editor’s note: “high profile mission”….how interesting is this?
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GREENVILLE, NC, UNITED STATES
08.13.2018
The North Carolina Army National Guard hosted a deployment ceremony honoring the 514th Military Police Company at the Pirates Club in Greenville, North Carolina, August 12, 2018 in advance of their upcoming mobilization.
More than 160 Soldiers are scheduled to deploy in support Operation Enduring Freedom – GITMO and will be charged with providing various external security operations in support of the ongoing mission of the Joint Detention Group at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station.
Sgt. Benjamin Bullard, one of the Soldiers deploying with the 514th said he is looking forward to the deployment.
“It’s a fun opportunity,” Bullard said. “It’s a little bit different than going to Afghanistan again, I’m excited.”
Deploying to Guantanamo Bay will provide the Soldiers of the 514th a unique experience compared to previous mobilizations.
“We’re pretty excited about this deployment because it’s not a combat deployment,” said 1st Lt. Fredrick Yebuah, the unit’s executive officer. “But it is a high-profile mission and we are prepared to engage it.”
Although this deployment is not as dangerous as the unit’s recent mobilizations, leaving family for an extended amount of time is never easy.
“Really the hardest part is for [the families] back home who have to continue on with their everyday lives while we continue our mission downrange.” Yebuah said.
The 514th Military Police Company was organized and federally recognized on 27 April 1926 and served in WWII with the 30th Infantry Division.
Since 1990 the 514th has deployed five times for federal service: 1990 Operations Desert Shield and Operations Desert Storm, 1996 Operation Joint Endeavor, 2003 Operation Noble Eagle, 2004 Operation Joint Guardian, 2012 Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.
The 514th has also been called to numerous State Active Duty missions to support civil authorities; of note during the 2016 Charlotte Riots and Hurricane Matthew.
