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Platinum Sword

The 800th MP BDE Exercise, Platinum Sword, was conducted at Ft Dix from 3-5 June 2000. The training observed was excellent and development of the new Prisoner of War Information System (PWIS) appeared to alleviate many of the old PWIS problems (transmission of data). The new FM 19-40 doctrine was tested during the exercise and the means for optimal utilization of the Brigade Liaison Detachment (BLD) was being developed. Recommended changes to FM 19-40 updates was passed to the 300th MP Command through the OCAR Functional Integrator to review during exercise Badger Triad.

Military Police from seven states completed Platinum Sword in July 2001, wrapping up 15 days of enemy prisoner-of-war camp training operations. All 600 soldiers received a total training package in the Army's law enforcement career field-from running patrols to processing and interrogating prisoners. Many experienced the other end of training by being processed themselves as enemy prisoners of war and refugees.

The 367th Military Police Group of Ashley, Pa., headed up command and control over the exercise involving 20 units from company to battalion strength. For members of the 367th, this may be one of their last exercises since the 39-member unit of the 99th Regional Support Command is scheduled to case its colors in 2003. The battle to keep the unit in business is not over yet and the matter continues to be staffed to keep the organization on the Army rolls.

The 367th soldiers oversaw training operations for two enemy prisoner of war internment facilities, using a Korea scenario to add realism to the training. During Desert Storm more than 5,000 enemy prisoners of war were processed by Military Police. MP soldiers at Fort Dix have the ability to process 16,000 soldiers by providing force protection security, as well as managing and operating the internment facilities. As part of the operations, MPs also set up an international transfer point and handled repatriation operations.

The units involved in the exercise had multiple challenges thrown at them to place stress in the training scenario that MPs could expect to face in real world situations. Some of those challenges involved reacting to a camp uprising, handling medically disabled patients, and dealing with unruly prisoners.

Many of the MPs also received training on the computer-driven windows-based Prisoner of War Information System (PWIS), according to CPT Stacy Garrity of the 367th. The system allows quicker processing and tracking of enemy prisoners of war. Some of the items also track the health conditions of the prisoner. Even the deputy commander of the 99th RSC got into the action to see the training the soldiers were conducting, first hand. The seven Florida-based MP units participating in Platinum Sword were: 418th MP Det., Orlando; 381 MP Det., 160th MP Bn., 421st MP Company, and 395thMP Det., all of Tallahassee; and 379th MP Det., 386th Det, 724th MP Bn., 425th MPs, all of Fort Lauderdale. Pennsylvania units that participated were the 424th MP Det 320th and MP Bn., Ashley; 744th MP Bn, Bethlehem; and the 304th MP and Det., 377th MP Det., Gettysburg. The 346th MP Det., of Nashville, Tenn., 440th MP Det, Irvine, Ca., 305th MP Co., Wheeling, W. Va., and the 429th MP Det., Omaha, Ne., also participated.