FORT PICKETT, Va. -- History books are stock full of unsuccessful yet brilliant and powerful armies with a fatal flaw – failure to keep their front line troops supplied.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s supply chain protectors are military police attached to Combat Logistics Battalion 24. Driving armored HMMWVs, they escort the heavy vehicles bringing beans, bullets and band-aids to Marines who need it.
“They are responsible for making sure no civilian cars get in my convoy and that I’m protected if we get engaged,” said Capt. Christina Frederick, transportation support platoon commander, CLB-24.
From his perch on top of one such HMMWV, Lance Cpl. Nathan Barron, military policeman, CLB-24, scans the surrounding area for danger.
“When I see something I let everyone else know, so they know what to watch out for,"he explained.
Despite having a multitude of weapon system options the scouts’ observation ability may be their most critical weapon.
Conducting countless situational awareness drills helps military police Marines hone such skills.
“We will put stuff in a room and bring them in, take them right back out, and then we ask them ‘What did you see in the room that is different from when you went in the first time,’ explained Willis, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. “We will put a lock in the middle of the floor, a rock in a corner, something that is not normally there. That way, they can look and say ‘Ok, well that’s normally not there.’
As the 24th MEU continues training, the CLB-24 military police and motor transport Marines tirelessly work to perfect their marksmanship and observation, ensuring that when the troops on the ground need supplies, they’ll get them. Lead by the military police.