Marines transition to military police

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ty-Rico Lea
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Marines took to the outskirts of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at the Baumeister training area June 24 to put into action the combined skills of Air Force, Army and Navy members with their annual deployed location training.

The Marine unit, Detachment Military Police Company D, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, 4th Marine Division, which is in a transitional phase of training from mainly an infantry company to that of a law enforcement company was able to incorporate the knowledge they already knew as infantrymen.

"We're here at Baumeister conducting hands-on training with the knowledge and skills we were taught from the various military entities provided here on JBER," said Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Melvin, D/4th LEB military policeman.

Here on JBER, there is an established Marine Reserve unit. Marines in attendance came from places such as Wasilla, Eagle River, Anchorage and Kenai.

During their training, the Marines simulated various hostage situations with the scenario simulating a place in Southern Africa and involving hostile villagers as well as the extraction of a suspect in a murder.

"The total training spanned 14 days," Melvin said. "We had refresher courses highlighting procedures such as rules of engagement, use of force and host-nation training."

As this is not the first time Marines have gone out to do this training, they continually prepare for the final steps of their military occupational specialty migration.

"It was a service decision to incorporate the realignment of the U.S. Marine Reserve Forces and involves switching from an infantry deployed-combat mindset to a more military police functionality," said Marine Capt. Sean Smith-Kearon D/4th LEB executive officer. "The training that comes with this requires us to focus on possible situations in Eastern Europe, South America and Africa; these are areas of large concern outlined by foreign policy."

Marine Staff Sgt. Rafael Yumo Jr., D/4th LEB military policeman stated that as military police, in any branch of service, they are trained to maintain law and order, perform police intelligence operations, maintain security posts and security operations, and perform internment and resettlement operations.

"As a Marine Corps Reserve unit, we wouldn't be able to put together any kind of decent annual training package for our Marines if we weren't able to work with the other services," said Marine Sgt. Edwin Anderson, D/4th LEB military policeman. "We exist on JBER and use facilities provided by the Army and the Air Force so we count on the support of all our sister branches to complete the mission at hand."

Anderson went on to reiterate the Marines' goal for this training.

"The purpose of this training is not only to prepare Marines transitioning from infantrymen to the military occupation specialty of military police but to also demonstrate the type of environment our Marines will be exposed to," Smith-Kearon said.

As demonstrated by the tension and maneuvers displayed by the Marines' training, infantrymen are trained to locate and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat.

The Air Force, Army and Navy provided a helping hand in developing tactics for future Marine military police. The 673d Security Forces Squadron military dog units, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight, and the Army's Criminal Investigations Command were involved. Among Marine soldiers, a Navy service member was present as well.

"With the training, I was introduced to a great number of new aspects of the Marine life," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Lemus, D/4th LEB corpsman. "Originally, when I enlisted as a Navy Corpsman, my recruiter suggested to me a program known as New Accession Training, which ultimately landed me a position here with the Marine unit."
Details of the program were provided by a fellow Navy service member on JBER.
"NAT is a reserve accession program for members enlisting into the Navy and offers active-duty status so that they can attend full recruit training before serving in a reserve component," said Petty Officer 1st Class Marilyn McCormick, Navy Operational Support Center Medical Department representative.

Lemus served as the unit's medic during their training.

Marines are also being taught to teach foreign nation forces their rules of engagement.
"By cooperating with foreign nation forces, we ensure they are better equipped to handle hostile situations," Smith-Kearon said. "Our Marines have gone over this training repeatedly, coming up with new ideas to tackle the situation."

After the Marines last segment of training, Yumo explained to them the Three Block War concept as emphasized by Gen. Charles Krulak, 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps.
"The 'Three Block War' concept was described as contingencies in which Marines may be confronted by the entire spectrum of tactical challenges in the span of a few hours and within the space of three contiguous city blocks," Yumo said. "Our Marines need to be ready to transition from humanitarian, peacetime, or all out military assault operation, within the same location, on a very short time period."

Smith-Kearon emphasized the importance of team building during the exercise.

"I'm definitely a firm believer that there are subject matter experts out there that can perform above and beyond only by functioning as a team," he said. "So it's imperative to take the ideas, skill-sets, and knowledge from those who are skilled at what they do to become a superb Marine."