military Police Company, 3rd BSTB, 3rd AAB, 1st Cav. Div., before redeploying to Fort Bliss, Texas.
On June 13, soldiers from the 422nd MP Company conducted a TOA ceremony with the 805th MP Company. The ceremony was held at Memorial Hall on COB Adder.
The 422nd MP Company is an Army Reserve unit out of Bakersfield, Calif. The unit began their training and preparation, April 28, 2010, with soldiers from three different MP units merging with the 422nd MP Company for the deployment: the 56th, 314th and 491st MP Companies, all of which fall under the 11th MP Brigade, Los Alamitos, Calif.
The new unit conducted three phases of training in Bakersfield, Calif., Fort Hunter-Liggett, Calif., and Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deploying to Iraq, Aug. 23, 2010. They received their final phase of training and validations in Kuwait.
The company was split into three locations in southern Iraq and served under both the 3BSTB, 3rd Bde. Combat Team, 4th Infantry Div., August 2010 – March 2011 and then with 3BSTB, 3AAB, 1st Cav. Div. from March 2011- June 2011. A small detachment of soldiers were also sent to Isa, Bahrain to conduct a force protection mission.
Soldiers performed multiple duties throughout southern Iraq including force protection, internal and external patrols and working with various agencies including civilian police advisory teams, human intelligence teams, and stability transition teams, all while forming partnerships with counterparts from the Iraqi Security Forces.
The 422nd MP Company was one of the last units to deploy under Operation Iraqi Freedom and the one of first to fall under Operation New Dawn, as the mission changed from a combat role to an advise and assist role. The soldiers performed in an outstanding manner and received numerous accolades throughout the deployment.
Cpl. Jorge Velasquez from Porterville, Calif., stated the mission gave him a vast perspective as he had the opportunity to work in several different positions. “Being a corporal gave me the opportunity to experience more of a leadership role.” he said.
The TOA represented their official release from the mission. While deployed approximately 30 percent of the Soldiers were promoted based on their performances.
“I was able to appreciate the job more after being promoted from specialist to sergeant and learned that caring for soldiers was a significant portion of being a good leader.” said Sgt. Angelica Trujillo from Shaster, Calif.
The 422nd MP Company will start their redeployment back to Fort Bliss, Texas, in mid June.