175th MP Battalion, companies to assist Haitians during annual training

By: Rachel Knight
Unit Public Affairs Representative

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Around 500 military policemen from the Missouri National Guard's 175th Military Police Battalion will be sending five rotations of Soldiers to Haiti for Operation New Horizons, which started in June and will run through September.

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen from several states, including Missouri, will provide support and services to Task Force Kout Men missions. The Louisiana National Guard and its command team developed the most appropriate name they could think of for the mission calling it "Kout Men" meaning helping hands.

"Humanitarian relief efforts allow Soldiers to reach out and help the people that need it the most," said Lt. Col. Sharon Martin, 175th Military Police Battalion's commander.

According to Martin, the mission is important to Haitians because military policemen can provide security and aid that they cannot provide themselves.

Twenty Soldiers from different units throughout the state have already been to Haiti and helped setup and guard the Medical Retention (MedRet), which is a place where doctors will team up with Haitian doctors to provide basic medical care to many Haitians in need.

Other main Task Force Kout Men missions will consist of four engineering project sites in and around the city of Gonaives, in which six school buildings, three bathrooms, three water wells and a basketball court will be built. They will also focus on clearing school grounds.

Four more rotations of Soldiers will continue to provide security to the MedRet and construction sites critical to the mission's goal. Each rotation will include 120 Citizen-Soldiers from Missouri and they will stay in Haiti for 17 days.

The military policemen will also be in charge of setting up and guarding the Forward Operating Base while providing convoy and dignitary security.

"Some people volunteer for multiple rotations and will get to go on those missions," said 1st Lt. Shane Spellman, 175th Military Police Battalion administrative officer.

Rotations will include the 2175th Military Police Company, based in Hannibal with a detachment in Moberly; 1175th Military Police Company, based in St. Clair; the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 175th Military Police Battalion in Columbia, and the 3175th Military Police Company, based in Warrenton with a detachment in Mexico.

Each unit will have additional individuals volunteering for the mission from the 1137th Military Police Company in Kennett, 1138th Military Police Company in West Plains, 1139th Military Police Company in Harrisonville and the 1140th Military Police Company in Fulton.

"We had already planned and coordinated our annual training to be conducted at Fort McClellan, Ala. for approximately 600 Soldiers when the request was made for military policemen to go to Haiti," Martin said. "The Soldiers would prefer real world missions any day over an annual training stateside. The knowledge and experience gained in a real world mission cannot be duplicated in a training exercise."

Military Police focus the majority of their training at home on Soldier readiness so they can be prepared to deploy at a moment's notice for state or federal missions.

The majority of the military policemen's missions over the last nine years have been combat, detention and law enforcement operations, so when the opportunity arises for Soldiers to be called for a humanitarian mission, whether it be a state or federal emergency, it is the most important and humbling of all experiences.

"I hope they will see the hearts and souls of a population that is merely trying to survive day to day," said Martin. "I hope they have a truly humbled experience and share their experience with their family and friends when they return."

Martin said the battalion found out about the mission in February and it grew from sending 120 Citizen-Soldiers to over 500 plus Soldiers. The mission was locked in by April and it took great effort and flexibility by the Soldiers to change their summer plans around to support mission dates.

"These Soldiers are all now trained and excited to take this mission on even knowing that the temperatures are 100 to 120 degrees, they will be sleeping in tents and working long days," Martin said. "Missouri Military Police always stand ready and the greatest reward they will receive from this mission they will carry in their memories and hearts forever. I couldn't be prouder to lead such an extraordinary group of Citizen-Soldiers."

Both Nevada and Indiana will be sending National Guardsmen to support in the relief efforts in Haiti.