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Fort Bragg, NC - In the fictional country of Atropia, the people
recently lost their president to an un-expected death. The
president`s son takes control and rejects elections and amends
constitutions. Rebellious students and other citizens form the South
Atropian Peoples Army (SAPA) – a group seeking to transform Atropia
and force their own beliefs upon the population.
The violent
activities of SAPA become more frequent and friendly Atropian forces
are in need of assistance, the U.S. places SAPA under international
sanctions. SAPA begins to threaten the U.S. Embassy and its
officials. The enemy has now indicated its threat to acquire
chemical materials in order enable maximum terror among the local
and foreign populace.
The time has come to evacuate and
bring any and all American citizens home. The global response force
deploys to assist in non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) and
secure the U.S. Embassy.
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June 22, 2016 - Paratroopers assigned to 108th Military Police
Company, 503rd MP Battalion,16th MP Brigade particpate in
non-combatant evacution training while supporting the 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division during a joint training exercise
at Fort Bragg, NC. The training prepares Soldiers for possible
evacuation of American citizens from hostile or disaster
environments while in a foreign country. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt.
Anthony Hewitt)
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This was the simulated scenario included during the joint
operational access exercise conducted by Soldiers assigned
to and in support of 3rd Brigade Combat Team 82nd Airborne
Division; the 16th Military Police Brigade, 82nd Combat
Aviation Brigade, and representatives from the U.S. State
Department on June 22, 2016 at Holland Drop Zone.
Using the scenario the Soldiers and role-players were given,
those participating in the training reacted accordingly.
Staff Sgt. Shayse Stokes, a Paratrooper assigned to
108th MP Company, 503rd MP Battalion (Airborne), 16th MP
Bde. says our job as military police is to consolidate,
extract and protect the American citizens in order to remove
them from whatever country they are in. We then brought them
to the evacuation control center; where they will be
briefed, searched and processed for travel to a safe haven
and in the event of an actual NEO, eventually back to the
United States.
In charge of the NEOs is the
ambassador, serving as the U.S. president representative and
authority he is directly responsible for the safe evacuation
of American citizens.
Supporting the operations are
three main components for a military based initiative, The
State Department, Department of Defense and usually a swift
insertion force involving temporary occupation and a planned
withdraw.
Allyn Brooks-LaSure, a public diplomatic
officer from the State Department says in the past it has
been Marines conducting these missions. Today we are here to
support and observe the Department of the Army execute and
train to prepare for these scenarios.
Capt. Bill
Seskey, a Paratrooper assigned to 3rd BCT, as a civil
affairs planner says it`s important for us to be trained and
ready to conduct these types of operations. The brigade will
eventually be the global response force and possibly be
called upon to conduct these operations.
As the day
went moved forward during the training exercise,
Paratroopers established security, processed role-players
and eventually executing the steps required being successful
during the training.
“The biggest takeaways for the
leaders in this brigade during the exercise is understanding
3rd brigade`s role with partnered government agencies, said
Seskey.
According to Seskey, we absolutely need to
have the ability to evacuate your own people and safeguard
American people abroad, if not then could hinder our ability
as a nation to establish relations with other countries and
conduct foreign policy.
“This is not a hollow
exercise. The mission that this unit is performing has real
world implications and can be the difference between life
and death for American citizens,” said Brooks-LaSure. “We
have no greater responsibility than protecting and advancing
U.S. personnel and interest abroad, so when we`re in a
situation where there is political instability American
citizens are calling upon us. This exercise reinforces our
capabilities to work jointly and extend this service to
American in need.
By U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Hewitt
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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