Courtesy Photo | California State Military Reserve Staff Sgt. Andrew Cater, the acting first sergeant...... read more read more
FAIRFIELD, Calif. – What might otherwise have been a typical March afternoon in Northern California was broken by a head-on collision between the forces of order and disorder. A tight and highly disciplined wall of soldiers in riot gear marches into a swarm of angry protesters. The troops push the crowd back, gaining ground inch by inch.
Finally, the conflict is over. The road has been cleared. The objective has been met, the mission has been accomplished.
This was not a real-life civil disturbance, but an exhaustive riot control training event taught to California National Guardsmen with the 69th Public Affairs Detachment and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 49th Military Police Brigade, by members of Alpha Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, Regional Support Command North, in Fairfield, Calif., March 2.
Crowd control is a crucial job skill for any Guard soldier. Anyone from any unit might be called upon to restore order to the local area in the event of a crisis, so many of these soldiers were not MPs. Vehicle operators, public affairs specialists, radio operators, and many other job specialties were represented. Most had very little or no experience with crowd control techniques.
Fortunately, they were taught by instructors from Alpha Company, volunteer soldiers with extensive and relevant law enforcement experience. Soldiers like Staff Sgt. Andrew Cater, the acting first sergeant of Alpha Company.
Cater, like most of his peers, has a long and varied work history, not only in law enforcement, but in other skill sets necessary to the California Guard.
“I have been a medical trainer for many years,” said Cater. “Even before I was in law enforcement I worked as an EMT [emergency medical technician] for 10 years.
After being approached by a coworker already in the CSMR in 2008, Cater immediately found a demand for his knowledge in the California Guard.
“One of our main functions is teaching the [combat lifesaver] course,” said Cater. “They told me ‘We could use someone like you.’”
While the CSMR found a need for Cater, Cater himself found a higher goal to fulfill in his service.
“The organization is changing,” said Cater. “I saw a potential for what it could be.”
His service to the CSMR is an asset to Cater, who learns and grows with his experience as a leader and a trainer.
“My civilian career is a benefit to [the CSMR], and my work at CSMR is a benefit to my civilian career, said Cater.
Cater envisions an increased need for service members like himself in the future. No first response organization can function properly without timely and accurate communication both internally, and with other first responders. With his work experience and contacts in the Guard and civilian agencies, Cater could facilitate such communication.
“In the event of a large scale incident, civilian law enforcement and emergency response would need assistance from the National Guard,” said Cater. “In my position, I could be a better liaison for both.”
The other members of Alpha Company agree that Cater performs admirably in his military role, and express confidence of his ability to take control of a situation.
“He’s always been a very good resource,” said Staff Sgt. Carlos Talamantez, the company operations noncommissioned officer. “Since I’ve been here, he’s always been in a leadership position.”
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.08.2013 15:37 |
| Story ID: | 103174 |
| Location: | FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 394 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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