512th MPs return from Iraq; Army working to upgrade policing skills

Pulaski County Daily News ^ | 2/16/2011 | Darrell Todd Maurina

[darrellmaurina]

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 16, 2011) — Friends and family members from the 512th Military Police Company spent a year waiting for their soldiers to return from Iraq, but Tuesday night, they had to wait an hour less than expected when the buses bringing the troops arrived about an hour early at Fort Leonard Wood. Based in the Kirkuk and Diyala areas of Iraq, the company consisting of about 170 military police was responsible for training Iraqi personnel in 30 district headquarters, two regional training centers, and a police training academy as part of the American military pullout from Iraq that will lead to Iraqis assuming responsibility for their own country. Other missions included patrols of the area and providing law-and-order support for Iraqis and security to convoys. Maj. Timothy Slemp, the rear detachment commander for the 92nd Military Police Battalion which oversees the 512th MP Company, said the unit had been “performing commendably and achieving the best results,” which included awarding of five bronze stars, 130 Army commendation medals, and two Purple Hearts as a result of combat injuries, one to a sergeant and the other to a specialist. Capt. Tim Heisler, the company commander of the 512th MPs, said a key part of his soldiers’ mission aiding Iraqi police was “training them so they could train themselves,” including training more than 2,000 Iraqi police during six months.