Guard MPs test endurance, combat abilities

Описание: GEORGIA GARRISON TRAINING CENTER, Hinesville, Ga., Nov. 6, 2010 -- Members of the 179th Military Police Company left the confines of their Savannah armory and spent this month's drill testing their ability to move, navigate and shoot when "the heat is on."

"It's a test of the mind and of their physical ability," said 1st Lt. Theodore Dunham, the 179th's commander. "The goal is for them to see that, even after long, strenuous activity, they are still able to be effective in combat."

The MPs broke down into teams of three and spent the first of their two-day drill competing against one another to see who was the best at land navigation and who could complete a 7.2-mile road march in record time. This was followed by a written examination of the teams' knowledge of Soldier Skill levels one to three. They finished the training by trying to outshoot one another with the M9 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

Himself a planner and a participant in the competition, Dunham said he always participates in the same training as his Soldiers.

"I'm proud of what we do here, and it's important to me to be a part of it," he said. "When our people see me doing what they do -- as a Soldier and as a military policeman -- they know the training is right, that it's necessary and that I take it seriously."

Staff Sgt. Phillip Keeter, who oversees the unit's readiness and training, says that the kind of training conducted this weekend helps build esprit-de-corps among Soldiers.

"It is invaluable as a team-building exercise because it strengthens self-confidence and reliance on others to accomplish a mission," said Keeter.

Classroom instruction has its place in helping Guardsmen stay "mission ready," whether that mission is here at home or in a combat zone, Keeter says.

"But the opportunity to get out into the field, stimulates minds and gets Soldiers thinking on their feet. Getting out and putting those classroom lessons to use in a field environment isn't just good for morale, it also allows Soldiers to put what they've learned into practical use," he said. "Unlike being in a classroom, what you can do outside is only limited by the amount of space available -- insofar as you're doing it right and safely."

Keeter added that, when the competition ended the following day, each team would receive a certificate for completing the training. The reward for the best team overall would remain under wraps until the next Sunday.

Private 1st Class Francesca Everett, one the 179th's MPs, says the ultimate reward for her, her comrades and the unit is the confidence gained through the training.

"It's important that we take every opportunity to get hands-on training, whether it's on weapons skills, navigating our way to an objective, or testing our physical and mental reaction to stress," Everett said. "For many of us, it's not something we do every day, so training such as this gives us the edge we need."



Video by Staff Sgt. Gerard Brown

Story and photos by Spc. Adam Dean and Spc. Denise Durbin-Carlton

Video by Staff Sgt. Gerard Brown

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Georgia Army National Guard