The Makeup of the Provost Marshal's Office

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

03.07.2023

Story by Sgt. Cheyeanne Campbell 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

The Provost Marshal's Office (PMO) functions as the first line of defense for Marine Corps Air
Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina. PMO serves the tri-command region, consisting of
MCAS Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, and Laurel Bay Housing
Community. Military police officers and Civilian Law Enforcement Professionals maintain the
security of the installations, dispatch, participate in community events, respond to accidents and
emergencies that contributes to the overall safety and lethality of the commands.

“PMO encompasses a lot,” Maj. Steven Cox, operations officer, MCAS Beaufort, said, “We have
many different sections that all work together to accomplish our overall mission.”

In addition to the platoons who patrol and work the Entry Control Points, there are many
sections of PMO who receive specialized training in their respective roles such as Special
Reaction Team (SRT), Military Working Dog, Accident Investigation Division, Dispatch, Training,
School Resource Officers, Traffic court, and more. In addition to the PMO proper Marines,
PMO receives an augment of Fleet Assistance Personnel on a biannual basis to assist in the
overall security mission of the installation. All of these sections work collectively to serve and
protect the community.

PMO’s task force consists of both active duty and civilian workers through the Marine Corps
Law Enforcement Program (MCLEP). Created in 2005, MCLEP provides individuals who are
well-trained, highly qualified, disciplined, and responsive to the communities they serve.

“MCLEP officers have a wealth of experience that I rely on heavily,” Cox said. “As Marines, we
rotate every few years and the laws change from state to state. Our MCLEP officers are a
constant here, which allows them the opportunity to build valuable relationships with the local
law enforcement and community as well as learn the local, state and federal laws inside and
out.”

The majority of MCLEP officers on MCAS Beaufort are retired or former service members who
have chosen to continue to serve the community. A blended force provides PMO a unique
insight into the lives of service members and civilians.

“We are able to see things from the civilian and the Marine Corps side which allows us to
communicate effectively with not only the installations we serve, but the local area” stated Sgt.
David Pavon, a MCLEP officer and Marine who previously served at MCAS Beaufort.

Civilians serve in many sections within PMO, including the Special Reaction Team. SRT
responds to threats that surpass normal law enforcement capabilities. SRT is trained in clearing
buildings, tactical movements, and superior marksmanship support.

“We must be ready for anything,” Sgt. Efrain Arroyo, SRT commander, MCAS Beaufort. “We
train constantly because we never know when or where we will be needed,” Arroyo explained. “I
always tell my guys when we get comfortable, when we get complacent, that is when things get
dangerous.”

SRT has many highly qualified Marines and civilians who are trained breachers, marksmen,
observer teams and much more. They train daily to be capable of making sound decisions while
under extreme stress. They hold ranges weekly and often train in buildings throughout the
installations to avoid familiarity.

SRT is just one of the tactical tools at the discretionary use of installation commanders. K-9
units on MCAS Beaufort also serve as a force multiplier. Military working dogs are trained in
bomb detection, drug detection, and patrolling.

“We call our dogs the ‘guardians of the night’,” Staff Sgt. Preston Ford, Kennel Master, MCAS
Beaufort, explained. “They can see, smell, and hear things no one else can.”

Their senses are put to the test by responding to calls, supporting the watch, border missions
and secret service missions. For example, K-9 units provide extra security during graduations
on MCRD Parris Island to help prevent and respond to any emergency that may occur due to
the increase of non-Department of Defense personnel on the base.

Unlike the average military police officers who usually work with partners, handlers are often
working alone with their dogs. They have a deep-rooted bond with their dog developed through
extensive training.

“You can’t recall a taser or a bullet that's gone down range, but you can call off your dog,” Cpl.
Christine Good, dog handler, MCAS Beaufort, spoke on the benefits of utilizing the military
working dogs. “If a suspect runs or isn’t cooperating at first we will send our dogs, but once the
subject is detained or cooperating then we can call them back to prevent unnecessary harm.”

Military Working Dogs and their handlers from the air station also provide humanitarian aid to
the local community. They are dispatched to bomb threats, due to the lack of bomb dogs in
Beaufort County and are often tasked to support POTUS missions worldwide.

Another aspect of PMO is the 911 emergency dispatch center. On the air station, they are
responsible for effectively communicating emergency and non-emergency calls for service,
relaying pertinent information to responding emergency personnel while simultaneously
providing callers with pre-arrival medical and safety.

“We are the first, first responders,” Rebecca Dominguez, dispatch lead, MCAS Beaufort,
described her job. “We are that calm in the chaos, the hub of the wheel.”

PMO dispatches the 911 calls, medical emergencies, and fire department calls received on
MCAS Beaufort. They act as the information center for their officers and pull criminal records,
run license plates and driver's licenses. A lot goes into granting access to the installations and
providing the officers with the information they need to make sound decisions regarding the
safety and security of the tri-command.

“It’s a tough, and sometimes emotionally draining job.” Dominguez said. “You have to remain
calm to get as much information from the caller who may not always be in a position to give the
information needed freely due the nature of the emergency call.”

According to Domiguez, dispatch is very skilled at being able to process the information they
receive from the callers to deploy the appropriate emergency services.”

The main concern for dispatchers is the safety of the responding emergency personnel. They
help coordinate before the officer arrives on scene to ensure they are as informed as much as
possible for what they are about to walk into.

Military police officers need to be prepared and equipped for any situation that may arise. PMO
services ensures all their officers have the necessary equipment needed to complete their job.
PMO services is responsible for issuing protective gear when it is necessary, the maintenance
and operability of the radios used throughout each shift, and all patrol vehicles.

Like any job in the Marine Corps, PMO requires intense training. PMO Training is responsible
for the upkeep of the qualifications required to be an officer. They organize and run pistol,
shotgun, and rifle qualifications. They hold training on detainee handling, traffic stops, laws, and
everything the force needs a refresher on.

Physical Security plays a key role in the safety and security of the installations. They grant and
revoke access to restricted areas for key personnel. They monitor security cameras to ensure
the proper protocols regarding security are being upheld and met.

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is a section within PMO which provides criminal
investigative, criminal intelligence, and forensic capabilities. CID helps promote good order and
discipline and supports in identifying, preventing, and mitigating criminal and terroristic threats.
They work closely with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The Accident Investigation Division is dedicated to not only investigation but preventing
accidents. Accident investigators have the knowledge and equipment to conduct speed surveys,
aiding in the development of speed limit adjustments and to help improve safety and reduce the
number of accidents that occur on the installations. They play a key role in planning, and are
gearing up to get an estimated tens of thousands of people safely and efficiently on and off
MCAS Beaufort for the 2023 MCAS Beaufort Air Show.

Accident Investigators are capable of conducting accident reconstruction which is critical for
both court cases as well as insurance situations. These reports are often heavily relied upon by
the court systems in the final determination and outcome of the serious accidents.

A necessary part of policing the community includes watching for driving and traffic infractions.
The court liaison processes traffic tickets written by military police officers for federal, MCAS
Beaufort, MCRD Parris Island and civil violations.

“I work with a great deal of the sections within PMO,” Jim Chambers Jr, retired Master GySgt,
court liaison, MCAS Beaufort said. “Working with Marines made the transition easier for me and
made me realize how grateful I am to serve in the civilian capacity.”

Chambers works with operations, the watch, Criminal Investigation Division and many other
tenet commands aboard all three installations served, to help aid in the legal processes.
A big effort of MCAS Beaufort PMO is having a strong presence. PMO has made appearances
throughout the previous year at Kids Fest, MCAS Beaufort Safety Fair, Harvest Fest and many
other events engaged with the community. McGruff the Crime Dog and officers speak with
children, parents, and adults about safety issues within the local area and how to prevent crime.

“We want our community to know we are here to help them,” Cox said. “We want service
members, their families, and the local area to know their safety is our priority.”

Every section within PMO works together to contribute to the mission of the section. PMO is
paramount to MCAS Beaufort, MCRD PI, and the base housing community success.

• Date Taken: 03.07.2023
• Date Posted: 03.07.2023 16:07
• Story ID: 439859
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US