D.C. Guard military police unit heads for Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

WASHINGTON, DC (08/19/2014)(readMedia)-- The DC National Guard will hold a Departure Ceremony for the 276th Military Police Company at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, at the District of Columbia National Guard Armory at 2001 E. Capital Street, Washington, D.C. 20003.

What: Departure Ceremony for D.C. National Guard's 276th Military Police Co.

When: 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21

Where: D.C. National Guard Armory, 2001 E. Capital Street, Washington, D.C. 20003

Guest speakers will include Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton, and D.C. Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Lamar Green.

Thirty-five members of the company will deploy to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for nine months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Approximately half of those deploying have been previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and-or Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Soldiers will assist in managing the Theater Field Detention Facility. Their mission is to carry out detainee operations – providing for the care and detention of U.S. prisoners in the region. They will coordinate a range of activities including transportation for extradition.

The assignment includes the deployment of an additional 35 members of the company next year. These Soldiers will be trained by the initial deployers before they return at the completion of their tour. The next rotation will also serve for about nine months from 2015-2016.

The company has prepared for this deployment by training for about one year at home station, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and the Naval Consolidated Brig Chesapeake in Virginia. The training prepared them for this joint mission.

The 276th last deployed to active duty in 2003 to perform security operations at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, formerly Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.