Military newspaper with an article on the marines MPs to train on the handling and detention of Enemy Prisoners of War.
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RONTLINE
Forvvard
Vol. 1 No. 13 Serving the Forward elements ofthe 3rd ID (M) Feb. 26,2003
3rdMPs round 'em UP
Marne police train to
tackle EPW issues
Spc. Katherine Robinson
50th PAD
On a cloudy Kuwaiti afternoon, a line of dirty, dejected lookingprisoners wait on their knees, hands behind their heads, to be herded into trucks for transportation.
fication bracelet.
The guards keep a close eye and a rifle constantly trained on the prisoners as they load them in the truck and cart them off to be searched and searched again before finally receiving food, blankets, medical care and a place to sleep.
The 3,d Military Police Battalion conducted internment Spc. Robert Bedford (right), a 3rd MP Bn. soldier from Winand resettlement training Feb. 17 and 18 in preparation for ters, Texas, searches the bag of an "enemy prisoner of war," played by Spc. Dustin Davis, a fellow MP, from Wichita,
possible future operations.
Kan., during the battalion's internment and resettlement See EPW, Page 8 training Feb. 18 at Camp New York.
' 203rd FSB strives to keep up Move 0 U t • with division's war zone needs
The 20Yd Forward SUppOlt BattalStanford, operations officer, 203,d FSB. Spc. Jacob Boyer
ion ensures the 3,d Brigade Combat "The brigade moves fast, and this is the
310 (M) PAO
Team gets all the SUppOlt it needs when most lethal division in the world. Ifwe
There are many things a task force it is time to move out. The battalion held can't keep up, then they come to a halt. ofsoldiers need to keep fighting -media field exercise Feb. 9-13 to make sure They can't continue to fight." cal aid, vehicle maintenance and a mulits soldiers were prepared to move the The battalion consists of four comtitude of other supplies. brigade support area rapidly if the bripanies. In addition to a headquarters
Ifa task force moves quickly, its supgade needs to move forward. element, there are three companies with port needs to be able to keep up with its "Setting up and tearing down the needs in a war zone. BSA quickly is critical," said Maj. Jim See FSB, Page 9
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,.f •
8 Feb. 26, 2003 Frontline Forward
EPW, from page 1
According to Master Sgt. Tony
McGee, 3rd Infantry Division (Mech.)
Provost Marshal operations sergeant,
handling of enemy prisoners of war is
one ofthe MPs main missions. "It con
sumes most of what we do," he ex
plained.
The battalion set up a central collec
tion point on Camp New York. The area
was divided into several sections, ex
actly as they would, be in a real-world
situation, except on a significantly
smaller scale, said McGee, a Florence,
S.C., native;
The area included a central holding
area, a segregated holding area divided
by rank, a search area, inprocessing sta
tions and barracks.
The MPs learned to transfer, main
tain security, and account for prison
ers, their belongings and their weapons.
If a war occurs, a large number of
EPWs are expected, McGee said. "These
guys' ability to handle that number and
do it proficiently is extremely important.
We've got to get (the prisoners) off the , battlefield and protect them."
After a walk-through ofthe area and
several briefings on the first day, the
real training began on the Feb. 18. At
forward collection points, the soldiers
corralled prisoners, played by other
MPs, searched them for weapons and
took them to the central collection point
in troop carriers.
The EPW s were searched again at
the gate and moved into either the con
solidated holding area or, ifthey needed
medical attention, an aid station.
From there, another squad took the prisoners through inprocessing where they had their personal items inventoried and paperwork filled out. They re-
DIVARTY, from page 7
on the same software, they can fire more accurately and communicate better.
Before the DIY ARTY TOT, the units went through fire support rehearsals and technical rehearsals. The fire support rehearsal tested communications, observers and reviewed target orders. The tech
ing security," he said, Many enemy sol
diers would rather be fed and housed
by American MPs because they know
they won't be mistreated, Medley added.
"We reinforce that with the MPs
constantly," he said. "EPWs are sol
diers, they're on the other side, but
they're still human beings ... they will
receive the same medical care as a U. S.
Army soldier."
Sometimes enemy soldiers who sur
render will cooperate because they're
hungry and thirsty, said Pvt. 2 Ashley
Hargett, an MP from Hutchinson, Kfin.
"I learned that some will resist and of
ten that's because they're scared. You
have to be aware ofyour surroundings."
Hargett said the training helped her . know what to possibly expect.
"It's good training. It lets us know·
what we need to do and what we need
to change," she said.
Spc, Katherine Robinson
A line of simulated enemy soldiers, played by MPs, sit waiting to be transported to the central collection point during the training.
ceived food, water and a blanket. They also received bracelets, with numbers that corresponded to their paperwork.
While some oftheir belongings were temporarily confiscated? the prisoners were allowed to keep badges ofrank and nationality, religious literature and items ofpersonal or sentimental nature.
Treating the EPWs correctly while handling them efficiently is very important, said Command Sgt. Maj. Charles
D. Medley, 3rd MP Bn. command sergeant major, from Huntsville, Ala.
"One ofthe primary differences between the United States Army andinany ofour adversaries is that we treat EPW s with dignity and respect while maintain
nical rehearsal gave the crews a dry run where they tested commands, fire orders and targeting.
Should the division be called on for military action toward Iraq, mass fires may will be essential.
"You can kill more if you can mass Though she's nervous about the
prospect of having to put her training
to use in a real-world situation, Hargett
said she's not scared.
"I have a lot of confidence in my . team," she said. "My team knows what
they're doing. There's a lot of experi
ence here."
The soldiers have the experience of
many previous deployments to many
different places, according to Medley,
who said he shared Hargett's feelings
of confidence.
"No other MP company in the
United States has sent as many people
to as many places (since Sept. 11,200 1)
as the yd MP Battalion," he said.
"We're here to do a job, and when it's finished, we'll be glad to go home," he added. "I've had zero soldiers complain ... 1 couldn't be prouder."
~rtillery," Williams said. "You're ability to mass artillery demonstrates your ability for violent fires on one area. The 3rd ID DIVARTY is prepared to execute the full spectrum ofour missions, and DIV ARTY will prosecute violently all missions requiring fire support."
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