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    Deployed MPs Ensure Safety of Troops and Civilians

    Deployed MPs Ensure Safety of Troops and Civilians

    Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Clark | Sgt. Sarah McCauley, a flight team NCOIC with the Texas National Guard 236th Military...... read more read more

    BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

    06.10.2018

    Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Clark 

    3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

    BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Military police assigned to the Texas National Guard 236th Military Police Detachment, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade is responsible for maintaining the safety of service members, coalition forces and civilians in the Combined Joint Operations Area - Afghanistan by inspecting all incoming and outgoing equipment.

    “On a daily basis we do anything from processing a flight to mobile operations, where we go out and clear units’ containers and gear so that they can go home, or flight operations where we process all incoming and outbound flights to and from Afghanistan,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Vohs, NCOIC of customs operations, with the 236th MP Det. “We ensure that units are able to clear customs and return to their home base with a smooth transition.”

    The small team of Soldiers work all day in processing personnel, inspecting equipment and going out on missions to other bases. Service members consistently move throughout the Afghanistan, coming in and out the theater, leaves the MPs with various challenges in accomplishing their mission.

    “Some of the challenges that we have faced in theater is personnel, we are running 12-hour shifts with the limited personnel that we have,” said Vohs. “Some of the things that we’ll do is we’ll borrow people and use a lot of our downtime between flights to get some rest.”

    The MPs conduct these inspections to maintain the safety of the troops and the accomplishment of the mission.

    “Coming in to Afghanistan, we’re mainly worried about following General Order Number 1-c, with alcohol, pornography, personally owned weapons, steroids, etc.” Vohs said. “We’re making sure that the fighting force is 100% mentally and physically able to take the fight to the Taliban.”

    Their mobile team is able to fly out to the different forward operating bases (FOBs) to inspect units departing theater.

    “[The mobile team’s mission] is to help expedite the process for the units’ equipment and bags that are going back to the states,” said Sgt. Johnny Arriago, mobile section NCOIC, 236th MP Det. “We inspect them and ensure that the equipment is clean, no insects, dirt or agricultural hazards, and there is no illegal contraband going back to the states.”

    Arriago said that the mobile team could clear anything from containers to helicopters. By doing these inspections, the MPs are preventing outbreaks of diseases or non-native species in the U.S.

    “One of the most important parts of our mission is the agriculture side, bringing over dirt, food, insects or animals into the U.S. is a major cause of some of the diseases we are exposed to,” said Sgt. Joseph Barbour, the NCOIC of retrograde and contraband assigned to the 236th MP Det. “I look at it as the safety of us, the people and passengers on the planes, there’s no telling what somebody is trying to smuggle back to the U.S. or what kind of weapons they can use to harm others.”

    These MP Soldiers are the first and last step to establish mission readiness. They protect the home front while they are abroad and the personnel in theater through their inspections.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.10.2018
    Date Posted: 06.11.2018 09:37
    Story ID: 280420
    Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
    Hometown: DALLAS, TX, US
    Hometown: FORT STEWART, GA, US
    Hometown: FORT WORTH, TX, US
    Hometown: GARLAND, TX, US

    Web Views: 302
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN