By Ann Keyes
ann.keyes@us.army.mil

NEVADA – The days have been hot for the Missouri Army National Guard’s 1138th Military Police Company, recently in training for impending deployment at Camp Clark in Nevada, Mo.

Temperatures were soaring over 95 degrees with a heat index of 104. Dark green Humvees radiate steam under June sun while Kevlar helmets and full body armor raise the level to sweltering. The Soldiers inside those Humvees know, though, that it’ll be hotter still when they put their boots on the ground in Baghdad, Iraq in August.

The military police company, commanded by Capt. Christopher Powers, of West Plains, leaves for Fort Bliss, Texas on June 26 following departure ceremonies in both West Plains and Springfield. After a month of additional, team-based training in Texas, the unit heads overseas.

“Training is going well,” said Powers. “We’ve moved into warrior training now that the fundamentals of weapons qualifications and other basics have been completed. We’ve run battle drills, both mounted and dismounted.”

At Camp Clark, training is as real and rigorous as it gets. With guidance from the Missouri Guard’s Training and Evaluation Battalion, the deploying company’s Soldiers have been put through their paces. They have successfully completed combat live-saver courses, rifle and pistol training, and training in both detainee operations and urban warfare.

On the last week of their training before leaving Camp Clark, the company’s Soldiers put all the pieces together:

Beginning with an order for mission, platoon leaders take action, as Soldiers are divided into four-person teams each with a designated leader. The platoon commander - this day, 1st Lt. Monte Davault, of Springfield – gives the group their operations order, generally the direction of a mounted patrol or convoy route and what might be encountered.

Immediately upon taking the winding route, the group comes upon a fallen tree. In this case, the downed tree is a natural occurrence and not part of the exercise, but the group in training is unaware and must be alert to any possibility of trouble. Meanwhile, one of the Humvees breaks down. The vehicle needs towed by another; Davault counts the time it takes as the turret gunners scan the area for any sign of concern.

On the road again, it’s not long before the lead vehicle spots an IED, or improvised explosive device. The group springs into action. As Lt. Davault makes the call to retrieve a Soldier fallen in the exercise, the unit comes under ambush fire and the gunner in the lead vehicle returns fire.

After giving medical attention to the injured Soldier, the group moves on. Again they encounter ambush fire. Again they spring to action.

“Training is going very well,” said Sgt. Adrian Hopper, of Springfield. “The training battalion has spent a lot of time training with other units and are very professional.”

A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Hopper knows the importance of such training.

In some ways, life for troops can be more difficult during stateside training, said 1st Sgt. David Williams, of Farmington.

“The transition is different, though, as we usually have a three-platoon organization and we’ll now have two, strong, heavy platoons,” Williams said.

The core of the 1138th is made up of a headquarters company of West Plains-based Soldiers, as well as the unit’s detachment in Springfield. But nearly 80 percent come from 23 other units across the Show-Me State. They have a wide range of military specialties, including supply, engineering, cooking and communication.

While molding Soldiers from different units into a cohesive company has been something of a challenge, Powers said his Soldiers have come together “really, really well,” and for most Citizen-Soldiers, the alteration of role is seamless or secondary.

“This is good training,” said Spc. Justin Harman, of St. Peters, who is Guard trained as a heating and air conditioning specialist. “But these are basic warrior tasks so we should know how to do this.”

Pfc. Craig Ingram, of St. Louis, is Army trained as a cook but is getting “adjusted” to life with a military police company. “I’m looking forward to serving in Iraq,” he said.

With only weeks to pass before leaving the United States for the year-long deployment, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Hanshaw, of West Plains, has worked non-stop for months to see that things go smoothly, from timelines to training to security clearances.

“We’re ready to go,” said Hanshaw.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-888-GoGuard or visit http://www.moguard.com.