Tennessee – Sixteen Soldiers from across the United States became the U.S. Army’s newest military policemen after graduating from the Tennessee National Guard’s Military Police Basic Course at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site on August 8. The graduates are now members of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps and certified military law enforcement officers.

The class included Soldiers from Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio. Over a four-week period beginning July 12, they completed an intensive transition course taught by the 117th Regional Training Institute’s 1st Battalion. The unit conducts the MP Basic Course as well as other programs, including instructor certification and Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems training, for Active-Duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel.

“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.”

The training covered military law, crime response and investigation, traffic accident investigation, and emergency response. Students also trained on both lethal and non-lethal weapons, practiced evasive driving techniques, and learned safe patrol car operations. Many instructors are combat veterans and also serve as police officers, state troopers, or federal agents in their civilian careers.

Several graduates earned special recognition for their performance. Spc. Nathan Fiala, with Nebraska’s 192nd Military Police Detachment, was named Distinguished Honor Graduate for having the highest overall scores and also received the top driver award for the fastest time during the evasive driving test. Spc. John Wimer, with Ohio’s 323rd Military Police Company, earned the top shooter award for the highest handgun qualification score.

“I’m proud of every student for all the hard work they’ve done, and I know they will leave here and serve our nation well,” Chick said.

Each graduate will return to their respective state as a certified military policeman, prepared to take on future missions.