Puerto Rican National Guard Military Police Unit Finishes Successful Tour in Iraq

Photo By Capt. Amy Bishop | The Puerto Rican flag flies above a 918th Military Police Company humvee.  

BAYJI, IRAQ

05.02.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Spc. William Jones
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAYJI, Iraq (April 20, 2006) - The 918th Military Police Company, a unit from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, will return home soon after being deployed for a year in northwestern Iraq.

The military police unit provided security for various missions, assisted in the organization of the local police departments and trained new Iraqi policemen. Three of the company's four platoons were sent to different forward operating bases around Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Fourth platoon was sent to Forward Operating Base Summerall outside of Bayji.

A year ago, the Bayji police department was not as well trained and equipped as they are now. That changed when the Puerto Rican Guardsmen arrived at Summerall. Originally, the Iraqi policemen in Bayji did not go on patrols through the city. They chose to stay inside their police station until there was an emergency said Sgt. 1st Class Jose Oliveras, fourth platoon's Platoon Sergeant and 28-year veteran of the armed services.

The 918th MP Company is typical of most National Guard units in that most of its Soldiers have known each other for many years. Familiarity has created a strong sense of family that is obvious to most outsiders. Oliveras also attributes training and faith in God as reasons for the strong cohesion between the Soldiers in his platoon.

"I know that my guys really know their job," said Oliveras. He further explained that his platoon takes time to pray together before each mission, citing that faith amongst his Soldiers, in themselves and a higher power, brings them closer together on and off the battlefield

1st Lt. Francisco Calderon, fourth platoon's Platoon Leader, said that his Soldiers came up with the idea to pray before and after going out on missions.

"Life is so fragile that we don't know what is going to happen when [we leave the forward operating base]," said Calderon.

Calderon also gives credit to God for the fact that twelve months after his platoon's arrival in Iraq none of his Soldiers were injured in the line of duty. He said the most memorable part of his deployment was 'surviving through many attacks that happened. Thanks to God there were no injuries in my platoon. I've been there myself through most of them."

The Rakkasan Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division supported fourth platoon while they were stationed at Forward Operating Base Summerall.

"It has been a great learning experience for me and my Soldiers while working hand-in-hand with one of the elite units in the Army," said Oliveras. "101st Airborne Division goes back a long way with a lot of history and we are very proud to wear their combat patch."

The Puerto Rican unit is made up of military policemen and field artillerymen who trained together at Fort Dix, N.J. for 19 weeks prior to deploying to Iraq last May. When they leave Iraq, they will return to Fort Dix and then on to Puerto Rico where they will be reunited with their families.

This is the second deployment for Oliveras and Calderon. Neither of the men regrets volunteering to come overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Oliveras returned to Iraq specifically to protect the Soldiers he was responsible for at home. He said as a noncommissioned officer, his most important duty is to protect his Soldiers in a combat situation and to bring them home alive. He also expressed a desire to return home himself and spend time with his family again.

"I got a new granddaughter," said Oliveras, 'so when I get home I am going to spend time with her and my daughter and my other daughters."

• Date Taken: 05.02.2006
• Date Posted: 05.02.2006 09:33
• Story ID: 6211
• Location: BAYJI, IQ