FORT BLISS, Texas - The 2228th Military Police Company, Louisiana Army National Guard, completed a nine-month deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and redeployed April 23 to the Silas L. Copeland Departure/Arrival Airfield Control Group.
The Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard, Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis, made the trip to the Southwest to greet the Soldiers of the 2228th Military Police Company as they deplaned the aircraft that carried them home.
“The Guantanamo Bay mission is tough,” said Curtis. “Imagine working with the detainees and all the protocols they have to follow. It’s a very stressful environment for our Soldiers, so I’m glad they got through it without any major incidents and I’m glad that they are home.”
Once the 2228th Military Police Company demobilizes through the Directorate of Mobilization and Deployment, they will return to Louisiana and to their civilian lives.
In her civilian life, Sgt. Katie Higgins is a police officer with the Kenner Police Department in Kenner, La. Although this deployment with the 2228th Military Police Company was not her first, experiencing Gitmo helped her refine her skills as a police officer.
“This mission was goal-oriented for me, as in placing the mission first in everything that we do,” said Higgins. “It’s been hard just to go on this mission, so, I want to thank everyone that gave me the opportunity to go. It’s been a great honor. I also want to thank my family for the support they have given me.”
According to Curtis, after 90 days of reintegration, the Soldiers of the 2228th Military Police Company will go through the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program in order to ensure family adjustments have been OK. The YRRP is a Department of Defense-wide effort to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve members, their families and communities, by connecting them with resources throughout the deployment cycle. Through YRRP events, service members and loved ones connect with local resources before, during, and after deployments. Reintegration during post-deployment is a critical time for members of the Guard and Reserve, as they often live far from military installations and members of their units.
“It’s a great program,” said Curtis. “I want to thank the Soldiers and their families for the sacrifices they have made. I also want to thank the Soldiers’ employers for letting them serve and for being supportive during their deployment.”