Photo By Spc. Isaiah Jackson | Soldiers of the 223rd Military Police Company stand in formation at the Buechel Armory...... read more read more
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nearly 200 Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 223rd Military Police Company, of the 198th Military Police Battalion, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, reunited with family and friends at Buechel Armory, following a year-long deployment to the U.S. European Command region, Aug. 16, 2025.
The company mobilized from Fort Bliss, Texas, Nov. 1, 2024, and conducted operations across multiple forward operating sites in Eastern Europe. Split into teams in Bulgaria, Romania and Poland, the 223rd executed military police duties, force protection and in-transit security for U.S. and NATO forces.
U.S. Army Capt. Ethan Davis, commander of the 223rd, described the deployment as diverse and mission-critical.
“Our role was to conduct law enforcement operations at four different sites—from northern Poland to southern Bulgaria,” said Davis. “We also provided force protection at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (MKAB) in Romania, and secured equipment in transit for other Army units across the theater.”
The deployment supported V Corps’ strategic objectives, emphasizing force protection, readiness and interoperability with NATO partners.
“Readiness was the priority, demonstrating our ability to move and operate as large elements,” said Davis. “Our Soldiers worked with NATO allies daily, conducting joint patrols and participating in major training exercises like Defender 25.”
Despite being geographically dispersed, the 223rd maintained cohesion through regular communication.
“We held commander updates weekly via Teams and maintained daily contact with platoon leadership,” Davis said. “I relied on my lieutenants and platoon sergeants to execute the mission across multiple countries.”
For many Soldiers, the deployment offered unique professional opportunities. Spc. Mariah Carey, a combat medic from a sapper unit, volunteered to fill a critical medical role within the company.
“My friend was the medic for the 223rd and expecting his first child, so I stepped in to take his spot,” Carey said. “I didn’t know much about the mission, but I knew it mattered—and I felt called to support.”
Carey and two other medics were assigned to the clinic at MKAB, providing care to more than 1,600 personnel across multiple commands.
“We weren’t just screening patients,” Carey said. “We ran the pharmacy, coordinated specialty care, transported Soldiers for treatment, and worked directly with Romanian healthcare providers and interpreters.”
She also trained with Italian medics on IV therapy and medication protocols, and participated in a multinational mass casualty exercise involving Romanian, Canadian, Italian and U.S. forces.
“That exercise showed how vital interoperability is,” said Carey. “Each nation started treating its own, but we coordinated care and transported patients to the U.S. Role 2 ER or our clinic. It gave me a deeper understanding of the coalition response.”
Back home, Sondra Carey, Mariah's mother, leaned on other families for support during the deployment.
“I was nervous for her. She didn’t have a local family in Kentucky, and I knew her pets would come to me while she was gone,” Sondra said. “Jessica Farris helped guide me through it all, but the hardest part was not being able to talk to my daughter for weeks.”
Despite the challenges, Sondra spoke proudly of her daughter’s leadership.
“She told me, ‘Mom, I think of them like my niece, they need someone who’s calm.’ And that’s what she did. She led by example.”
Carey credited her success to her team and support system at home.
“The people I worked with were incredible, and I saved every letter and photo from my friends, family and church,” she said. “When things got hard, those reminders grounded me.”
Now home, Carey reflects on the deployment as a turning point in her service.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done—but it was an honor to be their medic,” she said. “We gave everything—24/7—to care for those Soldiers. I’ll carry those lessons with me as I continue to serve Kentucky.”
Davis emphasized the broader impact of the mission.
“Deployments like this build readiness and deepen our trust with NATO partners,” he said. “These rotations aren’t just training—they’re about capability, trust and unity.”
The return of the 223rd marks the successful conclusion of a demanding deployment and a proud homecoming for the Soldiers, their families and their communities.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2025 15:13 |
| Story ID: | 545928 |
| Location: | KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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