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Depending on the day and the mission, he could start as early as 2 a.m. and never know when his shift will end. His mission is to serve and protect Soldiers and family members on Army installations throughout the KMC and beyond. This is the life of a military police Soldier.
The 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 92nd Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade is responsible for security and law enforcement on Army installations in the KMC and other areas of Germany —Spc. Brian Slocum, a native of Junction City, Oregon, is one of their Soldiers.
The 92nd MP Company has three shifts each day, and the Soldiers begin physical readiness training four hours prior to their shifts to ensure patrols start on time. Every patrol Soldier must be physically fit and can be called in at any time for a height and weight assessment.
“As military police on patrol, it’s important that we uphold the Army standard. If a Soldier is overweight or can’t pass an Army Physical Fitness Test, it would reflect badly on the MP Corps and our unit,” Slocum said. “We just can’t have that.”
After physical training, his shift begins with weapons and ammunition draw at the provost marshal’s office on Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, followed by a shift change and guard mount briefing. The patrol leaders brief a different topic related to law enforcement each day.
“Sometimes the briefing will cover how to respond to a domestic dispute — others, it will cover how to detain someone. It just depends on the day,” Slocum said. “Our NCOs want to keep our tactics and procedures fresh in our minds, so we are always ready on patrol.”
After the Soldiers complete their briefing and sign for their patrol cars, they are responsible for conducting an inventory of all equipment needed for their patrol. They also perform basic preliminary safety and maintenance checks on the vehicle before their patrol starts. This attention to detail is important due to the large area these Soldiers are responsible for, said Sgt. Kenneth S. Farrell, an assistant squad leader with the 92nd MP Company.
“These Soldiers patrol all over Kaiserslautern and all the way into Mannheim. We have one of the largest patrol areas in Germany,” Farrell said. “These vehicles have to take us to all these places, and we have to have the proper gear when we get there. Attention to detail is extremely important for these Soldiers.”
With maintenance and inventories complete, Slocum can begin his patrol route. While patrolling the KMC, he is responsible for conducting perimeter and fence checks, random access inspections and responding to emergencies within the community.
“Some days we can patrol for an entire shift and not have a single incident. We conduct our perimeter and security checks, and stay ready to answer a call,” Slocum said. “Other days we respond to multiple calls from the community, ranging from domestic violence to driving under the influence.”
As each patrol ends, Slocum and his fellow Soldiers refill their patrol cars, brief the incoming shift and turn in their weapons. As they go home, they know in 12 hours or less they will be back on duty, serving and protecting the KMC.
“It is hard at times, working the long hours and not getting the same days off that other Soldiers do,” he said, “but when you help out on something big, like a child missing or a domestic violence incident, it’s all worth it. It’s worth it to help my fellow Soldiers in this community.”
