Female MPs rock the streets of Baqubah

Photo By Spc. Ryan Stroud | Staff Sgt. Erin Donaldson, 571st Military Police Battalion, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, supervises a fellow Iraqi police officer while he was training another IP on how to properly hold his weapon during reflexive fire drills in Tahrir, a neighborhood of Baqubah, Iraq, Aug. 1.  

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

08.03.2007

Story by Spc. Ryan Stroud 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- This intense group of mission ready, mission capable Military Police and Soldiers are a well-respected group in their company. They are some of their battalion's best. They are team leaders, Humvee drivers and gunners, risking their lives everyday to protect the city of Baqubah and train the future Iraqi police officers to serve and protect their Iraqi brothers.

These Soldiers, these MPs, fight, sweat and bleed like every infantryman out there. Their missions always have them outside the wire facing dangers at every curve. But they won't falter or fade away. They're tough, they're ready – and by the way, they're females.

In the U.S. Army, women are not allowed to serve as infantrymen or in any other major combat positions, but these females found a way to get out with the "boys" and serve side-by-side in combat situations.

But if you think you can get under their skin with comments about women not being "man" enough to serve outside the wire, think again. These female Soldiers won't even give you the time of day. They're too busy busting the bad guys.

"At this point, you just have to laugh at them," said Staff Sgt. Erin Donaldson, about the naysayers who talk down about her sisters serving with her in the 571st Military Police Battalion, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.

"There's a lot of the infantry guys out there who have no idea what we do out here," continued the Pocono, Pa., native. "They think all we do is pull them over in the States.

"But there are some (Soldiers) who really do respect us and what we do out here," Donaldson said. "The others just have blinders on (over their eyes), they don't get it and that's fine. It doesn't bother me anymore."

"It doesn't bother me anymore either," added Spc. Toni Moses, also a member of 571st MPs and a native of Pensacola, Fla. "I've been told too many times that I'm too small, too short to do anything. But once they see me (outside the wire) they finally get it ... we mean business."

It's this attitude, which drives these Soldiers everyday. Gender has nothing to do with their confidence level; they are Soldiers ready to complete the mission, whether it is working hand-in-hand with the IPs or conducting patrols.

"I try to get to know the IPs we work with," said Moses. "They tell us things that they want and need to learn and we try to do our best to help them out. Of course we can't give them everything, but it's nice to hear what they want to accomplish and try to help them the best we can with that."

While stationed in the dangerous Diyala province, these Soldiers have experienced everything that could be thrown at them. From improvised explosive devices to small-arms fire, these female Soldiers keep moving toward their objectives, wanting nothing more than the feeling of an accomplished mission.

"We've seen everything that could be thrown at us," said Moses.

The MPs have also been hit with the tragedy of losing fellow members of their team, but they move out everyday, ready for what might face them.

"It's not that we're not scared when we roll-out, it's that we know what's out there," said Cpl. Heather Olk, a platoon leader in 571st MPs.

"We know what to expect and we spend a lot of time preparing for those things (that could harm us)," she continued. "Accomplishing the mission and getting our guys back safe is the most important part of our day."

"I just look at my Soldiers for inspiration to keep moving," added Donaldson. "If they're out there then I'm (going) to be out there with them."

And don't think these MPs have special needs outside the wire; they make it just fine on their own.

"I've had males try to do things for me out on missions," Olk said. "I don't expect my Soldiers or anyone in my squad to do anything for me that I can't do. That doesn't set a good example as a leader if I was to do so."

"My team leader won't let anyone help me, which is good because it makes me stronger," Moses added. "Unless it's something I don't know, there's no need to think I need to be taken care of. I can pull my own weight."

At the end of the day, these female Soldiers, who are teamed up and work alongside other male Soldiers, experience the same feeling and emotions infantrymen do after a long day and need the same chances to relax and let some steam out.

"I think that because our unit is small, we've bonded with everyone and we can lean on someone when we need it," said Moses. "Everyone is always there for you. We've learned that it is good to talk about things and to get it out, and (in return) this helps us prepare for our future missions.

"Knowing you've got people who care about you really helps out here," she said.

Until their time in Iraq is finished, these MPs will go out everyday and give it their all. And to those who refute and disapprove of these female MPs conducting missions outside the wire, these Soldiers offer a bit of information.

"We can do the same things as other MPs and infantrymen do, if not better," Moses confidently concluded. "I think every time we've been presented with a challenge, we've risen to it, and we'll keep rising to them."

"Open your eyes a little bit," added Donaldson. "If you don't believe what we do, come outside the wire with us on a patrol. You'll see."

• Date Taken: 08.03.2007
• Date Posted: 08.03.2007 13:30
• Story ID: 11624
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ