Photo By Maj. Matt Murphy | Left to right: Staff Sgt. Benjamin Jones, Pfc. Nicholas Arnold and Brig. Gen. John...... read more read more
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PHOENIX – Training for the National Guard Readiness Force, more than 120 military police from the Arizona Army National Guard were at Camp Navajo near Flagstaff recently to prepare for duty in the event of an emergency.
The 856th Military Police Company performed their annual training this week with multi-day exercises to prepare as a Quick Response Force or QRF. “We are here performing collective training,” said Maj. William Karlage, the 850th Military Police Battalion operations officer. “The benefits of performing training within the military police doctrine will allow us to be ready for almost any natural or man-made disaster where there is a need for providing augmentation to civil authorities.”
Troops set up mock sites throughout Camp Navajo to practice their skills with road-block checkpoints, protecting a high security asset, critical site security, convoy security, being a liaison with local law enforcement and working with media.
“This gets us ready to respond to state emergencies,” said Capt. Jerett Burman, the 856th MP Co. Commander and lead officer for the training and exercise. “With the fires in Arizona, the Super Bowl coming here next year – it gets us ready and becomes even more important with all the visibility on the state with those events. We need to be ready to assist local and state authorities when we’re needed and be sure we align with their processes and procedures. We can assist with emergency response for fires, floods or civil disturbance.”
Several members of Arizona Army National Guard’s leadership toured the operations and observed activities. They encountered platoon leader Lt. Richard Smith conducting a critical site security exercise.
“Training as a National Guard Readiness Force teaches our troops levels of escalation. Around a critical site, we may or may not have wire, machine guns, or a heavily armed presence because we are focused on a peaceful presentation of force,” said Smith.
Smiths platoon then went into action showing leadership their tactics for riot and crowd control, and avoiding use of lethal weapons.
At one checkpoint, Brig. Gen. John Burk climbed up on an Armored Security Vehicle, a military transport vehicle used for security, to greet one of the Soldiers and ask about the exercise. When Burk asked Pfc. Nicholas Arnold about the training, she said, “I’m really enjoying it. The training is really well planned and we have total control access of all traffic in and out of this area. It helps me know I’ll be prepared.”
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Jones joined Burk and Arnold on the ASV. Jones said he was Arnold’s squad leader and was responsible for setting up the checkpoint where a Soldier was “at the ready” in a machine gun turret.
“As part of a QRF, we need to be the best at what we do. If we are needed in an instant to close off an area and protect it, we’re ready,” said Jones.
Arizona National Guard Soldiers spend approximately two weeks a year performing annual training outside of their monthly duty. The National Guard Readiness Force exercise is just one more example of how Arizona’s Soldiers live up to their organizational motto of “always ready, always there.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2014 18:39 |
| Story ID: | 132500 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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