Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Valentine | A Soldier assigned to 108th Military Police Company, 705th MP Battalion, 49th MP...... read more read more
BAGHDAD – "I didn't want to do this," said Spc. Ashley Luker, a Gastonia, N.C., native and team leader assigned to 108th Military Police Company, 705th MP Battalion, 49th MP Brigade, United States Forces – Iraq. "I was scared out of my brain, terrified. It was the anxiety of not knowing."
Luker and her fellow Soldiers assigned to 108th MP Company, participated in a multi-day, non-lethal weapons and munitions training program which ended, May 13, and was sponsored by the 49th MP Bde. at Camp Liberty. The training included safely and effectively deploying non-lethal munitions, including when to use them and the benefits of having them available to Soldiers.
Upon completion of the class, the Soldiers were certified to carry and use the weapons, which include riot control grenades and a compressed air weapon that resembles a paintball gun. Special rounds designed for shotguns and 40mm grenade launchers were also fired at the range.
Pepper spray and electronic control devices, known as Tasers, were used as well. Not only did they have to learn how to use them, they had to learn how Tasers feel.
Being "tased" was the event Luker was anxious about leading up to it.
"After going through it, I feel comfortable using it in a real world environment," she said. Luker offered advice for anyone interested in the training: "Don't be scared. If you get the opportunity, do it."
Another 108th MP Company Soldier, Spc. Philip Clark, a gunner and Virginia Beach, Va., native, was also apprehensive about the tasing event.
"I had it in my mind that it was going to be worse than it was, but now I don't feel so afraid of it anymore," said Clark.
He described it as being hit repeatedly with a baseball bat.
Non-lethal weapons and munitions training instructor Staff Sgt. Jonathan McDonald, a Vacaville, Calif., native assigned to 49th, explained the importance of the training.
"It was to enhance and teach non-lethal weapon systems and munitions to these Soldiers and to give them another understanding of the use of force," he said. "Rather than a potential kill, you could incapacitate a potential threat or modify their behavior."
McDonald emphasized these weapons are not a replacement for lethal force; instead, non-lethal force is just another option available for Soldiers to use.
The 49th MP Bde., senior non-commissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Liles, a Tehachapi, Calif., native, expanded on that idea during a briefing he gave at the range.
"I don't care if these are called less-than-lethal or not. You have to know what is loaded inside your weapon system," said Liles. "You are accountable for what leaves that weapon system."
He also said aiming of the weapon was important. It must be aimed at certain areas on the body like large muscle groups; intended to stop an individual, not kill them or cause serious, permanent injury.
"These are all important in stability operations, building a nation," he said. "When you harm people, it takes away our credibility toward nation building."
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2010 11:15 |
| Story ID: | 49813 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 399 |
| Downloads: | 268 |
This work, Pain equals compliance: MPs certify in non-lethal weapons, munitions, by SFC Phillip Valentine, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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