Navy Reservists practice shore security on dry land

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stan Coleman
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  On July 17, 65 Sailors assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Division 13, Detachments 131 (Whiteman AFB) and 132 (Oklahoma City, Okla.), all Navy Reserve Units, departed from the Isaac Skelton III Building for the training camp designated as Camp Arrowhead, located just beyond the Whiteman AFB airfield for a weekend long field training exercise. 

A Humvee mounted with a .50 caliber machine gun led the first convoy to the campsite via a four-mile route over paved and unpaved roads to where the MESD 13 Sailors would call home within the next 60 hours. 

The training for the Sailors included classroom training, experience at managing entry control points, and unannounced real-world type scenarios where the involved Sailors would have to react to situations and take the correct action to ensure minimal negative consequences. 

A Command Training Team of 12 MESD 13 Sailors, identified with red baseball-style caps, most with the Navy Master at Arms rating, closely observed their shipmates--evaluating and documenting Sailors' performance in the scenarios, and sometimes stepping in to provide specific training; ensuring the Sailors under their mentorship would be the best trained and best reactors in any potential security situation whether in the United States or in foreign locations. 

As with every field exercise, equipment and planning has to be coordinated to ensure optimal results. Master at Arms 1st Class Tim Ivy, MESD 13 Detachment 132, served as the training team coordinator during the field exercise. "My duties include creating and scheduling the scenarios for the exercise," he said. "Our Sailors are advised that in a training team environment, anything can happen." 

The Navy Master at Arms classification involves duties ranging from typical law enforcement responsibilities, such as patrol, physical security of a site, aircraft or ship. Many of the MESD 13 Masters at Arms have civilian law enforcement experience. "We're a jack-of-all-trades," said MA1 Ivy. 

Training drills 

"The training scenario placed Camp Arrowhead in "Country Green," a constitutional democracy bordered by a communist dictatorship," said Senior Chief Jennie Pilcher, Maritime Expeditionary Security Division 13 training officer at Whiteman Air Force Base, during her geo-political briefing of the exercise scenario to the command and control element of the exercise. 

With that briefing and the "be advised, we're now in a training team environment" announcement by the senior chief to all Sailors within earshot, the training scenarios were underway. 

Some of the training drills included the discovery of weapons in a vehicle search; a group of protestors at the main entry control point who shouted disgruntled statements such as "taking our jobs" and "we don't want you here;" and a medical emergency where a sailor screams out in pain from a bone fracture from an accident in the field. 

Sailors who provided the overwatch of the main control entry point from the view of the .50 caliber machine gun mounted Humvee focused their attention during each scenario with a constant vigilance and preparation in case of escalation of force. 

"Being prepared takes training, learning from mistakes, more training, and conditioning and experience to where the desired reaction becomes second nature," said Senior Chief Pilcher. "We're conditioning Sailors without previous security training on how to respond in a security environment. It's quite rewarding to witness our young security professionals learning and understanding what their role is and competently performing their duties during an exercise such as this one." 

"I enjoy being out here and learning something new," said Master at Arms 3rd Class Tonja Toumasis. "My career goal is to become an FBI agent." MESD 13 is MA3 Toumasis' first assignment since Master at Arms training in San Antonio, Texas. 

At the conclusion of the field exercise, the Sailors of MESD 13 completed thirteen scenario-based training drills and conducted 1,560 hours of training, resulting in a significantly increased competency and readiness level. This will allow them to start with a much higher level of confidence and skill at their next field exercise. 

Sea Cadets 

In addition to the field training exercise, 11 high school students from the Jefferson City Sea Cadets, Thomas Jefferson Division, shadowed the Sailors to get a first-hand exposure to Navy operational training. 

"This experience provides military exposure to students without the commitment of a military contract," said Lieutenant Junior Grade Chris Clemens, commanding officer of the Sea Cadets. "Our focus is to develop our cadets into model citizens and better leaders." Two of the cadets already had their minds made up to join the Marine Corps and the Army.