267th Military Police Company in Iraq: a testament to versatility

Military Police, Oct, 2005 by Darrin W. Haas

The 267th Military Police Company, Tennessee Army National Guard (ARNG), had the honor of being one of the first Tennessee ARNG units in Iraq and in Baghdad. Its Soldiers set the standard for professionalism and their "can do" spirit made them an invaluable asset to the 800th Military Police Brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Preparing to Deploy

In the summer of 2002, the 267th Military Police Company was training on railhead and convoy security operations for the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee ARNG, at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. Upon successful completion of that training, the unit deployed back to its home station to focus on individual weapons qualification and military operations on urbanized terrain training to prepare for the following year's annual training (AT). That AT would be put on hold, though, because in October 2002, the company was alerted for possible deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The unit mobilized a few weeks later.

The combat support unit was ordered to deploy for a possible mission as a guard company performing enemy prisoner of war (EPW) and internment/ resettlement (I/R) operations. The company reconfigured and mobilized as ordered. The company commander quickly reorganized the unit manning roster and restructured the company organization from four platoons with a headquarters platoon to three platoons under a small operations cell. The company deployed with all its organic vehicles, equipment, and weapon systems, planning for a more flexible, combat-effective unit. Following premobilization training that covered EPW and I/R operations, the company deployed to Fort Dix, New Jersey, in January 2003.

Fort Dix

At Fort Dix, the company was attached to an Army Reserve military police battalion that had the mission to build and operate the first long-term EPW theater internment facility (TIF). The battalion's units stayed on station for a month conducting field-training exercises in EPW and I/R operations. The exercises focused on transporting and processing EPWs, performing sustainment operations, and ensuring TIF security and force protection. These invaluable lessons learned were quickly incorporated into the battalion's and company's standard operating procedures, tactics, and techniques. After successfully completing all training, the 267th Military Police Company deployed to Kuwait in February.

Boots on the Ground

The company landed at Kuwait International Airport, where it was stunned by the drastic climate change from the snow-covered ground at Fort Dix. The company was escorted to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where the soldiers acclimatized themselves to the heat and executed a crucial area security mission at the Class V theater supply area (TSA). Before the unit's vehicles arrived in Kuwait, the unit began 22 days of 24-hour operations securing the TSA with no support, while other units trained for possible combat action. The mission involved static posts, roving patrols, and entry control point operations. The company's equipment arrived later in February and was offloaded, and the company got new orders to provide combat escorts for the transport of supplies for the TIF and other units. The 267th began transferring its containers and construction materials through Kuwait in preparation for combat operations.

Camp Coyote

Late in March, most of the company moved into Tactical Assembly Area (TAA) Coyote to prepare for movement into Iraq, while one platoon remained at Camp Arifjan to finish escorting supplies and construction materials for an engineer battalion. During the move, the unit came under Scud missile attack and was ordered to mission-oriented protective posture 1 status, unaware that ground combat had begun. The next few days resulted in repeated nuclear, biological, and chemical alerts as final planning and rock drills took place. Part of the battalion moved into Iraq to establish Camp Bucca, named after a New York City firefighter who died at the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001.

In the early days of the conflict, the Soldiers of the 267th Military Police Company, securing the rear of the battalion's main body convoy, moved through the border town of Safwan and were greeted by crowds of Iraqi citizens begging for food and water. The main body pushed through war-torn southern Iraq, where recent combat was apparent from the destroyed Iraqi vehicles that still smoked along the highway. Iraqi civilians were already looting the destroyed vehicles and celebrating. The main body of the company pulled up for a rest halt at the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force corps holding area for the evening. The following morning, during a severe sandstorm that blinded the main convoy and severely slowed movement, the main body linked up with the battalion advance party and conducted security for the base camp during initial construction of the TIF by Army engineers.

The company's platoons performed a number of escort missions, including escorting supplies, follow-on personnel, and mail to Camp Bucca. One of the platoons also conducted various missions for a psychological operations (PSYOP) battalion, as well as performing personal security details for a high-ranking officer. That platoon made 24 missions into Iraq, covering over 7,000 miles, and entered the city of Baghdad with the PSYOP battalion. Spending three days in Baghdad to provide force protection and assist in maneuver and mobility support operations (such as setting up roadblocks and checkpoints, patrolling the streets, and directing military and civilian traffic), the platoon helped secure buildings in the city. Another platoon continued executing convoy security missions to TAA Coyote, Camp Bucca, and Baghdad. By this time, the company's platoons were spread across 400 miles in a combat zone and operating independently of each other.