The Watchdog by 8th MP BDE

THE WATCHDOG

An online magazine for the Soldiers and Families of the 8th Military Police Brigade Special Edition - 58th MP Company JRTC Rotation 14-06

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Commanding Officer Col. Mark A. Jackson Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Woodring Managing Editor Staff Sgt. Richard D. Sherba

In accordance with AR 360-1 and the regulations set forth by the U.S. Army Public Affairs Center, The Watchdog is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Watchdog are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, the 8th Theater Sustainment Command or the 8th Military Police Brigade. All editorial content of The Watchdog is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 8th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office. The 8th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office is located in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

‘Workhorse’ for “the

’ prepares e box”

Story and Photos by Staff. Sgt. Richard D. Sherba

Months of training will soon be put on dis-

play by the Soldiers of the 58th Military Police Company, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, as they make their final preparations at an intermediate staging base for a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. The commander of the 58th MP Co., Capt. Daniel Groller, took time out to reflect on the training opportunity that lies ahead for his Soldiers at JRTC. “I’m expecting my Soldiers to get the training they can’t receive at home station because of space, land availability and resources. JRTC is also going to provide a realistic training environment, and it’s a DATE scenario - decisive action training exercise; we’ll be going up against [role-playing] enemy forces in a realistic scenario,” said Groller.

“My platoon leaders and XO [executive officer] haven’t had a deployment experience, so this [JRTC] is invaluable, they are going to get the most realistic deployment experience possible, short of them actually deploying,” continued Groller. “Everything about this training exercise is giving them an idea of what they can expect on a deployment. This [JRTC] is a large scale training event that mirrors everything as close as possible to an actual deployment.” Groller then explained that even though his platoon sergeants have had deployment experience, this training exercise would also provide them with opportunities to gain experience on conditions that they may not have been exposed to in awhile. “We’ve been used to being on FOBs [forward operating bases] for so many years, going out

on missions and then coming back to a safe place, bedding down, resting, and then waking up and going back out [on missions]. So this [field exercise] will force the platoon sergeants to work that work/rest cycle while maintaining security all the time. They’ll have to maintain those work/rest cycles for [their Soldiers] and they haven’t had to do that in awhile,” said Groller. Some of the training conducted by the 58th MP Co. prior to arriving at JRTC involved ranges, driver’s training, and platoon based training which allotted platoon leaders the opportunity to shape their respective platoons’ training into what they felt was needed to be successful at JRTC. The 58th MP Co.’s training back in Hawaii culminated at Bellows Air Force Station with

a week long field exercise in which the 728th MP Bn. provided multi echelon training while acting as the higher command and injecting missions, significant acts, and role playing enemies into various scenarios during the exercise. Sgt. 1st Class Allan Huhn, platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, 58th MP Co. spoke about his expectations for his platoon. “One of the things I expect them to learn from this experience is how some things might look good and go well in training, but when your up against an actual force you have to actually take those classes and lessons and develop them using your own decision making process,” said Huhn. Huhn spoke about the unique challenges of Military Police working the roads and their

jobs while still training and preparing for exercises like JRTC. “As MPs we have a very busy schedule, the time allotted for training brought these Soldiers a very long way. I think it’s [JRTC] a great opportunity, I am hoping all of them take full advantage of everything this training has to offer,” concluded Huhn. As another day of preparations at the ISB came to an end, Pfc. Derian Moore, gunner, 3rd Platoon, 58th MP Co. spoke about his ex-

perience thus far. “I am not really used to eating MRE’s everyday, and constantly waking up, however it’s actually pretty fun. It’s fun because we normally work the road, and we don’t always get this much time to do these things, such as dismounted patrols. This is the Army to me, I love it,” said Moore. When asked his thoughts on the upcoming training event, Moore paused, smiled and said, “it’s show time.”

“Digging in”

for the night

Night Operations

Story and Photos by Staff. Sgt. Richard D. Sherba

‘Workhorse’

Owns the Night FORT POLK, La. — Shooting, moving, and communicating effectively at night is not as easy as donning a pair of night vision goggles and continuing your mission; it takes familiarization and practice. Soldiers who have experience in night operations, whether it’s in a training environment or on the battlefield, are invaluable to their units for they bestow the confidence that enables them to move fluidly at night, both tactically and technically. The Soldiers of the 58th Military Police Company, 728th MP Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, had the valuable opportunity to receive several weeks of continuous night operations training while at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. April 4 – 29. “Night vision devices have been around since I came into the Army over 17 years ago; night vision driving is becoming a bit of a lost art. As military police we really didn’t get the chance to do a lot of night vision driving down range, the majority of MPs operated in white light,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Traynor, operations sergeant, 58th MP Co. “So anytime military police are able to train in this type of environment, in the woods, it’s important to put a lot of emphasis on running missions at night and especially driving at night. Night driving is a unique and different skill set that does require some practice.” Pfc. Terrance Alston, driver, 1st platoon, 58th MP Co., spoke about the opportunity to gain experience driving with his night vision goggles. “It’s very different, especially out here [Fort Polk] going on paths I have never seen before.

We had our ups and downs on the first night, when you factor in the spacing and speeds; it kind of created a slinky affect. But after that first night or two, we had all become used to driving with [NVGs]. Now I can drive normal at night with NVGs,” said Alston. Alston then reflected on his newly acquired skill set. “If a situation were to happen and we did get deployed, and I hadn’t had this opportunity, I might be traveling 10 miles per hour downrange when I would probably be needing to go a lot faster to keep up with the convoy. So this was a great experience, all of it, JRTC as a whole and the night ops. I feel confidant I can operate and drive at night with [NVGs],” said Alston. Spc. Joshua Solis, team leader, 2nd Platoon, 58th MP Co., also spoke about the benefits the training had on his Soldiers. “Using NVGs is crucial for night missions, it’s what makes the Army unique. It’s one of the reasons why we own the night and why we have that advantage. However, we have to know how to use them properly and we have to train properly to ensure we’re combat effective,” said Solis. “My Soldiers were excited about the opportunity to get to use [NVGs] every night, on every night mission. But [night operations] can be dangerous, especially driving. You have to be aware of the depth perception, and you always have to be aware of what’s in front of you. Little by little they got that experience, and they got better, much better,” continued Solis. “As I look back on the training; we [trained on] everything we possible could have, as MPs, it was a great run.”

Dismounted Patrols

t g h n e i t f c l o e r w i D

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C o m P pa M

Story and Photos by Staff. Sgt. Richard D. Sherba

FORT POLK, La. — A ground assault convoy, commonly referred to as a GAC, consists of large scale convoy operations linking up vehicles and personnel on a battlefield that were unable to deploy by air with units whom previously entered the battlefield by air. Soldiers from the 58th Military Police Company, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, became very familiar with the operations of a GAC while attending a large scale joint training event at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. April 4 – 29. ‘Workhorse’ Soldiers spent three days operating a large scale GAC at JRTC, the Soldiers not only learned how to operate a GAC; but also came away with a newfound appreciation of Army logistics. “The 58th Military Police Company was tasked with moving the majority of the maneuver and support elements into the box. We had a staging area just prior to the box, at which point we moved the convoys [by providing convoy escorts and security] to our marshaling area in the box. Once there, we put the convoy commanders in touch with their respective LNOs [liaison officers] to coordinate additional movements for a link up with their respective units,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Traynor, opera-

tions sergeant, 58th MP Co. “The box” is a term Soldiers use when referring to about 100,000 acres of training grounds at Fort Polk, La.. The training area simulates battlefield conditions through the replication of everything, including role players and security forces. Traynor went on to explain that running GAC operations at JRTC was a unique and great opportunity for ‘Workhorse’ Soldiers, especially the senior leadership within the company. He said, usually GAC responsibilities are given to transportation units to run, so giving the MPs the responsibilities created an opportunity for MPs to learn all it takes to run a GAC and the behind the scenes logistics of it all. “I feel we did an excellent job. I don’t think we ever had too many assets at one time on the marshaling area to create a big enough target for the OPFOR [role playing opposing forces]. We made sure never to gather so much combat power on the marshaling area to entice the OPFOR. They [OPFOR] left us alone; so I think that speaks for the flow and constant movement at the marshaling area,” said Traynor. “It was a very unique experience for our platoon leaders, platoon sergeants, and our [company] operations. We were all thankful for this opportunity

and to be a part of it [GAC].” 1st Lt. Dan Johnson, platoon leader, 1st Platoon, 58th MP Co. spoke about the experience for his Soldiers. “A lot of my Soldiers are brand new, and if they aren’t brand new, they are new to their positions. So this was a great opportunity for them to be in leadership roles. It was pretty hectic at times, 42 convoys, that’s a lot of vehicles and personnel moving in,” said Johnson. “It was a big responsibility, it wasn’t the most glamorous job but it had to be done and we were happy to

be able to provide that support.” Johnson continued, “everybody understood their role and responsibility. That ultimately led to the convoys keeping moving and flowing in at a good rate. I now have a lot more respect for the logistics aspect of the Army and moving that many Soldiers, supplies, vehicles and equipment into an area. The experience definitely got me thinking about the ‘big picture’ and it made me glad that there are people way higher than me making all these calls and organizing all these movements.”

CAMO - F

Face Paint

MWD joint p

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JRTC

14-06

Team patrol

a r G c . i a c f

A military working dog team from the 520th

MWD Detachment, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, spent a month at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. April 4 – 29, participating in a large scale joint training exercise. Pfc. Gabriel D. Garcia, WMD handler, 520th MWD Det., 728th MP Bn., and his MWD Davy, took some time to speak about the opportunity after a joint training patrol with Soldiers from the 58th Military Police Company, 728th MP Bn., April 21. “I am learning exactly what the uses are of a MWD team within a BCT [brigade combat team] size element downrange,” said Garcia. “I mean as an MWD handler, it’s totally different from working the MP side of the house. There [back in Hawaii] I am a patrol dog handler as opposed to here, now acting as a deployed dog handler. Out here I am not so doing much law enforcement but rather route clearance, ECPs [entry control points] and being a deterrence.” Garcia then spoke about Davy and her training experience thus far. “This is our first large scale training exercise as an MWD team, however she has three deployments under her belt. She’s deployed to Iraq once, and Afghanistan twice. She’s responding and holding up great, but that is of course to be expected. She’s a combat veteran, and she definitely knows a lot more than I do.”

Staff Sgt. Daniel Lyon, squad leader, 520th MWD Det., was onsite to observe and mentor Pfc. Garcia and Davy, and also spoke about the opportunity and training objectives for the MWD Team while at JRTC. “We want to put him in a mindset of a deployment. Get him out here [JRTC] and get him used to talking and interacting with a BCT and seeing what a full operations tempo from a BCT level is like. This will provide Pfc. Garcia with an understanding of what he may encounter on a deployment,” said Lyon. Lyon added, “resilience wise, we’re pushing them through the night. Allowing MWD handlers’ opportunities to wear their NVGs [night vision goggles] while conducting movements with their dogs, and having to carry their weapons, carry their gear, while also having their dogs on a leash. They are really learning first hand what it’s like to try and maneuver at night without being seen, and it’s a great environment to teach them [both the handler and the dog] how to stay within the shadows.” As Garcia and Davy completed the joint training mission with the 58th MP Co., they said goodbye to familiar faces and friends to head off to the next unit requesting the capabilities of an MWD Team, Garcia reflected on his job. “I love being a military working dog hander. I was given this opportunity to be one, and I will never look back,” said Garcia.

J of

C T ’s R J the Battle fie l

At the end of JRTC Rotation 14-06 Capt. Daniel Groller, commander, 58th Military Police Company, 728th MP Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, announced Pfc. Albert Morin, 58th MP Co., as the “Hero of the Battlefield” and presented Pfc. Morin with a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Observer Controller Command Team at JRTC - Fort Polk, La. Pfc. Morin was selected for his outstanding performance and his willingness to learn, also cited on the Certificate of Achievement - “Pfc. Morin serves as an example for other Soldiers to emulate.”

‘Work

O T ’ e s r o

Keeping 58th M

OC at

C RT

MPs in the fight Story and Photos by Staff. Sgt. Richard D. Sherba

FORT POLK, La. — In just a little over an

use the TOC as the center of all activity,” explained Gaulin. “When we’re out on missions, hour, a grassy field that was once vacant and our operations section is tracking every unit visited only by sunrises, sunsets and an octhat goes out and every element that comes casional wild horse, was now the temporary back in.” home of ‘Workhorse’ Soldiers from the 58th Gaulin continued, “it’s also our briefing area, Military Police Company, 728th MP Battalion, so when platoon leaders and platoon sergeants 8th MP Brigade, at the Joint Readiness Traincome back from missions they can brief the ing Center, April 17 – 25. commander up on what’s going on; as well as “It took just over an hour, probably the fastest for the commander to give his briefings and we’ve ever put the TOC up. Staff Sgt. Shea, our directions. As for the first sergeant and myheadquarters platoon sergeant, took charge, self, it’s the logistic center for the company. So and ensured everything was prepped and ready anyone who needs any class of supply or chow, to go prior to setup, this was fast,” said 1st Lt. we’re getting it to them from here.” Pamela Gaulin, executive officer, 58th MP Co., She then went on to explain some of the other 728th MP Bn., 8th MP Bde. key components of a TOC such as intelligence TOC stands for tactical operations center and and communications. the ‘Workhorse’ executive officer explained its “Our Soldiers working in COIST [company functions and importance. intelligence support team] are helping link “It’s important, especially for an MP company, key events that are happening in our area of in which we have our own operations section operations so we can predict where the enemy within the company. So between operations, is going to move next and the enemy’s tactics, the commander, first sergeant, and myself, we techniques and procedures. This helps us in

planning our future operations,” said Gaulin. She added, “all of our communications are centered here [TOC]. We talk to the battalion TOC, logistics net, and we communicate with all the companies thru here. Right now we have two Soldiers performing as RTOs [radio transmit officers], they are on rotating 12-hour shifts. They monitor the radios, and they are key to the information we get. These Soldiers are the ones making sure that any information that comes in from the battalion gets passed out, and any information that comes in from the platoons is getting passed up. They are the ones really holding it all together, along with the NCOs [noncommissioned officers].” Spc. Matthew Beeh, radio transmission officer, 58th MP Co., spoke about his experience thus far in the TOC at JRTC. “The company’s integrity hinges on the proper flow of information up and down the chain. If you don’t have Soldiers manning the radios that can process the information and send it where it needs to go in a timely manner, properly, then everything falls apart,” said Beeh. “I think everybody is going beyond 100%. We got everybody in here [the TOC] working hard, pushing themselves, hungry and sleep deprived

and still making sure our company runs and completes it’s missions.” Gaulin also spoke about the JRTC experience and the impact it’s having on her Soldiers. “In a very short amount of time, we we’re able to establish what we wanted for our TOC operations and get it up and running. We were able to make it happen right away when we got out here, it’s the personnel that really made it happen,” said Gaulin. “JRTC has solidified that we have good operations in place, it’s letting us know what works and it’s continually testing and challenging our systems in place.”

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I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.