By Staff Sgt. William Morrey
4th Infantry Division Main Command Post Operational Detachment
Spc. Tyler Throndson, light wheeled vehicle mechanic, 4th Infantry Division Main Command Post Operational Detachment, works on a vehicle Feb. 10, 2017, on Fort Carson. National Guard members from Camp Williams, Utah, conducted their annual training Feb. 6-17, 2017, as the support element to the 4th Inf Div. while portions of the division headquarters are conducting a training exercise in Germany. (Photo by Staff Sgt. William Morrey)
The U.S. Army is a team of teams. As the size of the active force has been scaled back the integration of active duty, Army Reserve and National Guard has been instrumental to the success of the Total Force.
The effectiveness of that integration was illustrated at Fort Carson by the 4th Infantry Division Main Command Post Operational Detachment (MCPOD) from the Utah National Guard.
The MCPOD is designed to provide the division headquarters with critical capabilities when it is called on to deploy. This month, the 4th Inf. Div. used the occasion of their participation in a European-based exercise to test the employment of the 4th Inf. Div. MCPOD.
From a small group of five Soldiers in March 2016 to 85 Soldiers in December, the MCPOD grew rapidly, enabling it to fully support the division within a year of being established.
As with any unit in the Army, readiness is a key factor in all operations.
“Having an indigenous military intelligence brigade right here in Utah gave us a huge advantage in the early stages,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Tatton, readiness NCO for the MCPOD. “We didn’t have to wait for transferring or initial entry Soldiers to complete months of training in order to be qualified. We had a ready pool waiting.”
The MCPOD concept is the result of the Army’s Focus Area Review Group-II transition and is designed to operate as individual and small team/group elements in flight operations, fires control, human intelligence operations, logistical supply, engineering, human resources, public affairs, counter-intelligence and signal support. Most sections are two- to three-person teams comprised of an officer and an NCO. Approximately two-thirds of the detachment is designated for military intelligence.
Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Pickerin, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., said it was nice having the added support during a major exercise.
“When we lose people from time to time, it really helps us out (to have augmentees). Not to mention it provides the Guard Soldiers a chance to hone their technical skills,” Pickerin said.
Maj. Marc Henrie, acting executive officer for the MCPOD, had a similar observation.
“I think our detachment has done very well during this annual training,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of opportunities in our different sections to really add value to what the 4th Inf. Div. is doing.
“One of the biggest challenges is the logistical part. We have a lot of moving parts, so we don’t necessarily have all of our detachment going to one specific training, so it’s a challenge in making sure that everyone is where they need to be and trusting that the Soldiers are doing what they are supposed to be doing,” Henrie said.
He credited the professionalism of the 4th Inf. Div. staff with the ease of integrating the Guard Soldiers into the active component.
“They were eager to have us, and they allowed us to provide input and get involved,” Henrie said. “They were very respectful and were seeking for us to help, so I thought that they recognized that we provided value to their overall mission.”
The combined efforts in making this transition work in all facets of the integration was highlighted by a group meeting with Brig. Gen. Kenneth L. Kamper, deputy commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson.
“This has been an unprecedented undertaking between the active duty and the National Guard that’s never been tried,” Kamper said. “From the looks of it, we will be working well with the Utah Guard for the next few years.”