Subscribe
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 138th Military Police Detachment tested their ability to rapidly mobilize during an emergency deployment rehearsal exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, March 8, 2020.
Capt. Dylan Everett, an operations officer for the 138th Military Police Detachment, organized the unit to load equipment in various configurations and conduct a convoy simulating a rapid deployment. This training enhances the unit’s ability to support critical missions and mobilize efficiently.
“I think it’s a big deal and it should be done more,” said Everett. “A unit like this is supposed to be able to move rapidly because it’s smaller and we report directly to the Pentagon.”
The 138th Military Police Detachment is the U.S. Army Reserve’s only theater army detention center which reports detainee movement to the Pentagon.
“This training prevents us from being stagnant even though we’re able to go to war anytime,” said Everett. “It shows everyone, from leaders in the unit-- to the lowest rank how this needs to be done.”
During the exercise Soldiers loaded a light medium tactical vehicle with necessary gear including clothing, computers, and weapon racks. Once this vehicle was loaded, Soldiers convoyed to locations they would visit prior to a mobilization.
“I’ve done deployment readiness exercises previously, but they’ve never been this elaborate,” said Everett.
Spc. Stephanie Berrios, a unit supply specialist assigned to the 138th Military Police Detachment, tracked and arranged equipment onto the various platforms throughout the exercise.
“It’s exciting because we’ve never done something like this before,” said Berrios. “It feels good to have accountability as a supply Soldier and see what we’re taking.”
Berrios said this exercise provides immediate feedback for what supplies are needed to ensure the unit is mission capable.
“We never know when the balloon is going to pop,” said Berrios. “If we were to go today, we have an account of the equipment we would need to make sure we’re ready.”
As Soldiers completed the various load-plans, 138th Military Police Detachment commander, Lt. Col. Philander Pinckney, provided feedback to Soldier’s on the unit’s mission readiness.
“I think it’s a good requirement for everyone,” said Pinckney. “It lets you see exactly how you are in terms of what you need to address in your unit.”
Pinckney said the units specialized mission provides a higher standard for how the unit must address mobilization readiness.
“Because we are unique it adds fire,” said Pinkney. “Yes, we are MPs, but we are the only unit in the Army Reserve with that mission.”
Pinckney said this requirement is beneficial to individual Soldiers to assess how they may address future deployments.
“It makes me feel really great, the Soldiers are really engaged in the training and seeing where we are if we need to deploy,” said Pinckney. “It gives them that chance to learn lessons and make sure the next time we do this exercise we progress.”
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2020 13:44 |
| Story ID: | 365132 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ready to move out: U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers train to expedite mobilization process, by SGT Nicholle Salvatierra, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
