Home safe and sound

8th Military Police Brigade
Story by Staff Sgt. Taresha Hill

Date: 08.16.2014
Posted: 08.19.2014 20:30
News ID: 139867
Home safe and sound

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — After nearly a year away from home in support of Area Support Group-Qatar, Soldiers from the Law Enforcement Detachment, 57th Military Police Company, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, were welcomed home by friends and family members, Aug. 16, at the company’s training area on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The detachment deployed last year in December and conducted several missions, while improving ASG-QA’s day-to-day operations.

One of the ways the detachment kept ASG-QA running so smoothly was by streamlining the Defense Biometric Identification System, which is used by the military to easily identify and verify the access authorization of personnel.

Paper work and people were processed quicker and more efficiently, said Sgt. Jamie Fresen, military policeman with the detachment.

In addition, the detachment also executed port security missions, as well as protective service details, for many distinguished visitors, while running the provost marshal office with around-the-clock support.

On her first deployment in the Army, Spc. Alicia Decipulo, PSD driver, said she did not expect the year to go by as quickly as it did.

“It wasn’t too hectic and I even got to get some schooling done,” said Decipulo.

Along with time for education, the detachment was able to send six Soldiers to the Warrior Leader Course in Kuwait, with two Soldiers making the commandant’s list.

In keeping with a normal routine as much as possible, the detachment also carried out physical training: taking sixth place in the Christmas Eve 5k and first place in the New Years Eve Doughnut Dash.

Declaring their mission a success, Capt. Brad Smith, the detachment’s commander, said he could not be more proud of how his Soldiers conducted themselves.

“The Soldiers performed above and beyond what was expected and executed their missions with zero issues,” said Smith. “We received nothing but praise from command and many distinguished visitors.”

Adding to Smith’s praise, Sgt. 1st Class Kristy Martin, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the detachment, said her Soldiers were “awesome.”

“They were asked for by name when the Sergeant Major of the Army came for a visit,” said Martin.

Yet as busy as the detachment was with all of their missions, there was not one mishap.

“It’s a great feeling when you can bring all of your Soldiers back home,” said Martin.