46th Military Police Company train in Poland

Photo By Staff Sgt. Tristin Maximilian | First Sgt. William Gribble, assigned gives a briefing to his soldiers about the day’s objectives and goals, June 5th, 2018.The 46th MP Company of Corunna, Mich., is participating in this year’s Saber Strike in support of the 125th MP battalion from Puerto Rico. Saber Strike 18 is the eighth iteration of the long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise designed to enhance interoperability among allies and regional partners.  

KONOTOP, POLAND

06.05.2018

Story by Cpl. Tristin Maximilian 

126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

Over 100 troops from the 46th Military Police Company, out of Corunna, Michigan, arrived in Poland to participate in Saber Strike this year. The unit’s main objective is to support the 125th Military Police Battalion from Puerto Rico.
The unit spent the last ten months training for this exercise, specifically on area security, base defense and processing detainees at the point of capture. This training will assist the unit in their overall mission objectives, which is to oversee detainee holding area operations, to provide security during a wet gap crossing, to provide base defense operations, and to conduct mobility and security support.
While in Poland, the unit will take advantage of their time here to complete their squad level validations.
“The unit has a strong sense of focus, determination, and a high level of readiness coming in, which should lead to validating our squads by the end of the exercise,” said 1st Sgt. William Gribble of the 46th MP company.
The unit has been living in the woods for nine days and they have approximately 11 days left in the field.
The company came fully-equipped with cooks, medics, mechanics, and radio communications specialists to sustain itself while providing food support.
“We have long hours, lots of stress, [we’re] away from home, limited sleep, limited cell phone use and limited distractions,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Wekwert, a squad leader assigned to the 46th MP Company.
Under these conditions and the new environment, the unit had to adapt quickly in order to maintain mission readiness. Despite lack of sleep and other amenities, the overall moral for the unit is high.
Wekwerk says that part of being in the field consists of conducting self-care and staying hydrated. To keep his team operational Wekwerk relies on his mentee and team leader, Cpl. Jordan Rolston.
“Moral is high. This is awesome!” said Cpl. Jordon Rolston, a team leader assigned the 46th MP Company. “We don’t get very many opportunities to do stuff like this. Everybody wanted to go and everybody is excited about this.”
Rolston says the training has been more scenario-based and intense compared to the training they had received last year at Camp Grayling, Michigan.
“Poland is a lot like Grayling, but there is less civilian consideration here,” said Wekwert.
This type of around-the-clock training keeps the soldiers on their toes at all times.
“As a team leader, I’ve never run missions like this before,” said Rolston. “It’s all about getting the experience.”
Leadership from this unit hope to have more opportunities to go overseas for training again. For now, they will remain focused on squad level validations.

• Date Taken: 06.05.2018
• Date Posted: 06.07.2018 03:18
• Story ID: 279905
• Location: KONOTOP, PL