Guard Families Farewell Troops of the 105th Military Police Company

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Soldiers of the 105th Military Police Company in Iraq.

BUFFALO, NY (03/08/2011)(readMedia)-- Family members and loved ones of the New York Army National Guard's 105th Military Police Company, based in Buffalo, N.Y. will farewell the unit's Citizen Soldiers as they depart for overseas deployment training.

WHAT: Family Sendoff of the New York Army National Guard's 105th MP Company.

WHO: Approximately 115 Soldiers from Buffalo, Rochester, Auburn and Utica, along with family members.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 9 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Hangar 850, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Media Opportunity:

Images of final farewells as Soldiers prepare to depart for their overseas deployment training. Soldiers, family members and Army National Guard leaders will be available for media interviews.

For access to this secure military facility, media must contact the 107th Airlift WIng's Public Affairs Office, Lt. Col. Deanna Miller, 716-236-3142, for entry on the base.

Media is requested to be at the Lockport Road gate no later than 9:15 a.m. to be escorted on base.

BACKGROUND

The 105th Military Police Company will deploy to northern Iraq later this spring for its mission as a Police Transition Team. The unit expects to conduct a broad range of missions from convoy and dignitary security to area and route security as well as training Iraqi police forces.

This will be the second deployment to Iraq for the 105th MP Company. The unit mobilized in February 2003 and was part of the initial liberation of Iraq near Iskandaria, Iraq, deploying from April 2003 until April 2004.

The 105th Military Police Company prepared for this upcoming deployment with training at Fort Drum, N.Y., starting in May 2010 with basic individual weapons training. The unit received the Army's newest M-4 rifle this past year.

Soldiers trained with the M-4 rifle, the M-9 pistol, the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon and 12-gauge shotgun during a lengthy weeklong drill period.

Troops also began drivers training with the M-1151A1 armored humvees and the LMTV medium trucks.

Premobilization Training was held in August, focusing on training soldiers in the Army Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills. This training also included team leader development. The unit returned to Fort Drum in November 2010 with a focus on individual and crew-served weapons training and qualification. In January the unit sent 103 of its deploying Soldiers to complete the Combat Medical Simulation Center Combat Lifesaver Course.

The unit will continue its training at Ft. Bliss, Texas with training in its mission specific tasks before deploying to northern Iraq.