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SRT31B · 12-14-2006, 18:10

During this past year, there have been a number of times that members of my company were pulled to CJSOTF to support them. This was in addition to the regular missions assigned that we deployed for, but now we have to do it short handed.

Now, I do realize its my battalion's fault for sending us just above the minimum authorized strength for the company, and we also need to adapt, improvise, and overcome... but at the same time, in order to make things easier on units like mine where every body counts why not incorporate those people into the organic makeup of the taskforce? Doing so would allow the permanent presence of MP soldiers for the duties that (according to DA) other MOSs can no longer perform. I'm not gonna lie, anyone can do it, but for some reason (post Abu Gharib) big green army pushed for all EC/EPW missions to be handled by MPs. This put a bigger strain on the regiment and pushed a lot of us, such as my company, into the I/R business when we're supposed to be combat support.

I'm quite confident that anyone in group, QP or not, can handle their business and there really isn't a need for us to be there... but I don't get paid to make decisions like that and someone a lot higher than me decided to take our guys to work with the teams. Since this is an ongoing thing, the question was simply "does this sound like it would make things simpler?" Case in point, the CSM from 3/3 (i think) arguing with the BDE CSM for my taskforce about keeping personnel at their location or returning them. CJSOTF wanted them, the taskforce wanted them back since that wasn't their original mission. It just turned into a big pissing contest and the rest of us got screwed when the manpower requirements went up and we didnt have bodies to fill those slots since they were at kAAF supporting the teams.

Yes, we do have a few people in my company now authorized to wear the patch, and a few of them were in the right place at the right time and actually got to do a few missions with some of the teams. But, that again was a problem with my command because... you guessed it, "thats not our mission, knock it off."

Obviously, the stigma of being an MP is still equally as present here as it is in other circles... I got it... Air Assault, moving out to draw fire.

12-14-2006, 18:10	#12
SRT31B SF Candidate Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Eglin Main Posts: 144	The point being... During this past year, there have been a number of times that members of my company were pulled to CJSOTF to support them. This was in addition to the regular missions assigned that we deployed for, but now we have to do it short handed. Now, I do realize its my battalion's fault for sending us just above the minimum authorized strength for the company, and we also need to adapt, improvise, and overcome... but at the same time, in order to make things easier on units like mine where every body counts why not incorporate those people into the organic makeup of the taskforce? Doing so would allow the permanent presence of MP soldiers for the duties that (according to DA) other MOSs can no longer perform. I'm not gonna lie, anyone can do it, but for some reason (post Abu Gharib) big green army pushed for all EC/EPW missions to be handled by MPs. This put a bigger strain on the regiment and pushed a lot of us, such as my company, into the I/R business when we're supposed to be combat support. I'm quite confident that anyone in group, QP or not, can handle their business and there really isn't a need for us to be there... but I don't get paid to make decisions like that and someone a lot higher than me decided to take our guys to work with the teams. Since this is an ongoing thing, the question was simply "does this sound like it would make things simpler?" Case in point, the CSM from 3/3 (i think) arguing with the BDE CSM for my taskforce about keeping personnel at their location or returning them. CJSOTF wanted them, the taskforce wanted them back since that wasn't their original mission. It just turned into a big pissing contest and the rest of us got screwed when the manpower requirements went up and we didnt have bodies to fill those slots since they were at kAAF supporting the teams. Yes, we do have a few people in my company now authorized to wear the patch, and a few of them were in the right place at the right time and actually got to do a few missions with some of the teams. But, that again was a problem with my command because... you guessed it, "thats not our mission, knock it off." Obviously, the stigma of being an MP is still equally as present here as it is in other circles... I got it... Air Assault, moving out to draw fire.
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