Watchdogs ensure expeditionary readiness, build teamwork during CPX

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Taresha Hill | Command teams from 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Support Command, listen while being briefed during the brigade’s Command Post Exercise, held Jan. 26-30 at Area X, here.  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

01.29.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Taresha Hill 

8th Theater Sustainment Command

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The Magua government is overwhelmed by the devastation Hurricane Moylan, a category IV hurricane, caused to its island of Ari’i. The Islamic Liberation Front, an extremist group, has increased its activities within the island chain in an effort to take advantage of the instability. Facing riots, protests and looting, the undermanned Magua police are requesting support.

The 8th Military Police Brigade worked through this scenario during its Command Post Exercise, Jan. 26-30, here, the first of its kind since the unit’s last deployment three years ago.

Despite the brigade’s decrease in combat operations, its mission -- deploy modular formations worldwide to conduct full spectrum all-hazards response, combat support and combat service support during contingency operations, while simultaneously providing professional first responder and sustainment services throughout United States Army Hawaii – demands a constant state of readiness.

“Without a deployment on the horizon, we still have to get back into the mindset of always being prepared to deploy,” said Lt. Col. Michael P. Crane, the deputy commander, 8th MP Bde.

Crane explained the exercise was a way to test the brigade’s expeditionary capabilities while building teamwork and giving the over 300 troops who participated a shared experience.

“We really could be called upon to support a humanitarian mission,” said Crane. “This gets everybody back to building their technical and tactical skills and being proficient in them.”

While the staff worked on their technical skills through the scenario, Soldiers from the 45th Special Troops Battalion, worked on their combat medical skills through several mass casualty drills.

“It’s been great,” said Spc. Stephen D. McQuigg, a mechanic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 45th STB about the training. “We get to do stuff we normally don’t get to do while at the motor pool.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Angelia Flournoy, senior enlisted adviser, 8th MP Bde., said she could not be more impressed with her staff and the battalions.

Flournoy said the brigade staff has never done anything of this sort before and that for many of the senior leaders, this was their first field experience.

“This is an opportunity for us to establish a baseline of how our staff actually functions in a field environment at the brigade level,” said Flournoy.

A military police brigade typically wouldn’t have the support of the sustainment battalions in an exercise like this, so having the 45th STB and the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion out here gave us a unique field experience, said Flournoy.

She said, “It’s been a very successful event for everyone out here. It allowed each of the battalion staff sections, as well as the commanders and leaders within the companies, to identify the strengths and talents of the Soldiers that are within their formations.”

• Date Taken: 01.29.2015
• Date Posted: 02.03.2015 21:56
• Story ID: 153449
• Location: SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US