Military Police contains information about military police functions in maneuver and mobility support, area security, law and order, internment/resettlement, and police intelligence operations.
Issue link: https://militarypolice.epubxp.com/i/484012
5 MILITARY POLICE . 19-15-1 By Captain Elizabeth M. Johnson I t is easy for commanders to think of detention opera- tions as strategic encumbrances rather than regard strategic internment facilities as the best method of achieving transparency and legitimacy for operations. Any recognition of the heroic efforts of Soldiers in ensuring that facilities continue to run smoothly can easily be outpaced by media reports that lack real substance. Joint Task Force (JTF) Guantanamo (GTMO), Guanta- namo Bay, Cuba, operates the only strategic internment fa- cility within the Department of Defense (DOD). Americans tend to have a negative view of the facility, likely due to political topics (detention, due process) or the banal expedi- tionary Camp X-Ray imagery that was captured more than 12 years ago. However, the Soldiers assigned to JTF GTMO are subject matter experts in internment/resettlement op- erations and the facility has evolved to the point that it mir- rors state-run institutions in the United States. Military police Soldiers guard sworn enemies of the United States, remaining vigilant of the real and present threat of physical assault while providing humane care, custody, and control of detainees. JTF GTMO showcases the competency and capability of military police in performing the roles to which they are as- signed. Military police are able to think and respond in com- plex and uncertain circumstances while under worldwide scrutiny. They have set the detention operations standard that the rest of the world seeks to emulate. When Major General David E. Quantock, U.S. Army Provost Marshal General, hosted the Detainee Operations Senior Leader Conference with the Nigerian army, he said that "Guarding is the easy part" and emphasized that "The hard part is for facility commanders to incorporate all en- ablers such as medical, legal, intelligence, and logistics as well as work with the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] and multinational partners." 1 All command- ers and guards throughout JTF GTMO interact with the Joint Medical Group, ICRC, or intergovernmental agencies. Soldiers gain a broader perspective on military and govern- mental operations. The operational environment presents a unique challenge for Soldiers in that they cannot rely solely on their tactical expertise, but must also understand the strategic implications of their interactions. ICRC representatives visit the GTMO detention center on a regular basis. The representatives—who have full ac- cess to the detainees during each visit—monitor the condi- tions of detention and ensure that the detainees are able to stay in contact with their families. 2 Communication between detainees and family members is facilitated through written messages, phone calls, and Internet video chats, which help alleviate some of the visitation constraints associated with being located on a restricted island. In most cases, junior noncommissioned offcers (NCOs) serve as ICRC escorts and assistants during the site visits. The NCOs are responsible for overseeing an essential mission and portraying the pro- fessionalism of the American Soldier to the international community. In a facility that runs 24/7, the grinding pace of operations never ceases. Each day, military police Soldiers synthesize a myriad of tasks to ensure that all detainees receive hu- mane care. The tasks include distributing meals, linens, and basic-issue items; synchronizing daily recreational activities; coordinating medical and legal appointments; supplying se- curity to ensure unfettered access to ICRC representatives and foreign delegations during site visits; and providing a plethora of additional movements, escorts, and exchanges. An administrative operator runs a detainee report system and is responsible for the accurate documentation of every- thing that occurs during the shift. Far from relaxing, the administrative operator's job has been compared to the job of tracking the exchanges taking place on the of a busy stock market. All facility detainees are on 1- to 3-minute checks, mean- ing that the guards must continuously walk the tier, look through cell windows, and physically assess the status of every detainee throughout the entire shift. For detainees in single-cell operations, escorts, detainee searches, and cell or area searches are required for every movement within the facility, including movements for showers, recreational ac- tivities, and medical appointments. In addition, guards are also required to go to a detainee's cell each time the detainee