Today, the Tennessee National Guard reported that 16 soldiers from various states, including Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio, became the U.S. Army's latest military policemen. Graduating from the intense 4-week Military Police Basic Course at Smyrna's Volunteer Training Site, the transition course was conducted by the instructors of the Tennessee National Guard's 117th Regional Training Institute's 1st Battalion. Designed for soldiers coming from different Army career fields, this program shapes them into law enforcement officers equipped to handle the diverse challenges of military policing.
The ambitious soldiers endured a curriculum that spanned military law, crime response, and investigation, rounded off with traffic accident management. Overseeing their transition, Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Chick, Senior Instructor with the 1-117th, emphasized the rigor of the training, stating, "This course is vigorous and designed to ensure that we graduate the best law enforcement officers possible." Chick, elaborating on the real-world scenarios the students faced, told the Tennessee Military Department, "We ensure that each student has realistic training and perform scenarios that reflect what they will have to do after graduation."
The recent graduates sharpened their skills on a range of lethal and non-lethal purpose-built weaponry, acquiring the know-how to safely pilot a patrol car, among other new competencies. Instruction was not only provided by combat veterans with a background in military policing but also featured guest instructors specialized in particular fields, as reported by the Tennessee Military Department. Chick added, "We make sure that students are exposed to what they may deal with when on the job, and how to react to situations that are unforeseen."
As the training concluded, a ceremony recognized Spc. Nathan Fiala from Nebraska's 192nd Military Police Detachment was the Distinguished Honor Graduate. Fiala took home the top honors, with the highest cumulative scores, and was also awarded the class’s top driver distinction for having the fastest time during the evasive driving test. From Ohio’s 323rd Military Police Company, Spc. John Wimer earned the top shooter award for his handgun qualification scores. Reflecting on his students' achievements, Sgt. Chick told the Tennessee Military Department, "I’m proud of every student for all the hard they’ve done, and I know they will leave here and serve our nation well."
