MPs hone enemy POW interment skills - Training - Brief Article

UNIONDALE, N.Y--Using the train-as-you-fight philosophy, more than 300 soldiers from the 800th Military Police (MP) Brigade descended on Fort Dix, N.J., for a simulation exercise (SIMEX).

The June exercise provided the brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Paul Hill and the soldiers the opportunity to train with eight subordinate units that the brigade would likely have command and control of during a deployment. Units such as the 367th MP Group from Ashley, Pa., whose units include the 320th MP Battalion (Bn.), 324th MP Bn. and the 744th MP Bn. Another battalion was the 535th MP Bn. from Raleigh, N.C.

Also participating in the exercise were the 800th's 306th and 310th MP Battalions, commanded by Lt. Col. Ted Blach and Lt. Col. John Cornelius, and the 455th and 343d Brigade Liaison Detachments (BLDs), commanded by Lt. Col. Richard Hyman and Lt. Col. Vincent Montera.

The SIMEX allowed the 800th's Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC) staff and subordinate units to iron out authentic issues that could arise during Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) operations in a number of areas including personnel accounting; logistical support such as communication; supply and transportation; intelligence gathering; host nation issues; and future operations. Brig. Gen. Hill also relied on the brigade chaplain and staff judge advocate to keep him abreast of issues concerning the operation.

SIMEX 2001 allowed the leadership of the participating units to rehearse with the assistance of the 78th Training Division, who "injected" scenarios into the play, to which participants had to react. This exercise was a precursor to Gold Sword '02, a full-scale, 6,000-soldier, boots-on-the-ground exercise to be held at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. and Fort Dix next summer.

There, several EPW camps will be constructed and soldiers will be put through challenging scenarios complete with prisoner role-play by opposing forces (OPFOR). The camps will offer subsistence, shelter, medical care, religious freedom, life support and segregation to Allied-captured prisoners, all of which are provided for by the Geneva Conventions agreement. Also part of the 800th MP Brigade's mission is the care and control of U.S. military prisoners.

Spc. LeShawn Earl was assigned to the S-2/Intelligence section for the exercise. "I learned a lot about using maps. I was able to apply what I learned in basic training to a real-world scenario."

Spc. Erlyn Santos says he was able to adjust to the field environment despite inclement weather. For the SIMEX, Santos was assigned to control the tactical operation center (TOC) access. He expects that for Gold Sword '02, he will be assigned to a Judge Advocate General officer to conduct tribunals. Santos is assigned to the Staff Judge Advocate section at the 800th.

The SIMEX also served as a training opportunity for the brigade mess staff to construct their mobile kitchen trailer, in which they fed two hot meals a day to several hundred soldiers conducting the exercise. Sgt. 1st Class Lisa McRae was charged with feeding the brigade, as well as the outlying battalions and companies. She notes that for some in her section, the SIMEX provided their first field experience. According to Master Sgt. Wilton Beamer, NCOIC of the brigade mess team, he and his soldiers will be responsible for overseeing field sanitation at all the mess sites at the EPW camps during Gold Sword '02.

Following the 36-hour exercise, the brigade staff, battalion staff members, and training division personnel conducted an extensive after-action review.

"I am so pleased with the quality of work that went into the planning and execution of the SIMEX," commented Hill. "I commend the units for showing progress from last year's SIMEX. The 800th is driving forward, and by Gold Sword '02, I expect to be fully prepared." Brig. Gen. Hill added that he recognizes that mistakes will be made during training, and expects soldiers to learn from those mistakes.

At the conclusion of the exercise, all EPWs were successfully repatriated, and the 800th had completed the assigned mission with tenacity, integrity and professionalism. "I couldn't ask for anything more," noted Hill.

(Capt. Martin is with the 800th Military Police Brigade (EPW), Uniondale, N.Y.)

COPYRIGHT 2001 U.S. Army Reserve
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group