MIDDLETOWN, Ohio—October’s drill for the 324th Military Police Company gave evidence to the successful mission of the Ohio National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Command. The 7 a.m. first formation began the National Guard career of eight new Soldiers, who all arrived to the unit after completing the 19-week program, encompassing both basic and advanced training, at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., home of the U.S. Army Military Police School.
Pvts. Angela Johnson from Fairfield, Amanda Gilliam and Benjamin Horsley of Cincinnati, Daniel Hickey of Mt. Healthy, Lauren Bellnoski of Columbus, Michael Cassels and Jennifer Johnson of Athens, and Pfc. Kyle Blackmore of Dayton, all faced the closing formation along side 1st Sgt. Jason Litz in celebration of their entrance into the 324th Military Police Company.
Company size will grow even further with the welcoming of Soldiers detached with the Chagrin Falls-based 135th Military Police Company. The Soldiers have served the last year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
The unit's new additions participated fully in the tasks and drills for the month. Civil disturbance training topped the agenda for the 324th. “This is a new thing to me, we never did this at MP school,” said Cassels, one of the new Soldiers.
Topics introduced included formations used to quell civil disturbances, proper use of a riot shield, and methods of using a crowd control baton. Training took on an air of reality when Soldiers playing mock troublemakers fought to break through the line of MPs and take their shields. “My shield got taken away, now I know how to stop that from happening again,” Horsley said.
Civil disturbance training is appropriate given the nature of the unit’s state mission, assigned in summer 2010. The 437th is also assigned to provide support for the 2010 National Rifle Association National Matches at the Ohio National Guard's Camp Perry Joint Training Center. |
