218th Regiment (Leadership) trains soldiers for new careers

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brad Mincey | Sgt. Michael O’Connell, 339th Military Police Company, Davenport, Iowa, practices conducting traffic through an intersection, Jan. 17, at the South Carolina National Guard's McCrady Training Center as part of his MP reclassification course. Soldiers participating in the course have four weeks of intensive training consisting of scenarios where they interviewed civilians and conducted field exercises. Soldiers from across the country come to MTC to complete reclassification courses through the school, headed up by the SCNGs 218th Infantry Regiment (Leadership). (Photo by Sgt. Brad Mincey, 108th Public Affairs Detachment/Released)  

EASTOVER, SC, UNITED STATES

01.17.2016

Story by Sgt. Brad Mincey 

108th Public Affairs Detachment

EASTOVER, S.C. – Soldiers from as far away as Alaska traveled to McCrady Training Center during the month of January to attend one of the National Guard’s preeminent schools, led by the South Carolina National Guard, 218th Infantry Regiment (Leadership), to reclassify as Military Police.

Soldiers reclassify for a number of reasons, whether they want a new military career or their unit has been re-designated. Regardless of the reason, MTC provides the location, training and some of the best instructors to accomplish that goal.

“We get Soldiers from everywhere and all military occupational skills,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Quillen, MP reclassification course instructor. “Some are already police in their civilian lives and want to do the same thing and bring their skills to the Guard. Other Soldiers want a different MOS and come here for reclassification.”

Soldiers spend an intensive four weeks in class, dividing their time between classroom training, practical and hands-on exercises and examinations. Typically, Soldiers will spend one day in class, another day or two with hands-on training and the next day taking their exams.

“The classes are very involved,” said U.S. Army Spc. Travis Hall, a former infantryman now with the 49th Missile Defense Battalion (GMD) out of Fort Greely, Alaska. “I have never had so much information thrown at me at one time.”

The Soldiers spend the weeks conducting patrols, manning roadblocks, interacting with the public, reacting to domestic violence situations and many other scenarios they may be involved with once they return to their units.

“Although this is only a 30-day course, they are well prepared to handle all types of situations when they go back to their units,” said Quillen. “We provide the most realistic training that we can. MPs are not just police, but we are often in the field, as well, conducting convoy escorts, roadblocks and conducting traffic. So, they get a lot of hands-on practice and training before they have their tests.”

Soldiers taking classes at MTC have the opportunity to study with and learn from senior noncommissioned officers who have years of experience and training, in the classroom and in the field. Most of whom teach not just one, but several classes throughout the year.

“There are a lot of senior NCOs training us here and we spend a lot of time in class with them,” said U.S. Army Spc. Brian Vincent, U.S. Army Reserve 812th MP Company out of Orangeburg, New York. “It seems like a lot of information that they are giving you at once, but once you get into the scenarios, everything starts to click. All of that time in class starts to make sense and you understand what they were talking about and showing you. I think a lot of that is because the NCOs set high standards, but they are attainable standards, and they are not overbearing or unapproachable.”

One thing many of the Soldiers have had little experience with is working and interacting with civilians while in uniform. Interpersonal skills and dealing with Soldiers while off-duty or those not in uniform is a primary function of the class. During one scenario of their training, MPs are called to a home where they have to interview a victim of a violent crime.

Soldiers work in teams gathering information and the NCO in charge of the training gives them feedback with what they did right and how they can improve the next time.

“The instructors are exceptionally knowledgeable,” said Hall. “They want us to learn. This is all new to me but they walk you through each step to make sure you understand what you are doing and need to improve on.”

Once the class is completed, the reclassed Soldiers will go back to their units, share what they have learned, and perform the tasks the unit’s mission requires as a newly trained MP.

“My favorite thing about being an instructor here is teaching Soldiers and seeing them gain knowledge and skills so that they are better able to do their duties when they return to their home units,” added Quillen.

• Date Taken: 01.17.2016
• Date Posted: 01.22.2016 13:43
• Story ID: 186833
• Location: EASTOVER, SC, US