MS Guardsmen in the last frontier

Photo By Staff Sgt. Shawn Keeton | Soldiers with the 114th Military Police Company, Mississippi Army National Guard, conduct an 8-mile ruck march on July 20, 2019, at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The ruck march was completed as part of the unit’s annual training. This training is in preparation for the unit’s upcoming overseas deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Shawn Keeton)  

ANCHORAGE, AK, UNITED STATES

07.27.2019

Story by Sgt. Shawn Keeton 

102d Public Affairs Detachment

When Mississippi Guardsmen think of annual training, several different thoughts surface. Some think of long, hot summer days at Camp Shelby. Others may think of cold mornings on a firing range at Camp McCain. However, the July 2019 annual training for the 114th Military Police Company will be one the Soldiers will not soon forget.
Soldiers of the 114th MP CO from Clinton, Mississippi, boarded a C-17 at the 172nd Air Wing in Flowood, Mississippi, July 6 and flew to Fort Richardson, Alaska. Over 70 Soldiers from the four-platoon company attended the annual training. Slated for three weeks of training in Alaska, Soldiers were excited about a change of scenery for their training site. Several training opportunities were scheduled to improve the unit’s readiness ahead of their upcoming overseas deployment.
“We have been hard charging trying to get ready for this deployment,” said Capt. Margaret Krisle, 114th commander. “Alaska has challenged us in a way we weren’t expecting. It gave us a way to realize our faults and correct them.”
The annual training marked Krisle’s third year in command of the 114th MP Company.
The training was a combined effort with the 114th MPs and Company E, 20th Special Forces Group. The Soldiers were able to participate in numerous training venues that challenged each and every person. These events included a field training exercise, land navigation, military operations in urban terrain site training, range operations, tactical combat causality care, a nine-mile company hike and an eight-mile company ruck march.
“The Soldiers know Camp McCain and Camp Shelby pretty well,” Krisle said. “This is a wakeup call for them as far as mission planning. They have to rely on the basics to make sure they are prepared to run their missions. They couldn’t base their knowledge off of previous experience.”
Alaska has allowed the unit to have more small group leader time, said Sgt. 1st Class Tarance Spann, 2nd platoon sergeant, 114th MP Co.
“Being away from Camp Shelby, which is our natural training environment, causes us to have control of all of our planning and we have to own it,” he said.
The Soldiers were excited about the opportunity to test their skills in this unique location. Land navigation proved to be particularly challenging for some.
“The terrain is a lot thicker here, and there are more obstacles preventing direct movements,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Rall, 1st platoon sergeant. “The Soldiers have to work as a team to be successful.”
The 23-day training allowed the Soldiers to explore Alaska through group hikes and training. For many, this was their first time in the 49th state.
“Some Soldiers don’t have the opportunity to travel outside Mississippi, so coming to Alaska is all a lot of them have been talking about,” Krisle said. “A change of scenery and training site is good for unit morale overall.”
As the training progressed, the Soldiers of the 114th hit their stride as a cohesive unit. This will prove beneficial when the unit deploys later this year.
“We are going to be with each other for roughly 11 months. Building the bonds now with each other will help tremendously once we get overseas,” said Spec. Willie O’Reilly.
Company leaders said the 2019 annual training in Alaska has helped strengthen the readiness of the unit and prepare them for the mission ahead.

• Date Taken: 07.27.2019
• Date Posted: 08.02.2019 10:19
• Story ID: 334226
• Location: ANCHORAGE, AK, US
• Hometown: ANCHORAGE, AK, US
• Hometown: BRANDON, MS, US
• Hometown: CANTON, MS, US
• Hometown: CLINTON, MS, US