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/655275
45 Spring 2016 O n 27–28 May 2015, 89th Military Police Brigade leaders gathered from across the country at the Washita Battlefeld National Historic Site, near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, for a 2-day brigade staff ride. The leaders learned about Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and the 7th U.S. Cavalry attack against the Southern Chey- enne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle. Staff rides, a tradition in the Army, allow Soldiers to bet- ter understand past events and obtain best practices and lessons learned that can be applied in today's operational environment. "A well-planned and -executed staff ride gives professional Soldiers the unique opportunity to take a his- torical battle and try and use a theory of action to determine the complex chain of cause-and-effect modalities that were made during the battle," said Lieutenant Colonel Karst Brandsma, commander of the 720th Military Police Battal- ion. "In doing so, we also gain a better appreciation for the rich heritage of our Army, which deepens our overall profes- sional commitment." While not as well-known as other battles, the history of the Battle of the Washita River offers a wide range of edu- cational opportunities. Lieutenant Colonel Brandsma knew that, by choosing an obscure battle, leaders would be forced to prepare ahead of time in order to bring value to the ride. The objective of the staff ride was for the leaders to stra- tegically understand the linkages associated with the battle and the connection to the battlefeld environment within a strategic-, operational-, and tactical-level context. Accord- ing to Captain John Snider, com- mander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 97th Military Police Battalion, it was obvious that Lieutenant Colonel Custer's failure to learn about the total ability of the enemy to quickly mass on an objective, as it related to the actions of war- riors from nearby camps after the initial assault, led to his de- mise. Leaders from the brigade started the staff ride by visiting Camp Supply, Oklahoma. They were able to view tools and ar- tifacts and gain a better under- standing of the way of life during the 1800s. After touring Camp Supply, the leaders began to re- trace the steps of the 7th Cav- alry toward the Washita River. They stopped at each campsite Soldiers with the 89th Military Police Brigade visit the Washita Battlefeld National Historical Site.