Sendoff held for Nebraska Military Police for Middle East Deployment

Photo By Capt. Travis Kirchner | The Nebraska Army National Guard's 192nd Military Police Detachment (Law and Order) held a departure ceremony Feb. 21, 2021, at Creighton Prep High School in Omaha to honor 45 Soldiers and their families prior to the unit's deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Nebraska National Guard photo by Cpt. Travis Kirchner)  

OMAHA, NE, UNITED STATES

02.21.2021

Story by Staff Sgt. Anna Pongo 

111th Public Affairs Detachment

A physically-distanced group of friends, family and fellow Guardsmen gathered in the Creighton Preparatory High School gymnasium to wish farewell to the Soldiers of the 192nd Military Police (Law and Order) Detachment on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. The detachment’s 45 Soldiers are mobilizing for a year-long overseas mission to the Middle East.
While overseas, the Nebraska Army National Guard military police officers will be responsible for providing internal law and order operations and other support functions. It’s a similar mission to the one the unit conducted during their last mission in 2015.
Capt. Travis Borchardt, detachment commander, said his Soldiers were ready for the deployment.
“In my most humble and slightly biased opinion, these are the best Soldiers in the United States of America and the great state of Nebraska,” Borchardt said. “We’re sending them forward in a complex environment and you should have every confidence in the Soldiers you see before you.”
The unit last deployed in 2015, with approximately half of the same Soldiers going on this tour. During their last time in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, they conducted some 5,000 security checks, processed more than 6,600 military and civilian personnel, and conducted more than a dozen criminal investigations.
“My words cannot express how proud I am of the men and women in the Nebraska National Guard,” said Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts while addressing the Soldiers of 192nd. “They have performed wonderfully over the course of the last several years.”
This ceremony brought everything full circle for the Governor as this unit’s farewell ceremony before their last deployment was Ricketts’ first sendoff as commander in chief of the Nebraska National Guard.
“I know you are going to perform wonderfully well,” Ricketts said. “You have been given fantastic training. You can rely on each other. You are going to represent Nebraska in the highest manner possible. I know that because you’ve done it before.”
Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska adjutant general, agreed with Ricketts about the competency of the Soldiers of the 192nd.
“I have the utmost confidence in the way you would conduct yourselves and how you would execute this mission and will do everything you can to protect each other and return home safely,” Bohac said.
After having all of the families of the deploying Soldiers stand, Bohac spoke directly to them, thanking them for the support they provided to their Soldiers.
“There are three components to the success of any Soldier. First and foremost is the foundation of the family, the connection to our community and then the Guard mission. Without you we simply couldn't do our jobs.”
Family was at the front of the deploying Soldiers’ minds as well.
“It means a lot to me that I get to have this opportunity to serve my state and country because not everybody gets the opportunity to deploy,” said Pfc. Caleigh Behrens, a native of Adams, Nebraska. “I’m so grateful to get to share this with my unit and my family and get to improve myself every day.”
Despite leaving family and friends behind, spirits were high for the 192nd Soldiers.
“I’m really excited because I’m in one of the best units around,” Behrens added. “There is such great leadership and everybody is just such a great Soldier. I am very excited to share this opportunity with them and get to do what I love.”

• Date Taken: 02.21.2021
• Date Posted: 03.04.2021 16:10
• Story ID: 390434
• Location: OMAHA, NE, US
• Hometown: ADAMS, NE, US