By JEAN DUBIEL
Guardian Staff Writer
FORT POLK, La. — Six Soldiers with the 519th Military Police Battalion are headed for the Central Command theater of operations in the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve as part of a protective services detail for the XVII Airborne Corps.
During a deployment ceremony held for them at the Warrior Gym March 15, Lt. Col. Sonja Whitehead, 519th MP Bn commander, explained that the 519th has 31 Soldiers serving in the protective services detail and these six are going to join that team.
“In total, 519th will have deployed roughly 65 military police men and women to support this mission,” she said. “It has always been our plan to maximize the opportunity to provide our Soldiers for this mission. The Soldiers before you volunteered, competed and were selected above their peers to be part of this deployment. That is the epitome of the Warrior Spirit. They are truly the best and most capable military police Soldiers in our formation.”
Protective services detail personnel go through specialized training to conduct protective operations for leaders who are potential targets of terrorism or criminal activity. Training emphasis is placed on doctrine and terminology, coordination and mission planning, protective services in a hostile fire zone, special weapons training, advanced weapons marksmanship, driving in a combat zone, route and venue reconnaissance, site surveys, security control room operations, escorting VIPs through a variety of environmental conditions and evasive driving and motorcade operations. Training culminates in a four-day practical exercise.
“These are the type of Soldiers we want in the Army,” said Whitehead. “They didn’t come into the Army just for college — they came into the Army to be part of the fight.”
The Soldiers who deployed are:
• 1st Lt. John Swiatek
• Sgt. Brianna Laplume
• Sgt. Ryan Harrison
• Sgt. Zachary Bergeron
• Sgt. Bretton McPhee
• Spc. Angel Singhdeleon