1138th Military Police Co. 'sees light at the end of the deployment tunnel'

By: Ashley N. Ward
Unit Public Affairs Representative

IMAGE+LINK > With only a few months left in Iraq, Soldiers with the 1138th Military Police Company are beginning to see the light at the end of the deployment tunnel.
IMAGE+LINK > With only a few months left in Iraq, Soldiers with the 1138th Military Police Company are beginning to see the light at the end of the deployment tunnel.
CAMP CROPPER, Iraq - With only a few months left in Iraq, Soldiers with the 1138th Military Police Company are beginning to see the light at the end of the deployment tunnel, said Capt. Christopher Powers, commander of the unit.

The Soldiers, who deployed to the region in August 2009, have earned a reputation for their professionalism and are relied on to perform strategic missions in the area-including conducting detention center operations for detainees, maintaining evidence and providing security oversight for the internment facility, among other duties.

Through the hard work and long days-12 hours on, 12 hours off, 6 days a week-Soldiers have forged lasting friendships.

"I didn't know that I would become close friends with the people that I work with but now I consider them family," said Spc. Craig Ingram Jr. "They are a bunch of good guys and if they asked me to deploy with them again, I would do it because I trust them with my life."

And although having close friendships certainly make the deployment easier, they can't replace home and all the routines that go along with it, said Powers.

"For many of our troops, this was their first occasion of not being home for the holidays, birthdays, the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, etc.," said Powers. "We get so used to those familiar routines each year that we really miss the occasions and practices that we have at home."

Although the Soldiers may not be able to be there to celebrate in person, many have found ways to use technology to experience the next best thing. Utilizing the internet and various video chat services, Soldiers have had the opportunity to watch their children open Christmas presents, enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with their families and even root for their favorite team during the Super Bowl.

Some troops have even been lucky enough to enjoy those experiences in person through a program that allows the Soldiers to go home for a short amount of time on leave. Rather than drawing straws, Powers gave the Soldiers "wish days" that would get them home in time for the most significant events in their lives.

After spending time with family and friends, however, a Soldier must leave his or her home and board a plane back to Iraq.

"I know the feeling of walking back through the terminal for the return trip to Iraq - it's not a fun one," said Powers. "But overall, I think we are better off with the program. Troops have made it home for the births of their children, holidays, birthdays, engagement dates, etc. and I've yet to see a troop return without a smile on his or her face."

And friends and family members are doing their best to make sure that Soldiers keep those smiles, even after they have to return to Iraq.

"I was really surprised at how many care packages we received," said Spc. Michael Wheeler. "I think if the chow hall shut down we could have survived on what we received in care packages for months."

Now, with the end of the deployment in site, Soldiers are beginning to receive other things from home besides just care packages.

"My wife has a honey do list a mile long," said Spc. Christopher Johnson. "I am just trying to figure out what I'm going to do first when I get home."

The 1138th Military Police Company is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and is expected to finish its deployment in June 2010.