Being Part of Something Bigger: Operation Vigilant Seahawk

Photo By Sgt. Ben Chancey | Port of Morehead City, N.C. – Brig. Gen. John Byrd, NC Guard's assistance adjutant general for domestic operations speaks to the Citizen-Soldiers of the 210th Military Police Company as they participate in Operation Vigilant Sea Hawk here, June 16, 2016. The 210th is taking part in Operation Vigilant Sea Hawk, a week-long regional security exercise with disaster response missions designed to test and improve the response of both the North Carolina National Guard as well as state and federal emergency response partners  

MOREHEAD CITY, NC, UNITED STATES

06.16.2016

Courtesy Story

North Carolina National Guard

Raised in Gastonia, Overton attended Appalachian State University but decided to come home and pursue a career in the North Carolina Army National Guard. Overton joined the Guard in 2014 as a military police officer assigned to the 210th.
“I’m happy to be in the unit I’m in, we are all pretty close together,” said Overton, “We got good leadership and they work with us to make sure we understand the training.”
Pfc. Overton is taking part in Operation Vigilant Sea Hawk, a week-long regional homeland security exercise with disaster response missions designed to test and improve the response of the North Carolina National Guard as well as state and federal emergency response partners.
Living in tents and digging trenches to keep the water from the torrential downpours out of their living area, Overton is still motivated to be on his first two-week annual training with the 210th.
“I think it’s good training because we could sit in the armory and have people lecture us, but to be out here and doing the hands on stuff, I think it's beneficial for the unit to be in this environment,” said Overton.
The 210th is spending two weeks at the Port of Morehead City training on how the unit would respond and support the state during national disasters. Some of the tasks they will train on are: crowd control, entry control points, support to local law enforcement, security patrols and basic military police procedures.
Having always wanted to be a part of something bigger than just himself, Overton is enthusiastic about his future in the 210th. With a promotion on the horizon and good leadership to guide him, Overton sees a bright future in the North Carolina National Guard and hopes to be a benefit to not only his unit but to the citizens of North Carolina.

• Date Taken: 06.16.2016
• Date Posted: 06.17.2016 12:24
• Story ID: 201573
• Location: MOREHEAD CITY, NC, US