POZNAN, Poland — Soldiers assigned to the 109th Military Police Battalion conducted Law Enforcement Weapons Training and Qualification (LEWTAQ) at Biedrusko Military Training Area, Poland, Sept. 11, 2026, sharpening their weapons proficiency and maintaining readiness to protect U.S. military personnel and infrastructure.
The training gave Soldiers an opportunity to employ their assigned M17 pistols in various scenarios designed to reflect the demands of law enforcement. LEWTAQ allowed Soldiers to build on fundamental marksmanship, weapons-handling and engagement skills under time constraints.
“The LEWTAQ qual is supposed to simulate a military police Soldier on garrison law enforcement duty and having to engage a suspect,” said Capt. Gabriel Blount, 109th MP BN. Unlike basic weapons qualification, LEWTAQ focuses on skills military police may need while conducting law enforcement duties in a garrison environment. Soldiers completed the course wearing patrol caps and soft body armor rather than ballistic helmets, more closely reflecting equipment worn during routine law enforcement operations.
Throughout the qualification, Soldiers progressed through a series of engagements at varying distances, conducted magazine changes and fired while moving. All this is done under a time constraint meant to challenge the Soldiers to maintain accuracy and safe weapons handling while under stressful conditions. “What a lot of people struggle with is the time,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Campoli, non-commissioned officer in charge of running the LEWTAQ, for the 109th MP BN. “They stress themselves out, and then they are either not controlled on their groupings or their fire rate.”
For Soldiers on the firing line, the qualification also highlighted areas for improvement while building confidence through repetition.
“The most challenging part, I think, is getting farther away from the target,” said Pfc. Brooke Gheen, 109th MP BN. “Once you get to that 25-meter line, that target starts looking real small.With the M4 you have your CCO (Close Combat Optic) or your ACOG (Advanced Combat Gunsight), but with the M17, you just have the sights, so you really have to make sure you’re lining up, and aiming properly.”
Individual proficiency developed during LEWTAQ contributes to the battalion’s overall readiness by ensuring Soldiers can perform military police-specific weapons tasks safely and effectively. “It lets our command team know that our Soldiers know how to engage a target from different distances,” said Campoli. “They can shoot under stress, they know how to safely retain their weapon as well.”
By maintaining proficiency with their assigned weapons, Soldiers of the 109th MP BN remain prepared to execute law enforcement operations and support the battalion’s mission. LEWTAQ reinforces the individual skills and discipline necessary to maintain a trained and ready military police force.