Page 10 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior 2-5-16

10 High Desert Warrior
February 5, 2016
Your Installation
Military, DA police tryout for Special ReactionTeam
Story and photos by Gustavo Bahena
Public Affairs Office
Five candidates took part in tryouts for a
Fort Irwin team of law enforcement officers
that will enhance the security and safety of this
installation, Jan. 19-21.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
United States Army Garrison at Fort Irwin
hosted the tests for four military policemen and
one Department of the Army civilian police
officer. The tryouts consisted of an obstacle
course, KIMS game, Army physical fitness test,
urban land navigation, ruck marches, M4/M9
stress shoot, a three-mile run and appearing
before a board.
The candidates could eventually be accepted
into a military Special Reaction Team, which is
similar to a SWAT team (special weapons and
tactics) in civilian law enforcement agencies.
Sergeant Maj. Randy Cheadle, Fort Irwin
Directorate of Emergency Services sergeant
Spc. Hunter Siems swings from a rope at an obstacle course here, Jan. 19.
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil
major, said the objective is to put together a
group of specialized officers, who would be on
short-notice recall for emergency incidents. The ary Oden, Spc. Hunter Siems, Spc. Edward
selected members would receive SRT phase 1
training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in the
very near future.
“Every installation is required to have a
Special Reaction Team that is assigned to
the commanding general to react to any
type of significant event that occurs on the
installation – whether it’s an active shooter,
a hostage situation, a barricaded subject or
something where you need a team of law
enforcement professionals to do a dynamic
entry,” Cheadle said.
Cheadle explained that USAG Fort Irwin
Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel O’Brien recom-
mended the implementation of organizing
the SRT. O’Brien and Cheadle collaborated
in creating two SRTs when serving together at
Fort Bliss, Texas with the 93D MP Battalion,
89th MP Brigade.
www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
The military policemen who participated in tougher than most of the stuff I’ve been
the tryouts serve with HHC and are: Spc. Zach- through before,” Oden said. “I’m air assault
qualified, so I’ve been through this type of stuff
Warner and Sgt. Brian Mariscal. The civilian before, but they’ve definitely been pushing us
officer, Andrew Fremstad, serves with DES. for the last two days.”
Fremstad said he was interested in trying out One MP who has already trained in SRT,
for the SRT because of the tactical and weapons and recently selected National Training Cen-
training and the challenge of the duties. He has ter Soldier of the Quarter, Spc. Daniel Diaz,
been in law enforcement for nine years and this, stated the SRT school would be a once-in-a-
if selected, would be his first assignment on a lifetime experience.
SWAT team. The SRT training would instruct
on how to handle dangerous situations, make “We train in so many different situations,”
quick decisions to deal with threats – all the Diaz said. “We train in barricaded subjects,
while maintaining officer safety. hostage situations, active shooters, high-risk
warrants, drug busts.”
Mariscal stated that SRT training is one
of the most sought-after schools by military Cheadle explained that these tryouts, and
police in the Army. The tryouts have placed subsequent ones, would help select the most
the candidates in challenges as a team, but capable and professional candidates to attend
they’ve worked together on different shifts the school.
the past several months, so there was already
some familiarity. “Fort Irwin can be quiet proud of the Spe-
cial Reaction Team they’ll get when they come
“Physically and mentally it’s been a lot back,” Cheadle said.
The candidates: Military Policemen Spc. Hunter Siems, Spc. Zachary Oden, Spc. Edward
Warner, Sgt. Brian Mariscalf and Department of the Army Civilian Police Officer Andrew
Fremstad.
Spc. Edward Warner and Spc. Zachary Oden dismount the final log of an obstacle, Jan. 19.