Photo By Adam Holguin | Staff Sgt. Ryan Bruce Andrekus, first squad leader, third platoon, 102nd Military...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas--The 102nd Military Police Company, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based out of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, arrived at Fort Bliss Aug. 11, after completing a detainee resettlement mission in Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Wisconsin unit completed the unique nine-month mission and will complete the demobilization process with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security before returning to the Badger State and home of records across the Midwest.
Col. Richard Giles, commander, 300th Military Police Brigade, came to Fort Bliss to welcome the unit home.
“The Soldiers have done a wonderful job down at Gitmo,” Giles said. “Gitmo is a unique mission, a very critical mission…it’s a thankless job but it is one that is extremely critical for the security of the United States.”
Giles greeted every Soldier as they deplaned and took their first steps on U.S. soil in nine months, thanked all Soldiers for their service and offered words of encouragement to the unit during their welcome brief at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group.
Capt. Marcus Anderson, commander, 102nd MP Company, was proud of the job his comrades accomplished at Guantanamo Naval Base.
“The Soldiers did an excellent job, they executed the mission well, didn’t have any issues and everyone made it home safely,” Anderson said. “Thanks to the family and friends that supported them and (helped) get through what was very stressful at times. We’ll get through the Demob process and get them home to their loved ones.”
For Staff Sgt. Ryan Bruce Andrekus, first squad leader, third platoon, returning stateside from his third deployment felt especially good.
“It feels amazing to be back,” Andrekus said. “(This deployment was) taxing for the Soldiers emotionally, as well as the noncommissioned officers.”
The 102nd MP Company is a combat support unit, mobilizing as a detainee operations unit took some adjustment for the Soldiers; the repetitive nature of detainee operations did have some missing their normal mission set.
“We are supposed to be operating gun trucks, convoy escorts, route clearance patrols, things of that nature…(detainee operations) was out of our comfort zone,” said Andrekus.
Although there are a lot of Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities available to all service members at Guantanamo Naval Base, for Andrekus filling the off duty hours become challenging.
“Just finding ways of utilizing your off time is the most stressful part of the job down there,” Andrekus said.
The overall energy of the unit upon arrival and the anticipation of their return home was palpable. After completing their time at Fort Bliss and returning home, Soldiers of the 102nd MP Co. will be able to reacquaint themselves with loved ones, friends and family.
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2015 14:14 |
| Story ID: | 174197 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN, US |
| Hometown: | SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 1,667 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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