New Military Policemen graduate from Smyrna’s 117th Regional Training Institute

SMYRNA, Tenn. – Soldiers from across the United States became the U.S. Army’s newest military policemen as they graduated from the Tennessee National Guard’s Military Police Basic Course at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site, August 8. These 16 graduates are now military law enforcement officers and the newest members of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps.

Hailing from numerous states to include Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio, the students underwent an intensive 4-week-long transition course taught by Tennessee’s 117th Regional Training Institute’s 1st Battalion. The battalion teaches the MP basic course, as well as various other professional programs, to include instructor certification courses and piloting Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, to Active-Duty, National Guard, and Reserve forces. Students who attend the MP course are all Soldiers with specialties in different Army career fields that decided to transition and become law enforcement officers.

“This course is vigorous and designed to ensure that we graduate the best law enforcement officers possible,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Chick, Senior Instructor with the 1-117th. “We ensure that each student has realistic training and perform scenarios that reflect what they will have to do after graduation.”

Since the course began on July 12, the students have trained in various tactics, law enforcement skills, and numerous tasks required to become military police officers which include military law, responding to and investigating crimes, and traffic accident investigation.

“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,” said Chick. “Many of our instructors are combat veterans as MPs and work as police officers, state troopers, and federal agents in their civilian professions. We even utilize guest instructors with specialties in certain areas.”   

While students learned to respond to numerous emergency situations, they also trained on various lethal and non-lethal weapons they may need, practiced evasive driving techniques, learned how to safely operate a patrol car, and many other skills that can keep themselves, and the people they swear to protect, safe.  

“Our students go through one of the most professional schools in the military because what we teach here will save the lives of those they swear to protect, and their own,” said Chick.

During the ceremony, many of the graduates received special awards for their performance during training. Spc. Nathan Fiala, with Nebraska’s 192nd Military Police Detachment, was the Distinguished Honor Graduate. He had the highest cumulative scores in all training events and was also awarded the class’s top driver award for having the fastest time during the evasive driving test. Spc. John Wimer, with Ohio’s 323rd Military Police Company, was awarded the top shooter award for scoring the highest during handgun qualifications.  

“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,” said Chick.

Each graduate will return to their state as official military policemen ready for whatever their next mission will be.