CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa --
Military policemen with the Provost Marshal’s Office practiced responding to duress calls in combat town at the central training area March 20.
The purpose of the training was to ensure the military policemen are prepared to respond to any calls they may receive on a day-to-day basis. PMO is a part of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.
“We are conducting training on different scenarios and anything we could possibly have to respond to in a real-world scenario,” said Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Smith, a military policeman with PMO. “The situations we are dealing with today can happen at any time, so it is important that we train to respond to these situations accordingly.”
The scenarios the Marines responded to included a disturbance at a club, bank robbery, a disturbance in the barracks or military quarters, possible suicide attempt and how to react to violent suspects.
The Marines agree the hands-on training is a more effective way of learning about dealing with different situations.
“This benefits them because the hands-on training prepares them to go out to real calls,” said Staff Sgt. Rocky J. Centamore, watch commander, PMO. “It builds their confidence.”
Even though the PMO Marines may not have to deal with these situations every day, they are all prepared to handle it, according to Smith.
“The training was good and the Marines performed well,” said Lance Cpl. Lindsay J. Kasow, a military policeman. “We have a lot of new Marines and you can already tell they are learning a lot and getting better with each call.”
The military police receive various types of calls each day, so throwing these scenarios at them will help keep them on the alert, said Centamore.
“It all goes back to Marines train the way they fight,” said Centamore. “We as military policemen have to train the way we are going to respond.”
“This is our job,” said Centamore. “This is what we train to do and we are very good at it.”