Keeping a watchful eye

By Sgt. Daniel SchroederFebruary 6, 2015

Keeping a watchful eye
1 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
2 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Interment/resettlement specialists with the 595th Military Police Company restrain a simulated detainee after discovering some possible wounds on the detainee's arm during the 595th MP Company Culminating Training Exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
3 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Mark Rivera, interment/resettlement specialist with 595th Military Police Company, prepares to enter the solitare confinment cells on the Force Cell Extraction Team to subdue a detainee with contraband during the 595th MP Company Culminating Tra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
4 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Matthew Dimain, Force Cell Extraction team leader, 595th Military Police Company, searches a detainee with assistance from the Force Cell Extraction Team after subduing a detainee with contraband during the 595th MP Company Culminating Training ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
5 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Derrick Thomas, wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the 13th Combat Support Sustainment Brigade, watches the guards of the confinement cells as a simulated detainee during the 595th Military Police Company Culminating Training Exercise at Joint... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
6 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
7 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Alejandro Nunez, internment/resettlement specialist with 595th Military Police Company, marches in the first rank with a riot shield towards a mock recreational area for simulated detainees in reaction to a mass disturbance during the 595th MP C... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
8 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 595th Military Police Company stand ready as a show of force at a mock recreational area for simulated detainees in reaction to a mass disturbance during the 595th MP Company Culminating Training Exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
9 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Timothy Rowland, internment/resettlement specialist with 595th Military Police Company stands ready with a shotgun in reaction to a mass disturbance at a mock recreational area for simulated detainees during the 595th MP Company Culminating Trai... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
10 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
11 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping a watchful eye
12 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - "Two steps forward, move!" The command echoed across a mass formation of Soldiers. In unison, they boomed "one, two" as they marched closer to a group of simulated detainees who were creating a mass disturbance.

After the formation stopped, the detainee role players charged the front of the formation, throwing themselves against the riot shields the Soldiers carried. In response, the Soldiers marched forward two more steps, making the area the detainees could move around in smaller.

One by one the Soldiers extracted the simulated detainees, restraining them and escorting them to holding cells. In a matter of minutes, all detainees were restrained and the situation was dissolved.

This was one scenario 595th Military Police Company Soldiers had to react to during their Culminating Training Event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Jan. 12-15. The Soldiers reacted to several scenarios they could encounter as a guard force while supporting Joint Detention Group Operations in an upcoming rotation to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Many of the Soldiers know what to expect due to previous rotations to Guantanamo Bay," said Capt. Michael Taylor, commander, 595th MP Company. "All we need to do is bring up the other Soldiers to the same level."

The Soldiers were tested in reacting to detainees misusing their cells, requesting items, saying or making obscene gestures or comments toward them, possessing contraband and experiencing a medical emergency.

The Soldiers practiced a routine task of monitoring each detainee by looking in each cell window frequently. One role player constantly watched them walk by and said some demeaning comments in order to test their bearing.

"Some of the common tasks the Soldiers perform are basic custody and care, feeding procedures, basic physical security standards and search procedures," said Taylor.

According to Taylor, being proficient at search procedures is critical to the security of detainees and guards. The detainees are searched several times when they leave their cell.

The Soldiers must remove anything not absolutely needed from their person before they enter the detainee facility to ensure safety of all personnel. Not doing so could give the role players an opportunity to get a weapon.

During the exercise, the guards also had to swiftly react to a medical emergency. One of the role players simulated a gash on his forearm and then proceeded to strike an aggressive stance preparing to rush the guards upon entering the cell.

The vigilance and proficiency of the five guards allowed them to subdue him within seconds, apply restraints, and move him to a place where he could be thoroughly examined.

"We don't know what will happen when we need to enter a cell," said Pfc. Horacio Ocha, a correctional specialist assigned to 595th MP Company. "A bunch of scenarios go through my head all based on what he could do once we enter the cell. We just need to be on alert the whole time because you never know."

Shortly after dealing with the simulated medical emergency, a guard noticed another role player had secured a pen. This raised alarm on the floor because now a role player had contraband that could be used as a simulated weapon against himself or guards.

The floor guards requested the assistance of the Force Cell Extraction Team to handle the simulated detainee after several unsuccessful attempts to make him comply with their commands. A team of five guards wearing riot gear and one shield lined up on the cell door. After they slammed the shield on the door to show force, the detainee began to comply with the guards' orders.

"It is important to maintain full control at all times because the detainee could get free and fight back," said Sgt. Matthew Dimain, team leader, Force Cell Extraction Team, 595th MP Company. "As team leader, I make sure my team knows what to do in any situation and provide guidance to junior Soldiers if they are unsure about a task."

When the Force Cell Extraction Team is not reacting to a situation, they are training each other about the equipment, procedures and communication while subduing a detainee.

"The battalion and brigade threw a lot of scenarios at the Soldiers and they handled them very well," said Taylor. "The Soldiers have done phenomenal with each situation."