Soldiers of the 595th Military Police Company were not just battling the heavy winds of Yakima Training Center:  the pop-up targets and adrenaline rush of reacting under pressure were other conflicts they encountered during a Convoy Live Fire Exercise held June 27 to 29.

The 595th MP Company's primary mission is the shared command and control of the Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, while providing trained and ready Soldiers to conduct corrections operations at home and abroad.

The 595th MP Co. and 67th MP Co. rotate running the facility and conduct training required for deployments and certifications. This time, the 595th MP Co. decided to incorporate Convoy Live Fire Training to prepare its Soldiers for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

"This training is unique because we usually concentrate on the facility and what we do there and we forget our downrange mission as 31E (Internment Resettlement Specialist)," said 1st Sgt. Jamie E. Shute of the 595th MP Co. "We are one of very few IRS MPs that conducts training outside the scope of their job, and this training will prepare them for the mission we will conduct in Afghanistan."

Training is usually focused on the care, custody and control aspect of running the facility. (Soldiers) don't get to train on the vehicles, tactical movement drills, crew-served weapon systems and troop-leading procedures that we are conducting out here, said Maj. Lawerence L. Grant, 508th Military Police Battalion operations officer.

The weeklong training was conducted at Yakima Training Center. For three days prior to the actual live fire range, Soldiers went through rehearsals to prepare them for the scenarios and safety precautions of the actual live fire exercise.  

The Soldiers were challenged with several scenarios, which they were expected to respond to in a timely manner. The range consisted of maneuvering in a convoy; reacting to an Improvised Explosive Device; recovering a disabled vehicle; providing self aid and buddy aid; reacting to an ambush; detainee operations and convoy reporting procedures.

The unit wanted to emphasize the importance of its Soldiers being well rounded to prepare them for a possible follow-on mission where they have to maneuver from one place to another. 595th MP Soldiers have to practice convoy methods and develop their own techniques, tactics and procedures so that they can do it successfully, Shute said.

The first sergeant was proud of what the Soldiers accomplished so far, and their motivations were high. They were excited to learn something different, said Shute.

"The Soldiers responded to training slow at first, but as they got comfortable with the TTP's we rehearsed, they became more efficient and the training started to pick up," he said.

The 595th MP Co. will be conducting detainee operations during its deployment and will be the first active duty resettlement company to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom since the war began.

Soldiers will be conducting their certification training in detention operations for their deployment to Fort Bliss, Texas in August with a deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan later this year.