California’s 670th MPs return from GTMO

Photo By Adam Holguin | Capt. Daniel Omusinde, chaplain, standing, leads Soldiers assigned to 670th Military Police Company in a group prayer after arriving stateside after completing a nine-month deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, June 18.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

07.02.2015

Story by Adam Holguin 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas - The 670th Military Police Company, a California Army National Guard unit based out of National City, returned stateside after completing a deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The unit arrived at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group airfield June 18, and will complete the demobilization process with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security at Fort Bliss before returning home to the Golden State.

For the combat support military police unit, becoming a capable detainee operations unit was the first challenge in their nine-month deployment.

“We basically had to come up full speed as an internment resettlement/detainee operations organization within three months ... it was a total 100 percent immersion,” said 1st Sgt. Arne Eastlund, first sergeant, 670th MP Company. “The Soldiers faced the enemy every single day. They had a very difficult mission at a strategic detainee facility and they performed admirably.”

Eastlund, who completed his fourth deployment, spoke of the challenges his Soldiers endured providing security forces for the maximum security facility at Guantanamo Bay.

“I’ve gone up and down, traveled all over bad parts of Iraq ... and nowhere have I felt the way I did on this deployment, I couldn’t do the job that they did,” said Eastlund. “As the first sergeant I was able to walk into the detainee facility to check on my ‘Joes’ and I could turn around, get those doors unlocked and walk out. My soldiers couldn’t do that, they had to do that day in and day out, for a 12-hour period ... my hat's off to them for being able to perform the mission.”

First Lt. Brock Young, platoon leader, 1st Platoon, 670th MP Company echoed that sentiment, “(The Soldiers) are the reason this mission was a success, any kudos or congratulations ... goes to those specialists and sergeants that were walking the block every day,” he said.

Although difficult, the deployment provided excellent experience for lower enlisted Soldiers, many of whom will use this time to build on their military and civilian careers.

“I feel that the training and experience that I gained from this deployment is going to be instrumental in furthering my career and hopefully getting the job that I want,” said Spc. Jonathon Young, who hopes to work in law enforcement.

“I think that we are all psychically and mentally and emotionally a lot stronger,” said Young, who knows the discipline required completing this mission will be seen as a positive in pursuing a career.

Many in the unit took advantage of Caribbean environment in Guantanamo Bay. They relieved the stresses of the job with scuba diving, exploring coral reefs, deep sea fishing and other Morale Welfare and Recreation events and opportunities during non-duty hours.

The unit is in the final stretch of the deployment and will soon return to California, Eastlund made a point to express his gratitude to the families of the 670th MP Company.

“I want to make sure that the families know that we appreciated their sacrifice that they made,” said Eastlund, “(I want) to thank the families again in allowing us to borrow their sons and daughters and husbands and wives for nine months to perform this strategically important mission.”

• Date Taken: 07.02.2015
• Date Posted: 07.02.2015 12:56
• Story ID: 168928
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: NATIONAL CITY, CA, US
• Hometown: SAN DIEGO, CA, US