Springfield based Military Police Company Gets Job Specific Training

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/23/2016)(readMedia)-- Story by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

Approximately 100 Soldiers with the 233rd Military Police Company based in Springfield, Illinois, conducted annual training (AT) at the Camp Grayling Joint Military Training Center and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) during Northern Strike 16.

Northern Strike is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Canada and approximately 5,000 Army, Air Force, Marine, and Special Forces servicemembers from 20 states at Camp Grayling and the Alpena CRTC in Michigan.

The 233rd acted as the opposing force for Special Forces and Marine Reserve units training at Camp Grayling. In addition, they trained on security for aircraft and aircraft ordnance, security of an aerial live-fire range, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, law and order patrols and entry control point operations.

"This environment is perfect for the young Soldiers in our unit to ease into the law and order training," said 1st Lt. Matthew Marass of Macomb, Illinois, acting commander of the 233rd. "Having this opportunity to have on-the-job training as gate guards next to Sheriff's deputies has been very beneficial."

Every year the military police company and other units around the state must be trained on their mission requirements.

"Law and order is on our key mission essential task list. It's what we do," said Sgt. 1st Class Joel Montey of Springfield, Illinois, acting first sergeant of the 233rd. "So training on it is vital. It's a great opportunity to conduct it on this small installation so the Soldiers can progress."

Critical site security, cordon and search, entry control point and perform as a response force are some of the tasks the MPs train on year-round.

"It's hard for us to get trained up on all of these tasks throughout the year in a real-world situation," said Marass. "Most of these Soldiers have only been in the Guard for two to three years and haven't done real-world missions."

Montey said while the unit has been in Michigan they have been able to not only meet their mission requirements but also get some joint force experience that they couldn't have gotten back at home station.

"This is how we usually deploy, in a joint environment, so for the Soldiers to gain this experience working with the other countries and military branches is priceless," said Montey.

Marass said the unit has many of its noncommissioned officers deployed forward and this has given an opportunity for some Soldiers to step up.

"It's good to get hands-on training with experienced people in the field who can help us with things that we don't get to do often," said Spc. Kurt Johnson of Atwood, Illinois with the 233rd.

Johnson said that he believes this kind of training will transfer well to real-world missions he could face in his career. Johnson said he hopes the unit will do more training like this in the future.

Marass said that doing training like this also boosts retention in the 233rd.

"After attending Northern Strike last year we had young Soldiers excited again about serving in the Guard," said Marass. "When the Soldiers get to do job-specific training they love it because it's what they are passionate about and signed up to do."

Photo Cutline 1: Cadet Joshua Derick of Nashville, Illinois, with the 233rd Military Police Company based in Springfield, Illinois rides away in a Humvee after being "arrested," by Special Forces while acting as the opposing force during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Michigan Aug. 17. Northern Strike 16 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting 4 countries and approximately 5,000 Army, Air Force, Marine, and Special Forces servicemembers from 20 states at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 2: Spc. Connor Drendel of Rochester, Illinois, with the 233rd Military Police (MP) Company based in Springfield, Illinois, sprints into a building during a cordon and search drill as part of the Military Operations in Urban Terrain training the unit conducted at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan Aug. 18. The MPs trained up on security for aircraft and aircraft ordinance, security of an aerial live-fire range, law and order patrols and access control at the front gate of an installation. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 3: Soldiers of the 233rd Military Police Company based in Springfield, Illinois, act as the opposing forces for Special Forces during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Michigan Aug. 17. Northern Strike 16 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting 4 countries approximately 5,000 Army, Air Force, Marine, and Special Forces servicemembers from 20 states and three coalition countries at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 4: Spc. Justin Felton of Edinburg, Illinois, with the 233rd Military Police Company based in Springfield, Illinois, leads his team through a team movement drill during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan Aug. 18. The MPs trained up on security for aircraft and aircraft ordnance, security of an aerial live fire range, law and order patrols and access control at the front gate of an installation. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 5: Spc. Kurt Johnson of Atwood, Illinois, with the 233rd Military Police (MP) Company based in Springfield, Illinois, scans I.D. cards at the front gate of the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan Aug. 18. The MPs trained up on security for aircraft and aircraft ordnance, security of an aerial live fire range, Mobile Military Operations in Urban Terrain, law and order patrols and access control at the front gate of an installation. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)