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    Lifeliners spend week talking force protection

    Lifeliners spend week talking force protection

    Photo By Master Sgt. Mary Rose Mittlesteadt | Sgt. Michael Holmes, a dog handler with the 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st...... read more read more

    FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Leaders with the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, recently participated in a four-day Army force protection development program at the Kinnard Mission Training Center.

    Although the training was focused on brigade topics, battalion-level staff, company commanders, first sergeants and platoon-level leaders participated. The week encompassed multiple areas of force protection including the Army Substance Abuse Program and Unit Prevention Leaders Program, local gang and extremist awareness, sexual assault evidence procedures, traffic accident and violation trends, health and welfare inspections, and concluded with a visit to the Montgomery County Jail.

    “The force protection week was geared toward providing our leaders with resources to assist them in taking preventative measures based on some of the incidents we are seeing that are affecting Soldiers and the Families here at Fort Campbell,” said Capt. Jannelle Allong-Diakabana, 101st Sust. Bde.’s force protection officer and event organizer.

    The instructors for each class were subject-matter experts in their particular fields and gave insight into what leaders can look for in their formations.

    “For example, during the ASAP and UPL class the subject-matter expert discussed the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use,” Allong-Diakabana said. “Then they discussed UPL procedures and the sample process of their collections.”

    The class focused on what leaders can and cannot do when it comes to testing their Soldiers for drug use.

    “Knowing these rules, regulations and procedures that allow leaders to identify issues before they get worse, not only to correct trends in a positive way, but to also rehabilitate Soldiers,” Allong-Diakabana said.

    Major Tonya Maddox, the lead sexual assault medical forensics examiner at Byrd Medical Clinic, led a discussion about the process a Soldier goes through when filing a sexual assault or sexual harassment complaint, the correct use of a sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit, and explained how evidence is transferred for an unrestricted case or stored for a restricted case.

    “As a leader, if I had a Soldier who decided to go to the emergency room and have a SAFE kit used, I now know all the details of what goes into that procedure,” Allong-Diakabana said. “It is important that I know that my Soldier will feel very uncomfortable through this process.”

    As the week progressed, the local gang and extremist awareness class stood out as one of the more informative classes. Leaders were shown visual descriptions of gang and extremist symbols that can be recognized in tattoos and personal belongings, along with some statistical information, so they can better understand those areas that may affect their units’ overall force protection.

    These classes were very beneficial to me as a new officer,” said 2nd Lt. Laquoya Diggs, a chemical officer with the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. “It will help me as a leader because I’ll have a better understanding and be mindful.”

    As the week wrapped up, Allong-Diakabana hoped the training will allow leaders to make more informed decisions based on their gained knowledge and be open with their Soldiers on the risks that can create gaps in a unit’s force protection plan.

    “Hopefully prior to the next quarter we will see a decrease in common offenses,” Allong-Diakabana said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.28.2015
    Date Posted: 06.30.2015 16:32
    Story ID: 168655
    Location: FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US

    Web Views: 47
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN