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MANNHEIM, Germany — While most units preparing for deployment conduct their Mission Rehearsal Exercise as the final exercise in the few months prior to deployment, the 18th Military Police Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company bucked convention and attached themselves to the III Corps MRE Sept. 21 to Oct. 10 at the Grafenwöhr Training Area a full eight months in advance of their scheduled deployment.
Operation Unified Endeavor was conducted at the Joint Multinational Simulations Center under the guidance of a team of observer/trainers from the Battle Command Training Program and included the participation of Reserve, National Guard and active-duty units from both Germany and the United States.
The exercise served two purposes: it was a redeployment re-certification for the brigade stemming from their most recent deployment to Iraq as well as an opportunity to prepare for the brigade’s next deployment.
The brigade was able to piggy-back on the exercise when the observation was made earlier this spring that the brigade’s recertification fell in line with the III Corps and 1st Armored Division’s MRE. Seeing an opportunity to both re-certify and give the new brigade staff a chance to establish a good, working battle rhythm, the brigade leadership jumped at the opportunity.
One of the biggest goals for the brigade staff was, “understanding how an effective battle staff works,” said Maj. Beth Richardson, 18th MP Bde. incoming chief of operations.
In the process of establishing cohesion within the unit, the state-of-the-art computer simulated scenarios gave the staff a chance to react quickly and work together during the intense situations.
“Being put under pressure down there with deadlines – I think it gave us an opportunity to better know each other and how we would react to those sticky situations, which you don’t normally see back here in garrison,” said Sgt 1st Class Jonathan Trussell, human resources non-commissioned officer in charge, 18th MP Bde.
With the assistance and guidance of the OTs, the brigade was able to come away from the exercise with a wealth of knowledge and a plan to move forward in the right direction. The brigade was fortunate enough to also have a senior mentor, retired Gen. James Hill, who not only guided the brigade commander with leadership matters but gave the brigade staff direction on its role in providing and presenting the commander with the right information.
Sergeant Trussell said having a retired general as a mentor is an invaluable tool to those participating in the training and believes it is an asset that should remain in place.
“(Gen. Hill) came to the table with a wealth of knowledge … and it was great to have him around,” Sergeant Trussell said.
Major Richardson said engaging in the training so early on in the brigade’s road to deployment “shows us where we need to go – refining our battle drills, restructuring our organization and looking at systems that we need to put in place.”
For those who remained in Mannheim at the brigade headquarters during the exercise, it provided an opportunity to simulate the limited communication and staff that will be a reality during the brigade’s deployment.
“The rear detachment was back here taking care of business,” Sergeant Trussell said, “It was seamless. They did an outstanding job.”
One of the keys to success in the brigade’s future missions will be “information sharing and knowledge management, which all of us got the block of instruction on, but I think the light bulb went on for all of us during this exercise to really understand what knowledge management and its importance was,” Major Richardson said.
As the brigade moves into its next mission, training like this supplies the leadership with an opportunity to develop standard operating procedures, tactics and techniques for dealing with real-world situations modeled on what troops downrange are dealing with today.
The 18th MP Bde. has played in important role in supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom over the past seven years. The brigade crossed the berm with V Corps in 2003 and was responsible for military police operations in support of ground combat during that tour. They soon returned in 2005 to provide route security. The brigade’s most recent deployment from 2007-2009 had them partnering with Iraqi Police through the brigade’s Police Transition Teams.
As the brigade begins to prepare for its next deployment to Iraq in the coming year, the brigade will adapt to a new mission supporting III Corps in the drawdown of forces as the National Training Team for Iraqi security forces.
