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
39 MILITARY POLICE . 19-15-1 F rom 16 to 18 July 2014, unit squad leaders demon- strated their ability to conduct route reconnaissance and surveillance, provide security, process detainees at the point of capture by setting up a hasty collection point for en- emy prisoners of war, move to contact, and react to contact. The training made use of controlled lanes to focus on and assess specifc tasks. From 22 to 25 July, the unit conducted a distributed company feld training exercise that focused on platoon level missions. During this exercise, the unit used its organic equipment to conduct 24-hour operations in the feld, testing the skills and systems that the squads and platoons had been developing. Platoon leaders established individual checkpoints and were tasked with missions that tested their ability to develop traffc control plans from route reconnaissance, establish a detainee holding area, coordi- nate traffc movement between multiple traffc control posts and holding areas, move to contact, and react to contact. As the fnal plan for the gap crossing began to take shape, the leaders of the 988th Military Police Company were closely integrated into planning and preparing for the exercise. The integration began with company operations representatives and members of the 92d Military Police Battalion meeting with the 5th Engineer Battalion staff for military decisionmaking process sessions and in-progress reviews. As the task and purpose developed, leaders as- signed the mission to 3d Platoon and supporting teams from 2d Platoon, constituting the equivalent of about four squads. The platoon leader and platoon sergeant continued to at- tend planning sessions, rehearsal-of-concept (ROC) drills, operation order briefs, and separate and combined recon- naissance and rehearsals with the 5th Engineers. The week before execution, military police Soldiers assisting with the gap crossing conducted a full dress rehearsal and fnalized their plans. Concurrently, company operations representa- tives and the executive offcer locked in the last of the re- quired resources, ensuring that all Class II and Class IV supplies were on hand. The unit borrowed vital training aids such as Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System gear, the Biometric Automated Toolset System, and Hand- held Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (which are often assigned as theater-provided equipment to deployed military police units) from the training aids, devices, simu- lators, and simulations section and outside agencies. Pla- toon leaders ensured that fnal preparations—including the verifcation of packing lists and load plans, precombat checks, and equipment preventive maintenance checks and services—were completed. T he gap-crossing operation was executed at Training Area 250, Fort Leonard Wood, 18–20 August. On 18 August, the unit deployed to the feld and established platoon and company command posts. On 19 August, 3d Platoon con- ducted a joint route reconnaissance with the engineers, es- tablished traffc control posts, and performed route signing of the main supply routes leading to the objective. Staging, holding, and detainee holding areas were established in co- ordination with the 5th Engineers on 20 August. Upon completion of the wet gap crossing on 20 August, the military police began to route traffc onto the bridge. Fol- lowing the frst group of Bradley fghting vehicles across the wet gap, military police assumed far side security, allowing maneuver forces to continue toward their primary objective. They also established a hasty collection point for enemy prisoners of war on the far side of the gap in support of the advancement of maneuver forces. Several opposing forces took part in the exercise, allowing the military police to cap- ture, process, and route detainees from the point of capture to the detainee holding area. The last-minute addition of more than 20 vehicles to the convoy that was slated to cross the bridge enhanced the training value of the operation for the military police Sol- diers involved. The increased traffc more thoroughly tested the ability of the unit to manage and control traffc. It also allowed the unit to identify several lessons learned regard- ing the placement of traffc control posts and holding areas, which needed to be adjusted to handle the increased number of vehicles. More than 30 vehicles were routed through the objective, crossing dry and wet gaps without congestion. T he primary beneft of this exercise was the exceptional learning environment that was provided to the leaders of the 988th Military Police Company. The level of research, planning, and coordination involved in executing such a com- plex operation added a dimension to the unit green train- ing cycle that would not have otherwise been present. The chance to operate in a combined arms setting with organiza- tions at higher echelons and within other branches provided leaders with valuable insight and experience. In addition to the gap-crossing operation, the unit executed additional missions in other scenarios to complete its certifcation. Ul- timately, the strategy of training for unifed land operations by focusing on supporting a wet gap crossing worked well. The training of key tasks with an expeditionary mind-set al- lowed the unit to successfully execute the gap crossing and its platoon certifcation exercise. Endnotes: 1 Green training focuses primarily on Soldiers and leaders. All administrative and other activities are minimized so that Soldiers can fully participate in the training. Green training al- ways supports the objective of the mission-essential task list. 2 FM 3-39, Military Police Operations, 26 August 2013. 3 Ibid. - Uni- versity, Tigerville, South Carolina, and a degree Webster University.