Tennessee Guardsmen keeping Q-West safe

Photo By Capt. Desiree Pavlick | Provost Marshal Operations Sergeant, Sgt. Lisa Bendler, a Kentucky National Guard Soldier from the 2113th Transportation Company from Paducah, Ky., that is currently attached to 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, takes notes during an interview May 5.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, IRAQ

05.08.2010

Story by 1st Lt. Desiree Pavlick 

278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — By performing the duties of Provost Marshal for Q-West, Iraq, select Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment headquartered in Henderson, Tenn., play a vital role in keeping the base safe.

"Their mission as appointed military policemen is to maintain safety standards and law and order for the residents of COL Q-West," said Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Jones of Jackson, Tenn., the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the Provost Marshal's Office and 19 year veteran of civilian law enforcement.

Soldiers selected from each troop for this duty were trained on patrolling, report writing, and basic laws that would pertain to their job performance. After being trained, these Soldiers were given the responsibility of protecting fellow Soldiers.

"My charge to my team was to be vigilant and pay attention to detail. This job means providing 100 percent coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Jones.

"Daily routine; there isn't really a routine. We just have to take things as they come," said PMO Operations Sergeant, Sgt. Lisa Bendler, a Soldier from the 2113th Transportation Company from Paducah, Ky., that is currently attached to 1/278th ACR. "We've done everything from insure accountability of local national workers and Soldiers to collect counterfeit bills that had to be turned over to federal law enforcement. The main benefit is that we stay busy."

The PMO stays busy conducting health and welfare checks, patrolling, and enforcing safe driving on post. Their vehicle can be seen out and about enforcing speed and seatbelt standards for the post.

PMO also assists in the planning and execution of large events. Q-West frequently hosts running events where PMO support is requested. MP's serve as the lead vehicle and trail vehicle for racers; meanwhile, roadguards insure the route is clear of vehicles during the run. Most recently, the PMO was of great assistance to the "shadow running" of the Nashville Country Music Marathon.

Assisting the Q-West 1/278th ACR PMO is 178th Military Police Detachment from Fort Hood, Texas. This detachment provides occasional K-9 assets to the PMO. Rex, a German Shepherd trained as a bite and bomb dog, typically does building searches, random walking patrols, and postal sweeps when not on combat missions with his handler Staff Sgt. Culley Parr.

The PMO stays busy in order to protect and serve the residents of Q-West, just as a civilian police officer would do in the U.S. Due to effective leadership and the adherence to standards by Soldiers, crime remains very low at Q-West. The PMO plays a vital role during deployment, and the PMO of Q-West has certainly been able to fulfill that duty.

• Date Taken: 05.08.2010
• Date Posted: 05.08.2010 04:07
• Story ID: 49321
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, IQ