Sergeant First Class a Platoon Leader?

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wojciechowski | Sgt. 1st Class Greg Jones of the 940th Military Police Company from Walton, KY assumes the duties of Platoon Leader for the last few weeks of their year long tour in Iraq.  

SAMARRA, IRAQ

12.19.2005

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wojciechowski 

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski
133rd MPAD

SAMARRA, IRAQ (KAUFFMAN COMPOUND)- The 940th Military Police Company an Army National Guard unit from Walton, KY has been all over Iraq in the past 11 months.

One platoon of the 940th is wrapping up its year-long tour at Kauffman compound in Samarra by working closely with the Iraqi Police.

Sergeant First Class Greg "Groucho" Jones normally would be a platoon sergeant at his rank taking care of Soldiers by making sure they have they the life necessities they need to survive in combat. However in this part of his deployment Jones also assumed the duties as the Platoon Leader.

"I have assumed the duties of Platoon Leader while the original PL started the demobilization process for the unit," said Jones.

As platoon leader, working closely with the Samarra Iraqi Police in training, planning and operations were a few more of Jones's responsibilities. The Iraqi Police in this area have made a noticeable improvement in their daily operations.

"The usually knock on IP's is they do not do what they are supposed to," Jones explains. "These guys are great, when gun shots are heard these guys go to the source, moving tactically, and taking care of the problem."

The 940th has definitely made in impact here on the Samarra Iraqi Police. "I don't think we can take all the credit for what the IP's have done in this area, there have been a lot of units that have worked with them and did some good things," Jones said modestly.

When asked how his tour went overall, Jones replied with a buoyant laugh, "It's been different, I've gotten to see a lot of the country." The 940th started in the central south, Khadasia province working with the Iraqi Police then they ventured further south to Um Kasar to conduct detainee operations for a few months. They will return home in a few weeks after there year-long deployment and a job well done.

• Date Taken: 12.19.2005
• Date Posted: 12.19.2005 11:05
• Story ID: 4134
• Location: SAMARRA, IQ