For more than 60 years, the 525th Military Police Battalion has survived three deactivations, campaigns in India and Burma, and four campaigns in Korea. These difficult campaigns demonstrated the traits and capabilities of the 525th then and now. They continue to demonstrate those traits in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
The 525th MP Battalion provides support to the JTF Guantanamo mission by providing internal and external security for the detention camps by ensuring the safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees.
Soldiers of the 525th are trained as internment/resettlement specialists. This military occupation specialty focuses on day-to-day operations in a military correctional facility or detention facility.
"It is important for us to be here because we provide expertise in detention operations," said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Raines, command sergeant major of the 525th MP Battalion. "Our Soldiers here are trained. That's their job."
The 525th is composed of three companies, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 189th MP Company, 193rd MP Company, and one attached company, the 115th MP Company.
Each company has a day-to-day mission that's important to the overall JTF mission.
The 115th MP Company provides external security for the JTF by patrolling the camps and occupying the guard towers.
The 193rd and 189th companies provide internal security within the JTF detention centers. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company supports the 525th by providing administration, logistical, medical, legal and financial support, and a chaplain's office for religious support.
On an average workday, the camp guards can work up to 12 hours with about two extra hours of initial briefs or debriefs.
"These soldiers perform magnificently every day, in a stressful rigorous environment," Raines said.
Guards who work the day shift complete weekly physical training requirements after work, while guards on night shift conduct PT prior to their shift. Every quarter the battalion conducts PT as a whole.
"The PT is a good team builder," said Sgt. Brandy Palazzolo, with HHC, 525th MP Battalion. "The battalion commander and sergeant major come and PT with us on Wednesdays. It builds a lot of camaraderie among the Soldiers."
Additionally, along with their military obligations, Soldiers from the 525th have heavily volunteered themselves within the Guantanamo community. They are not going unrecognized for these deeds.
"We give out numerous volunteer service medals for what our Soldiers are doing on their off-time," Raines said.
The Soldiers from the 525th MP Battalion present ideal service members to the rest of the U.S. Army Southern Command and the U.S. Army as a whole. Soldiers from the 525th are three-time consecutive winners at the Army South non-commissioned officer and Soldier boards of the first, second and third quarter, Raines said.
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