FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo –
The 198th Military Police Battalion, and its subordinate units, conducted their annual training at the home of the United States Army Military Police Schools (USAMPS) May 12-26.
There were a total of 378 MP Soldiers involved with the training, along with 112 tactical vehicles that were brought with them. The vehicles comprised of M1151 Enhanced Armament Carriers, M-ATV (mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, HEMTT A4 Recovery Trucks (Wrecker), and HEMTT A4 Fuel Servicing Trucks (Tanker).
“The goal of the training as to get back to their roots as MP’s in order build cohesive teams that take pride in being MPs while also providing Soldiers with unique learning experience about the history and importance of the MP Corps,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Nein, the 98th MP battalion’s command sergeant major.
For the first few days in the field, the units focused on weapons qualifications on their M4 rifles M2 .50 caliber machine gun, M240B machine gun, MK19 grenade launcher and Crew Served Weapons Qualifications, while also conducting individual and team training in their respective bivouac sites. Soldiers competed for battalion’s ‘top shot’ in an NCAA Tournament style format for elimination. The field was comprised of experts, marksman and sharpshooters based on their M4 rifle qualifications.
Upon completion of ranges, the battalion conducted a force on force, 72-hour culminating training exercise (CTE) with the battalion operations section serving as the higher headquarters for friendly ‘blue” forces (BLUFOR) and opposition forces (OPFOR).
According to Army Maj. Jacob Lee, the battalions administrative officer, each unit was given mission orders and tasking’s that facilitated Troop Leading Procedures. The two mission essential task’s the battalion focused on during this AT was coordinate/conduct support to security operations and conduct detention operations.
During the 72-hour CTE the 617th partnered with the USAMPs team for some individual and specific law enforcement training such as civil disturbance, crime scene and/or interviews/interrogation opportunities.
The final three days of training were focused on the leadership development program (LDP) and team building through the Thoroughbred Challenge and morale day.
The USAMPS Commandant, Brig. Gen. Sarah K. Albrycht and Regimental Command Sgt.Maj. Shawn A. Klosterman, provided a State of the Regiment to the entire MP battalion, as well as a more in-depth one-on-one and the LDP with senior staff about pressing issues for the MP Corps. Also, representatives from the Military Police Regimental Association (MPRA) came and spoke to the entire Battalion.
Albrycht also administered an oath of reenlistment to 34 Soldiers at the Military Police Memorial Grove.
The final event for the battalion was each unit receiving a Military Police Heritage and History brief from the museum staff. They were treated with getting to see some items that aren’t typically on display in the museum, to include the Fort Leavenworth wooden electric chair named “Sparky”.