Photo By Ismael Ortega | U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard, and...... read more read more
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Soldiers from the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard, and the 117th Military Police Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard, departed from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group here, Sep. 9, to serve as the command staff and overseers for Joint Task Force Guantanamo after completing the mobilization process with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
The 38th ID will be replacing a detachment from their unit while the 117th MP Bn. will be undergoing this mission for the first time. The 117th MP Bn. has deployed in the past, supporting detainee facilities in Iraq, but never serving as the command staff. Soldiers from both units feel prepared for whatever they might encounter thanks to the training here and to the prior experiences each Soldier brings with them.
They will be responsible for the detainee operations and day to day tasks of the Naval Base, ensuring that the overall mission runs accordingly with the constant flow of service members to and from the facility.
“We did simulations of possible situations that might happen and that was a good wakeup call of what the job will really be like,” said Spc. Alaina Justice, Joint Visitors Bureau driver, 38th AR. “We also had people that helped us out and guided us along the way, they gave us advice and prepared us for what’s to come and helpful tips on how to handle things.”
Many Soldiers have careers as city police, state police, sheriffs and even correctional officers that they draw experience from. Coming from the Midwest, their time here and Range McGregor, New Mexico, helped prepare the 38th ID work in temperatures they’re not accustomed to.
“This unit has trained at 100% proficiency. We are very well led, we have great ‘esprit de corps’, we are looking out for each other.”said Lt. Col. Bradford T. Asplund, executive officer, 117th MP Bn. “We appreciated our family readiness group back home and all the great support that Tennessee has provided us.”
Having covered a wide spectrum of training from Army combatives to online training, Soldiers feel prepared for any situation.
“We are doing a really good job of maintaining the mission and just keeping it going,” Justice said. “We’re kind of like the oils and chains of the mission (when it comes to) the rotation of people coming in and going out and we keep everything running smooth.”
Many Soldiers are planning for the future and are taking steps to ensure eligibility for the next rank by completing their Soldier schooling and improving overall fitness. To motivate Soldiers, the 117th MP Bn. plans to have weight loss and body building competitions. Both units also plan to take advantage of many of the Morale, Welfare and Recreational programs.
“Indiana is very pro-military, in fact Indiana National Guard is the fourth largest guard in the United States,” said Col. Chuck Yager, commander, 38th ID said. “Leaving the families behind is not easy for national guardsmen or any Soldiers, so I thank (them) for the support from those all in Indiana.”
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2016 18:04 |
| Story ID: | 210495 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | ATHENS, TN, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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