Griffin Warrior Fall 2010

Safety Stand-Down Day

change of command

93rd Military Police Battalion Fort Bliss, tX

97th Military Police Battalion Fort riley, kS

720th Military Police Battalion Fort hood, tX

89th Military Police Brigade Fort hood, tX

178th Military Police detachMent Fort hood, tX

and give shelter a handMPs pay it forwardand give shelter a hand

INSIDE

Safety Stand-Down DayMPs pay it forward

With change in mission comes

change of command PAGE 10

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The Griffin Warrior is authorized by AR 360-1 for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of this publi-cation are not necessarily official views of, or en-dorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or the 89th Mil-tiary Police Brigade. It is published quarterly using offset printing by the Public Affairs Officer, 89th Mil-litary Police Brigade, ATTN: AFVP-BDE-PA, Build-ing 122, Battalion Avenue, Fort Hood, TX 76544 commercial 254-287-0340. Printed circulation 3,500.

FAll 2010VOl 1, ISSUE 1

89th Military Police Brigade

GRIFFIN WARRIOR STAFF

uNIT publIc AFFAIRS RepReSeNTATIveS

4 Brigade commanderGriffin Imperatives

7 command Sergeant MajorLadd’s Laws

8 Family readinessSupport assistantWhy join an FRG?

ON THE COVER: Maj. Ruse Wiley, 89th Mp Brigade executive officer, leads the color guard during the brigade change of command ceremony July 15, 2010 at Fort Hood, TX.

Command Messages

Staff Messages

Email submissions to Capt. Eileen Healy

with subject line: GW Submission [email protected]

Submission Deadline publication Date Issue

JAN 15, 2011 FEB 15, 2011 WINTER 2011

APR 15, 2011 MAY 15, 2011 SPRING 2011

JUl 15, 2011 AUG 15, 2011 SUMMER 2011

capt. eileen HealyBrigade Public Affairs Officer

Spc. candace le Brigade Public Affairs SpecialistEditor and Lead Photographer

col. patrick WilliamsBrigade Commander

command Sgt. Maj. peter ladd

Brigade Command Sergeant Major

2nd. lt. Amber Frederick 93rd MP Battalion

Fort Bliss, TX

2nd lt. Ramses brunache 97th MP Battalion

Fort Riley, KS

Sgt. Antonio Gonzalez Spc. Terri Fludd 720th MP Battalion

Fort Hood, TX

col. patrick WIlliams, incoming 89th Mp brigade commander (left), Maj. Gen. William Grimsley, deputy commanding general, III corps, (center) and col. John Huey, outgoing 89th Mp bde. commander (right) walk across Sadowski Field after conducting the 89th Mp brigade change of comand ceremony July 15, 2010 at Fort Hood, Texas.

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U.S. Army photo by Spc. Candace le

23 Motorcycle ride720th MP Battalion takes to the streets

24 Boy Scouts get closer look at army life

26 Paintball at Blora


Change of Command

10 89th MP BrigadeChange of Command

12 720th MP BattalionChange of Command

13 97th MP BattalionChange of Command

14 convoy live-Fire exercise:support elements work as a team

16 93rd MP BattalionMPs get down and dirty at Pig Bowl

17 93rd MP BattalionHosts organizational day

18 977th MPsPrepare for deployment

34 Marriage retreat:Building lifelong bonds

Sgt. 1st class Jeffrey Williams, Headquarters and Headquarters company, 89th Mp brigade, guards his position during a paintball game at belton lake and Outdoor Recreation Area

September 15, 2010. For most games, the unit was split into two teams to increase teamwork and leadership skill building.

News Features

Mixed Media

30 halloween SpookfestFreddy, Chainsaws, and Werewolfs, Oh My!

32 Safety Stand-down dayMP’s focus on safety

36 MPs pay it forward at Second Chance Animal Shelter

Photo by Spc. Candace le

38 89th hosts MP ball An evening of elegance and tradition

4 GRIFFIN WARRIOR FALL 2010

We must get better every dayWe must strive to create a work climate where

we see ourselves as professionals. The army is not just a job but also a profession. Professional keep learning and growing. Your education must not stop at Advance Individual Training (AIT) or at Officer

Basic Course (oBC). Recognize that there is always more to learn and do your best to get better every day. Improve on your military oc-cupational skills (moS) and your Warrior tasks and drills.live the Army values and the Soldiers creed

The army Values - Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service,

honor, Integrity, and Personal Cour-age (LdRShIP) - are our baseline, our foundation, our core. They define who we are, what we do, and what we stand for. every Sol-

dier in the Griffin Brigade should be able to recite the Soldier Creed from

memory. To build confidence the Soldiers Creed will be recited immedi-

ately following reveille or after the first formation of the day.

Disciplined Soldiers and unitsLeaders must hold themselves and their Soldiers

accountable for maintaining and when possible ex-ceeding army standards. as a military police orga-nization, this is a non-negotiable expectation. every Griffin Warrior that wears the patch must understand that the communities and the commanders that we support expect disciplined military Police to assist, protect and defend our communities and nation.

gW | Brigade coMMaNder

Col. Patrick Williams

What it Takes to be a Griffin WarriorSince taking command of the 89th military Po-

lice Brigade this summer I cannot begin to tell you how impressed I am with this organization. Griffin Warriors carry themselves with pride and excellence and I am honored to be in command of such a great organization with strong a talented and Warriors.

Command is a great respon-sibility and one that that I have always sought during my time in the army because it truly is the best job in the army. Command provides you the best opportu-nity to shape an organization and more im-portantly impact the lives of Soldiers and the families. as a leader in the greatest army in the history of the world, there’s no better satisfaction than knowing that I was able to assist a Soldier with their military career or more importantly better prepare them for life.

Here are some Griffin Imperatives that I would like each Griffin Warrior to understand. These are the essential fundamentals that I believe each War-rior in the Griffin Brigade must possess in order to be successful. If every Soldier is successful, their squad, platoon, company, battalion and the brigade will be successful.

Continued on page 6

GRIFFIN WARRIOR FALL 2010 5

https://safety.army.mil


gW | Brigade coMMaNder

Soldiers are competent and confident in basics Soldier and MOS Skills

a team, squad and/or platoon that is competent in their Warrior Task and Drills and proficient in their MOS, is an organization that is confident they can accomplish any mission assigned with a little training. I’ve ask leaders to prioritize training to ensure that every warrior in the brigade is competent in their basic Soldier and moS skills.Agile and adaptive leaders and units

We need agile and adaptive leaders broad enough to handle full spectrum operations in this era of persistent conflict. Our leaders must be creative and critical thinkers, they must be confident and competent communicators, and they must be capable of operating with a comprehensive approach to meet future challenges. These are the attributes required for our leaders to contend with offensive, defensive, and stability operations simultaneously…in a joint or combined environment. Training is tough, relevant, realistic, safe, and performed to the Army Standard.

as military Police we must take advantage of the time available to conduct training. So make sure we’re training on the task associated with the current mission, performed in the appropriate conditions and trained to army Standards. comprehensive Fitness for Soldiers and Families

after nine years of war, we must better prepare our Soldiers and their families to persevere with the challenges inherent to military service. We need healthy, self-confident Soldiers and, Families and

Army Civilians whose resilience and total fitness enables them to excel in an era of high operational tempo and persistent conflict. leaders are committed to taking care of Soldiers and Families

The number priority of this brigade is to take care of Soldiers and their families. If we fail to care for Soldiers and families we will fail to accomplish the mission. committed FRGs that will sustain our Soldiers, civilians and Families

for the last eight years our military families have been the true care takers of the army. I truly believe that our army would have broken years ago if our families were not committed to taking care of their Soldiers. Leaders must provide fRg members the resources they need to sustain them and support our Soldiers during deployments. They are critical to our mission so it is imperative that we do everything we can to support our fRgs so that they can do their mission.

Whether you are a newcomer to our organiza-tion, or have been around for a while and are about to conduct a permanent-change-of-station (PCS) move, I am proud that you are apart of this brigade. Remember these Griffin Imperatives and you will do well in your career with the 89th military Police Brigade.

pROveN IN bATTleGRIFFIN 6

col. Williams, 89th Mp bde. commander, gets ready to present the 89th military police brigade coin of excellence to Soldiers who participated in the 2009 annual Military police Warfighter Competition during a visit to Fort Riley, KS. The team of Soliders stayed together during the competition and made sure to cross the finish line together.


gW | Brigade coMMaNd SergeaNt MaJor

Command Sgt. Major Peter ladd

ladd’s laws


So, why should I join?Why join the FRG? Not sure of how you fit? Hesi-tant because of past experiences? at any given time in the 89th mP Brigade an mP Company is de-ployed. This means that there is also a family with-out their Soldier, enduring the challenges of every-day life. Regardless of your experience with fRgs or lack thereof, you unknowingly possess a talent to assist in many ways.

our Senior Spouse, mrs. Laurie Williams, offered some wonderful words of wisdom during her reception as well. As she reflected on those MP spouses who mentored her, she strongly emphasized the significant impact they made in her life while teaching her how to be a military spouse and the responsibility and etiquette that comes with it. She charged those spouses in attendance, “It is now your duty to do the same.”

Your Soldier’s rank is not a factor in the Griffin brigade because every family member has value. Participation by phone, email or in person is equally important to us and to our families.

While there are many dynamics that ensure a healthy fRg, the key to success here is that it does not work without you, the family member. Why join the fRg? You are the reason you should join the fRg!

gW | FaMily PrograM

What is the FRG?The army pledges to support Soldiers and their

families as unveiled in the army family Covenant1, an unbreakable promise between the army and its Soldiers and families. In doing so, many policies, tools and resources have been implemented to allevi-ate family member hardships. The most prominent is the family Readiness group, or fRg.

The fRg program is the unit Commander’s program that is strictly made up of volunteers. It was established long before the army family Covenant was introduced and it is still powerful beyond mea-sure today.

What do they do?our fRgs have led, participated in and support-

ed some major life-changing events. They partnered with the city of Lampassas, the 89th’s community partner, to host the march against hunger 10k/5k run and walk. They tutored high school students, lent helping hands to the CenTex 2nd Chance animal Shelter, conducted food drives, and established a junior color-guard.

halloween was especially fun across the brigade with a multitude of festive parties, Trunk-or-Treating from our cars in nearby parking lots, and Trick-or-Treating in the barracks where Soldiers’ decorated doors marked the spot for goodies. Best of all, we joined forces with our adopt-a-Unit partner organi-zation, the Copperas Cove Wal-mart, and hosted a community haunted house with our Soldiers. It was a blast!

Welcome to Family readiness groups

Written by Patricia Harmon 89th MP Brigade Family Readiness Support Assistant

Family members and friends of the 26th Mp Detachment gather to greet their loved ones upon redeployment June 5, 2010 at Fort Hood, Texas. Family Readiness Groups are a great way to stay connected during deployments.

U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Candace le

1. The Army Family Covenant can be found on the following ArmyOneSource website: http://www.myarmyonesource.com/Com-munitiesandMarketplace/ArmyFamilyCovenant/default.aspx

Footnote





He returned in May with the 89th after a year-long deployment, during which he oversaw and helped to set the standard for detention operations in Iraq.

As the ceremony continued, Huey handed the colors off to Grimsley, signifying his official relin-quishing of command. Huey will go on to be the assistant commandant at the Military Police School House at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Grimsley turned to his left, gripping the colors with Williams, transferring responsibility for the brigade to its new commander.

Williams arrived to the 89th MPs after serving with an interagency task force that assessed U.S. detention operations and Afghanistan correction systems from May to July 2009.

In 2008, he was appointed as the Deputy Com-mandant, United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Ks. in July 2008.

The colors passed to Ashford, marking the of-ficial assumption of command and Williams’s trust in his new command sergeant major.

As the three officers marched back to their seats, Williams and Huey crossed behind Grimsley, taking their rightful spots in the ceremony.

With all of his accomplishments and contribu-tions to the brigade, Huey will be truly missed, and he will miss Fort Hood.

“It’s been an absolute honor for me to serve as the 89th MP Brigade commander,” Huey said. “It is hard to believe where we’ve been and what we’ve done since I took command in 2007. It proves to me that a loyal, dedicated and collective team can ac-complish anything if they work together.”

At the end of his speech, Huey addressed the Soldiers he worked with and recognized them for the many man hours they worked to accomplish the brigade’s missions.

GW | NEWS | 89TH MP BRIGADE CHANGE OF COMMAND

FORT HOOD, Texas – The bugle sounded as the battalion and brigade colors moved toward the center of Sadowski Field July 15 during the 89th Military Police Brigade’s change of command.

Col. John Huey, the outgoing commander, and Col. Patrick Williams, the incoming commander, were escorted to the colors and brigade command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Ash-ford, by Maj. Gen. Will Grimsley, acting senior com-mander of III Corps and Fort Hood.

The traditional green and gold colors of the Grif-fin Brigade were carried around the circle. Ashford handed off the colors to Huey, who gained command of the 89th in November 2007. Since MPs deploy in company-sized elements, Huey worked to continu-ally deploy and redeploy subordinate battalions and companies.


Col. Patrick Williams, 89th MP Brigade commander, gives his incoming speech at a change of command ceremony July 15 at Sadowski Field, Fort Hood, Texas.

Story and photos by Spc. Candace Le 89th MP Bde. Public Affairs

change of command


89TH MP BRIGADE CHANGE OF COMMAND | NEWS | GW

“This has been the most rewarding time in my career,” Huey said. “Leaders, Soldiers and staff thank you for the hard work and thank you for your outstanding pro-fessionalism.”

A new beginning brings new ideas, goals and aspirations. Williams will bring all this and his desire to lead into the battle as he begins his command of the 89th MP Bde.

“To the troopers of the Griffin Brigade, to the leaders out there on the field, to those deployed, those at Fort Riley, Fort Bliss and here at Fort Hood, I only ask a couple of things: live the Army values and exude the War-rior Ethos,” Williams said.

Col. Patrick Williams, 89th MP Bde. commander, returns the salute of the HHC commander, Capt. Peter Cruz, July 15 at Sadowski Field. Williams is joined on the field by Col. John Huey, assistant commandant at the MP School and former 89th commander, and Huey’s wife, Anita,

following their change of command.

Williams set his goal of exceeding the brigade’s already high security and law-and-order standards both on post and in the field.

“I know that we will improve the force protec-tion and the quality of emergency services that are provided here at The Great Place,” Williams said.

“We as military police are charged to assist com-manders, maintain good order and discipline, here at home or deployed. As you go about the business of the Army, remember the military police corps motto that we are of the troops and for the troops.”

Maj. Ruse Wiley, 89th MP Brigade executive officer, leads the color guard during the brigade change of command ceremony July 15, 2010 at Fort Hood, TX.


GW | NEWS | 720TH MP BATTALION CHANGE OF COMMAND

FORT HOOD, Texas – Lt. Col. David Segalla Jr. relinquished command of the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th MP Brigade to Lt. Col. Eric Brunken at the Phantom Warrior Center here, June 14, 2010.

Segalla’s next assignment is with the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, where he will serve as the Afghan Border Police Program Man-ager.

Brunken is married to the former Krista M. Johnson of Pataskala, Ohio.

720th passes the guidon

Story by Capt. Eileen Healy89th MP Bde. Public Affairs

Lt. Col. Eric Brunken, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade commander, takes the guidon from Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Ladd, 720th MP Bn. command sergeant major at a change of command ceremony June 14, 2010 at Fort Hood, Texas.

Brig. Gen. P.J. Atkinson, III Corps deputy commanding general, listens to opening remarks at the 720th MP Battalion change of command ceremony June 14, 2010 at the Phantom Warrior Center, Fort Hood, Texas.

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Candace Le

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Candace Le


97TH BATTALION CHANGE OF COMMAND | NEWS | GW

97th MP Battalion conducts change of command

FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers, Family members, friends, and invited guests filled the King Field House, Fort Riley, Kan. to watch the 97th MP Battal-ion leadership change command, Oct. 7.

The 97th MP Bn. headquarters unit is the 89th MP Brigade. located here. Col. Patrick Williams, 89th MP brigade commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Ashford traveled to Fort Riley to at-tend the change of command and to personally thank Lt. Col. David Chase for his hard work as outgoing commander of the 97th MP Bn. and to welcome Lt. Col Michael Matthews to the Griffin Family.

Chase, a Hawthorne, Nev. native, first gained command of the 97th in 2007. He most recently returned in July 2010 with the 97th after a year-long deployment in which he successfully led the battal-ion to serve as the battlespace authority in Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

During the deployment, the 97th MP Bn. assisted members of the Afghanistan Police Mentor-ship Program in becoming a more professional force capable of protecting their citizens and local gov-ernment. Chase will go on to be the deputy provost marshal for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Ks.

“It’s been an absolute honor for me to serve as the 97th MP Battalion commander,” Chase said. “It’s an experience me and my family will never forget.”

At the end of his speech, Chase reminded the Soldiers of something he frequently told them during his time in command. “You are special, there is no one else like you and you are very important to the mission.”

“This has been the most rewarding time in my career,” Chase said. He thanked the majors on his staff for their hard work and diligence and reminded his company commanders to truly take the time to enjoy their time in command, as it passes all too

quickly.While Lt. Col. Matthews is a new member of

the Griffin Family, he is no stranger to Williams. Matthew’s served as a platoon leader for the 1st MP Company at Fort Riley and Williams was his com-pany commander.

“We go way back.” Williams said eluding to the many years that have passed since his days as a company commander.

“I enjoyed serving with you then, and I look forward to serving with you now,” Williams said to Matthews

Matthews, a Montana native, arrived to the 97th after serving as the Deputy Brigade Commander at the Army Corrections Brigade, United States Disci-plinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

“I look forward to serving as your battalion commander, Guardians,” Matthews said. “Take Charge.”

Story and photo by Capt. Eileen Healy 89th MP Bde. Public Affairs

Lt. Col. David Chase, outgoing 97th Military Police Battalion commander watches as Lt. Col Michael Matthews, 97th MP Bn. commander holds the battalion colors representing Matthews’ assumption of command at a change of command ceremony Oct 7, 2010 at King Field House, Fort Riley, Ks. Col. Patrick Williams, 89th MP Bde. commander (left) and 97th MP Bn. command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Major Thomas Sivak (right) observes the transfer.


After practicing all day, squads were issued live ammunition, given a safety brief and were sent out to be tested on the tactics, techniques and procedures they had been taught.

“The more Soldiers fire their weapons, the more effective and comfortable they are using them, which makes it more likely they will take out their target,” said Sgt. 1st Class Donnie Jones, 720th MP Bn. operations noncommissioned officer and self-proclaimed “trigger man” for the exercise.

Jones communicated with the tower as the convoy approached its targets. He also detonated the mock improvised explosive device at the end of the exercise.

GW | NEWS | MP CONVOY LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE

FORT HOOD, Texas - A mixture of the Headquar-ters and Headquarters Detachment, 720th MP Bat-talion, 89th MP Brigade staff formed three squads in order to conduct convoy live-fire exercises June 15-17 at Fort Hood’s Jack Mountain.

Each squad, comprised of about 13 Soldiers, completed the course four times during its day on the lanes. The troops’ mission was to escort a light-medium tactical vehicle carrying supplies.

The first and second walk-throughs allowed the Soldiers to stop at each point and observe their sur-roundings. During the third exercise, Soldiers were outfitted with blank ammo to practice firing their weapons while on the convoy.

Support elements work as team during MP convoy live-fire exerciseStory and photos by Spc. Candace Le 89th MP Bde. Public Affairs

Spc. Charlie Aguayo and Pfc. Zachary Devasier, both mechanics with Headquarters and Headquarters De-tachment, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, check an M2, .50-caliber machine gun at a convoy live-fire exercise June 15, 2010 at Jack Mountain, Fort Hood.


mally aren’t a team,” Capt. Andrew Douglass, HHD commander, said. “It’s a rarity.”

“We have a staff sergeant out here as a convoy commander,” said Sgt. 1st Class Corey Fairchild, HHD first sergeant, in reference to Staff Sgt. Dennis Katona, a chemical operations noncommissioned officer assigned to HHD.

“He’s out here leading a convoy, which is some-thing he may not have experienced before,” Fairch-ild said.

Having different career fields was not a problem for these Soldiers. They completed the live-fire run trained and working as a team.

“There was good suppressive fire and muzzle awareness from gunners,” Jones said. “Drivers had good spacing between the vehicles.”

Communication on the radios was good as well, Jones said.

“I heard people calling targets up. Everyone was motivated and moved quickly,” he added.

During the after-action review, Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Ladd, 720th MP Bn. reminded troops about their duty as Soldiers.

“You cannot take away from what your primary mission is as a Soldier in the United States Army and that is to train and to kill the enemy,” Ladd said.

After a long, successful day in the Texas sum-mer heat, the Soldiers packed up their vehicles and weapons and set up the last convoy of the day.

“Previously deployed Soldiers know the use-fulness of such training and use it to refresh and sharpen their skills,” Jones said.

“If they go out and do convoys, it’ll help for those who haven’t deployed yet,” said Spc. Marquis Bloodworth, an HHD truck driver who deployed to Camp Stryker on Victory Base Complex, Iraq in 2007. He said the Soldiers learn key concepts such as maintaining the proper distance between trucks and what to do if an IED hits the convoy.

Bloodworth has seen such training tested in combat. During his deployment, one of his unit’s convoys got hit by an IED. Thanks to multiple re-hearsals, he said, his team knew what to do.

“We had practiced over and over the scenarios we would use,” Bloodworth said. “We were pre-pared.”

Two other units from the 89th MP Bde. recently went through the same training, Jones said. The 64th and 401st MP companies, currently deployed to Afghanistan, ran these lanes in February as a part of their pre-deployment training.

The detachment also had another mission in mind during the training. Each squad was composed of Soldiers from different offices and its members possessed a wide variety of military occupation spe-cialties, which made teamwork even more important.

“Primarily, we are getting Soldiers out here shooting weapons and working as a team that nor-

MP CONVOY LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE | NEWS | GW


GW | NEWS | 93RD MP BATTALION GETS DOWN AND DIRTY

five runners, covering a quarter mile each, carrying their respective unit’s flag. There was also softball, basketball, flag football, tug of war and a strongman competition with a 5,200-pound Humvee.

With 93rd’s HHC, four competitors pushed the Humvee, with a driver aboard to steer, in the first part of a three-component, 100-meter race consisting of four pushers, two litter carriers and one water can carrier, trotting.

The second half-mile was covered by the litter carriers with a “wounded” colleague aboard and a third Soldier carrying a water-filled, five-gallon gas can weighing about 35 pounds. All three phases of this competition involved running, if possible, and it was a timed event.

The 212th MP Co. came in with the best time of two minutes and two seconds, while 591st came close with a time of two minutes and 11 seconds, ac-cording to Sgt. John Wingert of HHC, 93rd MP Bn.

FORT BLISS, Texas - Soldiers from the 93rd Mili-tary Police Battalion came together Friday to blow off some steam and compete in an array of events for the coveted Pig Bowl trophy.

Participating units included the 72nd MP De-tachment, the 591st MP Company, and the 93rd’s Headquarters and Headquarters Co.

“Soldiers had not come together in this fashion since 2006,” said Capt. Brenda Beegle of HHC, 93rd MP Bn.

“The events were held to promote morale, esprit de corps and recreation,” Beegle said. “The reason it’s called the ‘Pig Bowl’ is because we’re getting down and dirty – we’re in friendly competition with each other. This is an opportunity for us to come to-gether as one, enjoy each other and celebrate having a good month. This is also the first Pig Bowl since 2006. So, we’re just letting it all hang out.”

The competition included a guidon relay race of

93rd MPs get down and dirty for Pig Bowl tournamentStory and photos by Clarence Giles Fort Bliss Monitor

Soldiers of the 93rd Military Police Battalion, the 72nd Military Police Detachment, the 591st MP and the 212th MP Com-pany kickoff the Pig Bowl tournament as one of five events, with a four-leg guidon relay race Friday, Oct. 21, 2010 near the Omar Bradley Softball Complex.


93RD MP BATTALION HOSTS ORGANIZATIONAL DAY | NEWS | GW

93rd MP Bn hosts organizational dayStory and photos by Clarence Giles Fort Bliss Monitor

FORT BLISS, Texas -The 93rd Military Police Battalion “let down their hair” and were served juicy slabs of ribs by a volunteer “beef battalion” of civilians at Kelly Park during their Sept. 25 battalion organizational day.

“Most of the Soldiers have been deployed numerous times,” said Lt. Col. Vernon Lightner, commander of the 93rd Military Police Battalion. “And, when we return from deployment, we’re working the roads and providing law enforcement for the installation. Both missions are inherently dangerous and stressful. Now it’s time to enjoy. It gives them a chance to reconnect outside their work environment.”

“We’re here to have family fun, enjoying friends, food and fellowship,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Myron Lewis, the battalion command sergeant major. “We come out here to bring all the Soldiers of the battalion together for fellowship and acknowledge the end of summer. We break bread and socialize with each other during this annual event.”

The group of more than 500 relaxed by competing in basketball, yard kickball and volleyball. There were also water slides and jumping balloons for children of the Soldiers. At the end of the day the coaches tallied up scores for competitive events and awarded trophies to the top performers.

Soldiers of the 93rd Military Police Battalion, the 72nd Military Police Detachment, the 591st MP and the 212th MP Company kickoff the Pig Bowl tourna-ment as one of five events, with a four-leg guidon relay race Friday, Oct. 21, 2010 near the Omar Bradley Softball Complex.

A kickball teammate “rises to the occasion” in returning a kickball to the “pitcher” during an outing of the 93rd Military Police Battalion at Kelly Park Sept. 25., 2010.

A player in the 93rd Military Police Battalion’s pickup basketball game at Kelly Park sends the “peel” into an arcing shot Sept. 25.


we need to work on as a family [before] I’m gone for an extended period,” said Sartin.

Mathews, who traveled to TF Outlaw, said he saw his Soldiers receive instruction on what may at times be perceived as a complex mission. He said he wants his Soldiers to be confident that the Army has given them all the tools, skill sets and leadership to deliver their mission to standard.

“It’s also important for them to know that while they’re gone we will tend to the support structure needed to care for their families and their loved ones back here – that’s the other component that’s impor-tant for me,” Mathews said.

Military officials said Task Force Outlaw is the largest facility in the country that trains joint warf-ighters in the handling, care, custody and control of detainees. The preparation includes interpersonal skill sets that include communicating with detainees through interpreters.

TF Outlaw’s leadership said the compound also focuses on the educational piece that addresses what individuals may be able to do after they leave the detainee facilities.

“If we can educate the population of that country on how to better themselves, then we stand a better chance of actually bringing down the actions against U.S. and coalition forces in basically showing them that we’re there to work with them in conjunction with rebuilding their country,” said Lt. Col. Quentin Crank, out-going commander for Task Force Outlaw.

Crank, who has commanded Task Force Out-law for three years, said the facility has progressed to meet the needs of the theaters of operation. The lessons learned are incorporated in order to move forward and provide servicemembers, like those from the 977th MP Co., with the most up-to-date

GW | NEWS | 977th MPs PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT

McGReGOR RanGe, n.M. – Soldiers from the 977th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, trained detainee operations here under the direction of Task Force Outlaw in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

After completing individual skills training and small unit tasks and drills at their home station, the unit participated in a culminating exercise at TF Out-law where they conducted internment resettlement operations.

“While we can do some of that at Fort Riley, Kan., the facilities here at Fort Bliss and out here at McGregor Range just provide a fantastic opportu-nity to get an external evaluation on these Soldiers to make sure that they are ready to deploy, fight and win,” said Lt. Col. Michael Mathews, the command-er for 97th MP Bn. “Talking to the Soldiers today – they’re really tuned into the training here.”

More importantly in some respects to the quality training the Soldiers are receiving, Mathews said, the fact they are away from Fort Riley and away from some of the daily distractions that can occur at one’s home station is beneficial in achieving team building.

Mathews said the separation from home sta-tion allowed the battalion staff to exercise systems associated with deploying units that must operate at a maximum capacity to efficiently support both Soldiers and family members.

Spc. Scott Sartin of the 977th MP Co., who has been married almost 18 months, said this was the first time he had been away from his wife for a lengthy period of time and is using the separation as a learning tool.

“This is a good experience overall to see how she does for just a little bit, so that we can see what

977th MPs prepare for deployment at Task Force OutlawStory and photos by Lt. Col. Deanna BagueFort Bliss Public Affairs

Continued on Page 21


977th MPS PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT | NEWS | GW

Soldiers from the 977th Military Police Company, practice riot control drills during their mobilization at McGregor Range, N.M. Photo by Lt. Col. Deanna Bague, Fort Bliss Public Affairs.


GW | NEWS | 977th MPs PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT

A Soldier from the 977th Military Police Company, fills out a report during detainee operations training at a mock de-tainee facility at McGregor Range, N.M. Photo by Lt. Col. Deanna Bague, Fort Bliss Public Affairs.


977th MPS PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT | NEWS | GW

instruction. Task Force Outlaw’s incoming commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Juknelis, said he is not a stranger to the

compound. He served as an observer controller/trainer and also trained through TF Outlaw before deploy-ing with the 300th MP Brigade as the plans officer.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to take command of Task Force Outlaw,” said Juknelis. “We’ll con-tinue to develop the site, to be as accurate and as forward-thinking as possible so that when our [deploy-ing personnel] get over there they can hit the ground running as if they’ve been there for months.”

Soldiers from the 977th MP Co. said they were able to associate the training to tasks they execute in the field.

“This training kind of goes along with the roadwork that we do – we’re being responsible for another individual,” said Sartin.

Lt. Col. Michael Mathews, the commander for the 97th Military Police Battalion, talks with Soldiers from the 977th MP Company, during their mobilization at McGregor Range, N.M.


GW | FEATURES | MOTORCYCLE RIDE

view of the hand signals the group would be using before taking them through the route. During the walk-through, Ladd made sure to emphasize any potential safety hazards, such as cattle guards and gravel, that they would encounter.

Ready to ride, the group lined up in a staggered column with Ladd in the front, more experienced riders to the left, less experienced on the right and a sweeper bringing up the rear.

The sweeper carries a first-aid kit and ensures that no one gets left behind due to bike malfunctions, injuries, or slowing down because of uneasy feelings with the road.

The riders curved out of the motor pool, gain-ing the correct distance as they set out on their way. Choppers, cruisers and street bikes snaked down the roads of Fort Hood until they met a gate and ven-tured out into the surrounding city.

Being in the open air on the bike made the wind feel even cooler than it normally does in late Octo-ber, but the chill does not compare to the freedom one has while cruising around the mountains and lakes. There are no windows or roofs to block the world away.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Department of Transporta-tion approved helmets, full-fingered leather gloves, long sleeve shirts, pants and boots were put on dis-play as 89th Military Police Brigade motorcyclists suited up to ride Oct. 29. Officers and noncommis-sioned officers looked at each other’s documentation of insurance, licenses and proper training certificates before a thorough check of every bike in the bri-gade’s motor pool that morning.

While some were revving their engines, others were wiping down to ensure a just cleaned shine throughout the short upcoming trip, making sure to hit each crack and corner. They showed so much care for their bikes, that you could sense a strong connection between the Soldier and their bike.

After all the inspections were completed, Com-mand Sgt. Maj. Peter Ladd, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Bde. command sergeant major and the ride commander for the day, brought everyone together to talk about the importance of proper protective equipment and quality tires.

Ladd also took everyone through a brief over-

Griffin Warriors: ready to ride


Motorcyclists of the 89th Military Police Brigade get their spacing after exiting a gate and starting their ride Oct. 29, 2010. On the left are the more experienced riders and on the right are the less experienced to ensure that everyone is looked out for throughout the route.


“There was definitely more emphasis placed on proper inspection prior to the ride and taking the time to do it right and not rush to just get it done and get on the road,” Sodic said.

“Would you take $17,000 and put it in a barrel and light it on fire?” Ladd said, the money represent-ing the average price of a motorcycle while empha-sizing the logic of being safe.

“Motorcycle accidents usually don’t turn out okay,” Ladd said. “What you can do is mitigate that risk. If you’re a mentor, you’ve got to plan for con-siderations.”

“Ride to your comfortable,” Ladd said. “Don’t rush to failure. Take your time. It’s supposed to be fun.”

“I really like the fact that when I am riding there are no distractions,” Master Sgt. Sodic, 720th MP Bn. operations noncommissioned officer in charge said. “I don’t answer my cell phone, there is no radio; it clears my head.”

“It’s a mental break, an investment toward me,” Ladd said.

About an hour into the ride, the group stops to eat at Dead Fish Grill on the Belton Dam. Even though the conversation wasn’t completely domi-nated by talk of motorcycles, a majority of this time was used to go over some observations the riders made on the road.

This is an important opportunity for Soldiers to get to know their leaders in a different way and for leaders to hear what their Soldiers have to say with-out any pressure on either side.

“As a senior leader, (the ride) gives Soldiers a chance to see me in a different role, a fellow rider, which gives me an opportunity to talk with other Soldiers and interact with them in a way I would not be able to if it were not for the ride,” Sodic said.

After their meal, they set back out on their journey. They crossed over the blue waters of Belton Dam and entered into the downtown historic area of the city before making their way back to Killeen.

Even though coming through the gate meant going back to work, everyone had smiles on their faces as they entered the post. They parked their bikes one next to the other in the battalion parking lot and sat down at picnic tables to conduct an after action review where their steps towards safety were highlighted.

MOTOCYCLE RIDE | FEATURES | GW

Soldiers of the 89th Military Police Brigade do a last check of their motorcycles, protective equipment and documentation before a brigade motorcycle ride Oct. 29 here. Since there are so many motorcyclists in the brigade, it is important to instill good riding and safety habits.

Motorcyclists in the 89th Military Police Brigade round a corner while keeping proper spacing during a

brigade ride Oct. 29 in the Fort Hood area. “Slinkying,” or constant jamming and expanding of formations, is a problem that the group overcame by keeping the pack

together as much as possible.

Motorcyclists in the 89th Military Police Brigade round a corner while keeping proper spacing during a

brigade ride Oct. 29 in the Fort Hood area. “Slinkying,” or constant jamming and expanding of formations, is a problem that the group overcame by keeping the pack

together as much as possible.


Boy Scout Troop 1188 toured Fort Hood with Soldiers of the 89th Military Police Brigade July 30-31.

The 12 scouts, ranging from 6th to 11th graders, travelled from Roulette, Texas, northeast of Dallas, to gain a better understanding of what the military does.

Many of those in the troop have no family ties to the military and may only know about the armed forces based upon what they hear from parents, teachers and in the news.

“Most of these boys don’t have a military con-tact,” Susan Hilley, assistant scout master and self-proclaimed Army brat, said. “This is a new experi-

GW | FEATURES | BOY SCOUTS

ence for them. “They don’t know what you all do for us,” Hil-

ley continued. “They have no clue how hard you all work. You’re not just out there fighting a war. This will bring it to life and then they can go back and tell other people.”

“The overall goal was for the scouts to see what a Soldier goes through in their normal day-to-day activities,” Sgt. 1st Class Mikel Norton, 410th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Bde. platoon sergeant, said. “Also we wanted to relate to the community and show more of what Soldiers are doing for better understanding.”

Their first day started early as the boys left their barracks to do physical training on North Fort Hood. They got a workout, and learned discipline with

Boy Scouts get closer look at Army life


Sgt. 1st Class Mikel Norton 410th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade plattoon sergeant points out the plaque for his former Soldier, Pfc. Jesse Halling, July 30, 2010 at the 4th Infantry Division memorial, Fort Hood, Texas.


Boy Scouts walk past tanks and other

vehicles July 30, 2010 at the 2nd Armored

Cavalry Regiment museum, at Fort

Hood, Texas.

facing movements, standing positions and calling commands.

After sweating it out on the PT field, the boys started their tour at the Department of Emergency Service’s military working dog kennel. The group witnessed a demonstration of the obedience course, a mock explosive search and the bite drill.

Next, they went to the 1st Cavalry Division sta-bles. There they saw the cavalry horses and learned their history along with how to shoe a horse.

Following a lunch of meals ready-to-eat, the Scouts visited the 4th Infantry Division Memorial at the Division West Headquarters. Norton told the heroic story of one of his Soldiers recognized at the memorial.

“Pfc. Jesse Halling was a gunner in 2nd Platoon, 401st MP Company, 720th MP Battalion,” Norton said. “He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom One after graduating basic training. He fired over 200 rounds from his .50-caliber machine gun before being fatally wounded by enemy fire.”

A walk through the vehicles and museums of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 1st Cavalry Di-vision followed, showing the troop the old armored vehicles before they got to see the new ones.

BOY SCOUTS | FEATURES | GW

Cpl. Max Nellis, 410th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade team leader, points out different parts of the gunner’s sights for a boy scout from Troop 1188 July 30, 2010 in the 89th MP Bde. motor pool here. The truck he is in is the armored security vehicle, which is used by MPs

In the 89th MP Bde. motor pool Soldiers from the 410th MP Co. met the group, showing them an MP squad car, a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle and an armored security vehicle. Each Scout got a chance to sit in every seat of the vehicles and to see the road from a Soldier’s per-spective. Some even got to work the lights in the squad car.

They ended the day by watching the flag low-ered as “Retreat” sounded at the III Corps headquar-ters.

The next morning started out at the Engagement Skills Trainer range. The fun continued as the group went to the bowling alley and finally wrapped it up with a dip at the pool.

One Scout said his goal is to become a Soldier and to fire a powerful .50-caliber machine gun, like the one he saw in a movie.

“I want to be in combat,” Hunter Dean, who will be a 9th-grader this school year, said. “I want to learn how to be a Soldier and a gentleman,” he added.

Dean was excited about his first trip to an Army post and enjoyed all the guidance he received on the tour from Norton and Staff Sgt. Jeremy Koop, the 89th’s paralegal noncommissioned officer in charge.

“This is the best time of my life,” Dean said. “I always wanted to go see a real-life Army base instead of just watching it on TV. (Staff Sgt.) Koop and (Sgt. 1st Class) Norton are pretty nice guys. They’ve helped us along the way and they answered any questions we had.”

The tour guide found the last two days to be fulfilling and even a bit nostalgic.

“It was an awesome experience taking these Scouts around post,” Norton said. “As an Eagle Scout, it was exciting giving back to the Boy Scout program and also helping them achieve a better understanding of the Army.”

Norton also has two sons, Andrew and Chayton, who are carrying on the scouting tradition as Weeblo

“I want to learn how to be a

Soldier and a gentleman.”

Hunter Dean Boy Scout, Troop 1188


GW | FEATURES | PAINTBALL

After a deployment it is com-mon for servicemembers to have

trouble adjusting back to a life no longer in a combat environment. So, the Army started the War-rior Adventure Quest, a two-day training on the im-portance of building a strong bond within a unit and finding positive ways for Soldiers to relieve stress.

The Warrior Adventure Quest uses outdoor activities to instill both of these lessons. Some ex-amples are rock climbing, kayaking and paintball.

Soldiers and their leaders

get a chance to bond with others in their unit through these

high-octane, get-your-blood-pumping events.

A mixture of different ranks and military occu-pational specialties from Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, 89th Military Police Brigade, traveled to the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Area to show off their paintball skills Sept. 15.

On the bus ride there, a few paintball veterans were doling out advice and talking about their fancy personal gear. Those who hadn’t played before were either worried about the impact of a paintball round or talking up their untested skills. Either way, every-one was already excited and interacting with people they may have not talked to before.

When the 89th arrived at the fields they were

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PAINTBALL | FEATURES | GW

Minutemen, the teams were broken

up and Soldiers played as individuals. However, they saw the

importance of teamwork and quickly formed alliances with whomever was nearby.

Some Soldiers were shockers to the rest of the unit. They knew they were good, but not that good. Spc. Tonga Tran, a strength management specialist for the brigade, showed her true potential. This was her first attempt at paintball and she stacked up one of the highest kill counts by the end of the game.

“Tran is like an assassin,” Spc. Christopher Lett, a brigade systems signal support special-ist, said. “I couldn’t believe I was taking all those rounds. Then when I got up and looked over, I saw

issued their guns, rounds and masks. People

quickly started altering their uni-forms in an attempt to protect themselves

from the upcoming attack. Two teams were formed, red and yellow, and they were taken out to their respective start points by the cadre.

As soon as the whistle blew, the yellow team raged forward and took control of the high ground by using a bridge. Red team flew into nearby bun-kers and quickly returned fire from downhill. Little

89th Military Police Brigade conquers at BLORA paintball rangedid red team know, they were surrounded.

It was a rather quick victory for the yellow team, but that did not bring down the reds. As soon as ev-eryone was out of the kill zone, they formed a circle and began planning the next attack.

By working together and forming battle buddy teams, they went out and proved to be a force to be reckoned with.

After a good round of Capture the Flag and the

Tran smiling back at me, like, ‘Oops, I’m sorry.’ “You would’ve thought she had been deployed

ten times,” Lett said. “She was like a veteran, shooting through windows and around walls. She’s a natural.”

But hidden talents aside, the real reason for both teams’ success was their ability to work to-gether quickly and efficiently while staying motivated.


Continued on page 25


GW | FEATURES | PAINTBALL

A Soldier from HHC, 89th MP Bde., locks eyes on his target during a paintball game at BLORA Sept. 15.

For most games, the unit was split into two teams, red and yellow, to increase teamwork and leadership-

skill building.


PAINTBALL | FEATURES | GW

Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 89th MP Brigade, take cover from flying paintballs September 15, 2010 at Belton Lake and Outdoor Recreation Area. Every Soldier, experienced or inexperienced, dove straight into the game laying down fire and giving it all they had. Members of the red team fell fast and hard for the first two games, but regrouped and proved to be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the day.

shoot paintballs at (our) first sergeant, and you don’t get to do that every day.”

“You get so wrapped up in the game and forget about day-to-day hardships,” Spc. Richard Roberts, the 89th MP Bde. commander’s driver and an eight-year paintball veteran, said. “All there is is the game and your friends.”

As a new Soldier to the company, Roberts also liked seeing his first sergeant and commander in a more laid-back atmosphere.

“I enjoyed seeing a lighter side to my command group,” Roberts said. “They really showed their humility and just made jokes with everyone. I really liked that.”

As a higher-ranking NCO, Williams had been through multiple deployments and had never done anything like this as part of a unit.

“It was fun,” Williams said. “I had a good time and would definitely recommend it.”

“You’ve got to work together or you’re going to get stung,” Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Williams, 89th vul-nerability assessment noncommissioned officer, said.

“Everybody was into it, which you don’t see very often,” Lett said. “Everybody wanted to get into the plans and be a part of it. There was no distance too far to run. Everyone just worked together.”

When the troops were asked who learned some-thing new about somebody else, everyone raised their hands. The same response was given when asked if they found paintball to be a stress reliever.

“I got to see who our formal and informal lead-ers are (in the unit),” Williams said.

“Formal leaders are the ones who lead because they have the rank,” Williams explained. “Informal leaders just take charge and Soldiers listen to them. Others will follow and emulate them.”

“I felt better afterwards,” Lett said about the stress relief he gained from the action. “I got to

Continued from page 23


GW | FEATURES | HALLOWEEN SPOOKFEST

Headquarters and Headquarters Company Sol-diers and Family Readiness Group members came together to host Halloween events Oct. 21 at Fort Hood. The brigade also joined with local partner Copperas Cove Wal-Mart to run a haunted house for the community Oct. 22-23.

The festive weekend started with Trick-or-Treat-ing around the 89th barracks and a Halloween party with games, cookie decorating and contests. Soldiers dressed up themselves and the barracks landings and handed candy out to the costumed children.

“The trick-or-treating was a really good idea,” said Sgt. Tosha Mooney, Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, 89th MP Bde. executive assistant to the command. “It was nice going door to door with the unit I work with. It was good not having to go out into the neighborhood.”

Mooney’s Family, although they usually do not celebrate Halloween, stayed much longer than they had originally planned thanks to all the fun and ac-tivities provided by the Soldiers and Family Readi-ness Group.

She even gathered all the kids together for a frightfully fun round of musical chairs, a childhood game that she always loved to play as a kid.

“I thought it would just be a great way to get out of the house and hang out with my kids, but I ended up staying all night and helping out,” Mooney said.

More Soldiers from all companies of the 89th here helped scare the community with a haunted

house in the Copperas Cove Wal-Mart parking lot. Freddy, Jason, werewolves and evil surgeons were just a few of the characters one could see during their tour through the creepy wonderland.

“It was fun and it brought a lot of highlight on the Army,” said Spc. Nilesvan Flowers, Head-quarters and Headquarters Detachment, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Bde. food service specialist. “We got to be there for the children and give back to our community. It was fun seeing the smile after making them scared.”

Col. Patrick Williams, 89th commander, makes a point to set time to give back to our Families who act as supporters to our Soldiers while they’re home or away.

“When a Soldier comes in the Army, the Family comes in too,” Williams said. “Married or not, Fam-ily is part of the fabric of the organization.”

Williams emphasized the importance of having a strong and prepared Family when it comes down to deployment-time, and how the Family should feel like the chain of command will be there for them.

“It’s all about readiness and relationship build-ing,” Williams said. “This event was supported by the FRG, chain of command and the single Soldiers to show our support for our Families.”

“We could’ve done nothing,” Williams said. “We could think we’re too busy, but events like this are good. You make the time to do it.”

Children of the 89th Military Police Brigade Family play a goulish game of musical chairs set to creepy themed music October 21, 2010 at a Halloween party. Single Soldiers also got involved with the party by helping out with games and interacting with the children.

89th hosts pre-Halloween spooktastic weekend


Freddy, Chainsaws, and Werewolves, Oh My!


HALLOWEEN SPOOKFEST | FEATURES | GW

Sgt. Stacey Bernal, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 89th Military Police Brigade operations noncommis-sioned officer, hands out candy to trick-or-treaters at the 89th barracks October 21, 2010. Soldiers brought their Fami-lies to the Halloween party to enjoy a moon bounce, cookie decorating and lots of games.


GW | FEATURES | SAFETY STAND-DOWN DAY

Soldiers of the 89th Military Police Brigade hosted a Safety Stand Down Day in order to train and inform Soldiers on safety procedures on the morning of Oct. 28 in the brigade motor pool.

Eleven stations were set up with visual displays and qualified briefers which were designed to raise safety situational awareness in Soldiers and give them valuable information to take home to their Families.

Soldiers and weapons just go together, and after carrying them through deployments and on duty, they tend to grow a bond with having a weapon. Whether it be for safety or hunting reasons, safety when handling weapon is of the utmost importance, even for highly trained servicemembers.

The laws and facts put out by Sgt. 1st Class Michael Dinkel, 411th MP Company, 720th MP Bat-talion, 89th MP Bde. platoon sergeant, really helped to reinforce the amount of research a Soldier must do before purchasing a firearm.

“Even if (Soldiers) are thinking about buying weapons, it’s important that they know the proper procedures in regards to registering the weapon on post,” Dinkel said. “You got a lot of MPs that are real cognizant of their weapon situations and pro-cedures of carrying weapons on post, but you have some that are new to it and they don’t understand exactly what they are supposed to do once they do have a weapon.”

Some of the laws they explained at this station were to be sure that when driving on post, not to have your weapon system and ammunition within arm’s reach of each other. Also, once you arrive at the gate you must declare that you have a weapon and let the guards know your valid reason for bring-ing it on post. It doesn’t matter if you have proof of training, a concealed carry license becomes null and void once you bring a weapon onto post.

Another station that stood out for Soldiers was

the motorcycle safety station. It’s no secret that Fort Hood and the surrounding area have a large popula-tion of bikers, but this information was more for the drivers of larger vehicles who either don’t see or don’t even make an effort to look out for motorcy-clists.

Staff Sgt. Amanda Capalingo and Master Sgt. Kirby West, both members of the 410th MP Co., 720th MP Bn. and long time bike riders, taught groups hand signs approved by the Motorcycle Safety Association and others that are common around post.

Although the authorized symbol for “stop” is making a fist pointed towards the ground, West points his fist upwards while on post in order to communicate more accurately. “Soldiers are taught from basic training on that making a fist pointed up means stop,” West said.

Even with hand and light signals, motorcyclists still go unseen a lot of the time by oblivious drivers next to them. “It’s frustrating,” West said about the drivers who ignore those on motorcycles. “Even if you make eye contact with the driver, it’s almost like you aren’t there, like they see right through you.”

It’s always important for Soldiers to be aware of what their command is thinking, and on this day it was very evident that the higher ups in the 89th take safety very seriously.

“I am very pleased with the presence of the lead-ership today,” said Ricky Vinson, the 89th’s safety officer and coordinator of Safety Stand Down Day. “I have seen all of the company commanders and the senior noncommissioned officers. It’s good for the Soldiers to see at the highest levels that the leaders are out here supporting everything we do and plac-ing safety first.”

89th stands down for safetyStory and photos by Spc. Candace Le 89th MP Bde. Public Affairs


SAFETY STAND-DOWN DAY | FEATURES | GW


GW | PHOTO ESSAY | MARRIAGE RETREATP

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Make A Difference Day was still going on for some people October 26. Like aftershocks following a ground-shaking earthquake, volunteers continue to impact the Killeen area days after the national volunteer event ended.

About 18 soldiers with the 89th Military Police Brigade were at the 2nd Chance Animal Shelter from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, socializing dogs and per-forming landscape maintenance.

Sgt. 1st Class Craig Sturm, 89th long range plans noncommissioned officer in charge said bring-ing soldiers to the shelter was a good fit, because many who are deployed end up leaving their pets behind.

“Soldiers will come in, they’ll get a dog, they’ll start raising it and then all of a sudden they’ll leave,” Sturm said. “So what better way to take care of our own, by taking care of the shelter as well.”

Many of the soldiers spent their volunteer time socializing animals, walking them on leashes around the shelter premises. George Grammas, immediate past president of the shelter, said volunteers who socialize the animals are important for the shelter.

“It makes them even more adoptable and it’s a better quality of life for the animals so they’re not locked up all day,” Grammas said. “So they can get exercise with volunteers. Some of these dogs are so

Soldiers giveshelter a hand

Story by Anthony Scott Killeen Daily Herald

Photos by Spc. Candace Le89th MP Bde Public Affairs

Sgt. Vicente Coronado, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 89th MP Brigade logistics noncommissioned officer, cleans a dog pen October 26, 2010 at the Central Texas 2nd Chance Animal Shelter. Other Soldiers were mowing grass, trimming along fences and walking the dogs. The 89th plans to continue their volunteer service to the shelter as a long-term project.

GW | FEATURES | MPs PAY IT FORWARD


our limited staff,” Grammas said. “Obviously, as a nonprofit we just can’t hire all the people that would actually be needed to care for all this property that we have.”

Public affairs specialist, Spc. Candace Le, said the brigade tries to reach out to the community when it can. “Anytime our unit can find a reason to come together, it does,” she said. “Even though it started up because of Make A Difference Day we decided we wanted to go further and beyond. We wanted to help them out for more than one day.”

energetic they’ll take you for a walk.” Make A Difference Day is described by organiz-

ers as a national day of helping others. Sturm said the brigade plans to return to the shelter on future occasions to volunteer.

“As MPs, we have the dogs in the Army,” Sturm said. “We tend to be the ones that love the dogs. So we decided to make it a permanent thing.”

It is common for soldiers to volunteer, along with civilians.

The 2nd Chance Shelter stays open with the help of donations of labor and supplies, in addition to do-nations from fundraising and grants, Grammas said.

“Volunteer support is needed to supplement

Spc. Jamilla Cockrell, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 89th MP Brigade personnel administrative clerk, poses with “Lion” October 26, 2010 at the Central Texas 2nd Chance Animal Shelter. Lion is one of the many dogs available for adoption that the HHC Soldiers walked and played with that day.

This article is reprinted with permission from the Killeen Daily Herald.

MPs PAY IT FORWARD | FEATURES | GW


GW | MIXED MEDIA | 89TH MPs GO TO THE BALL


89th MPs GO TO THE BALL | MIXED MEDIA | GW

Commander’s Coin Design Challenge

1st Lt. Rose Abido HHD, 720th MP Bn.2nd Place

3rd Place

Sgt. Ramon Rodriguez

300th MP Co., 97th MP Bn.

2nd Lt. William GribbleHHC, 89th MP Bde.Coin SpecificationsDimentions: 3”x3”

Thank you to all who participated in the Commander’s Coin Design Challenge.

2nd Lt. Victoria Thomas HHC, 89th MP Bde.

Staff Sgt. Steven Guzman411th MP Co., 720th MP Bn.

Sgt. David Mihm HHC, 89th MP Bde.

Spc. Candace Le HHC, 89th MP Bde.

SPC Stephen Smith HHD, 720th MP Bn.

1st Place

Symbolism• ThegreenandgoldcolorsaretheMPRegimentalcolors.

• ThebluecaltroprepresentsIIICorps,themajorcommandofwhichthe89thMPBDEserves.

• Theredstarsrepresentthebloodshedbyourcomradesindefenseoffreedom.

• Theunitpatchcenteredandcutoutfromtheouterportionwheretheunitsarelabeledrepresentsthegreatdistanceseparatingunitsfromoneanotherduringdeploymentsandingarrison.

• The“Assist,Protect,Defend”mottoisthefundamentalmissionofeveryMP.

• The“Vietnam”andYearrepresenttheActivationoftheBrigadeintheRepublicofVietnamin1966andthe“Iraq”andYearrepresentthelatestdeploymentofthebrigadein2010insupportofOperationIraqiFreedom09-11.

• Thestatement“Ofthetroopsandforthetroops”aroundtheborderofthecoinistheMPMotto.

• Thedepressionandroughcenteronthebackofthecoinistosymbolizetheleadershipandguidancethatthebrigadehassooftenbeencalledupontogiveintimesofnaturaldisastersandhumanitariancrises.

• TheShapeofthecoinrepresentstheansweringofthecallforthesoldiersofthebrigadetosupporttheirfellowsoldiersincombat.

BRIGADE COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR | GW

PhotoillustrationbyCapt.EileenHealy

Griffin Warrior Fall 2010

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