Photo By Wayne Cook | Traffic Accident Investigators with the 342nd Military Police Detachment review their...... read more read more
FORT DIX, N.J. -- Bay State Soldiers from the 342nd Military Police Detachment rounded out their training at Army Support Activity-Dix as they participated in their unit's mission rehearsal exercise, May 26.
The 342nd, headquartered at Devens, Mass., has been preparing for a Law and Order mission in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
According to the detachment commander, Capt. Brien Durkee who resides in Leominster, Mass., the Soldiers have gone through a unique training period. The majority of his troops are at Fort Monmouth helping to man the police desk and performing patrol duties, while a few remained behind at Dix to train with Air Force Security Forces on traffic accident investigations. A small number of military police investigators even shadowed their active-duty counterparts in the Security Forces and Army Criminal Investigations Division.
"Because we will work side-by-side with Air Force Security Forces and Army and Navy K-9 teams overseas, we thought the chance to train with them here would be an invaluable experience. It has been interesting because we don't normally perform joint forces training," Durkee said.
The detachment was pretty much on top of its pre-mobilization training before arriving at ASA-Dix so instead of the normal routine of training with the Regional Training Center-East, the 342nd was able to get extra time on the ranges.
Durkee said, "We did go through other training, like convoy operations and interaction with role players in the mock villages. I found the use of civilians-on-the-battlefield both helpful and interesting, as we don't have these capabilities at home station."
The military policemen and women will operate out of Baghram Air Base in Afghanistan, but will be dispersed throughout the country to perform their duties.
Cpl. Anthony Catanzaro, a North Scituate, R.I., resident, volunteered to join the 342nd MP Det. when he heard they were deploying and were short manned. He was on a two-year deployment deferment from swapping over from the active-duty component to the Army Reserves.
A former combat engineer, Catanzaro had deployed twice previously to Iraq. During his first deployment, his unit performed duties as military police. When he changed over to the Army Reserve, he cross-trained into the MP military occupation specialty.
Now a traffic accident investigation team leader, he hopes to bring his former skills into play to help his detachment while in Afghanistan.
"Although the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters and missions are somewhat different, I think some of my past experiences will come in handy when performing my duties. I have found that any skill you pick up will come in handy, sooner or later. My goal is to take care of my troops and ensure he has a successful deployment," Catanzaro said.
Durkee is confident that his troops are ready for the mission ahead and has nothing but praise for the trainers at RTC-E and the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2010 10:14 |
| Story ID: | 50990 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 166 |
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