Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Mass. Guard program builds bridges with civilian police By Tech. Sgt. Erich B. Smith
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. – The Massachusetts National Guard has implemented a new training program that gives Massachusetts Guard military police officers and security forces members a similar operating picture as their civilian law enforcement partners. With the Police Mission Partnership Initiative, or PMPI, military police officers and security forces members undergo the same training as members of Massachusetts' police departments, said Army Lt. Col. Rick P. Cipro, commander of the Massachusetts Army National Guard's 211th Military Police Battalion, who assisted in implementing the initiative. "We look at it as an innovative collaboration between all [civilian law enforcement] entities, helping with the [Guard's] immediate, no-fail homeland mission of protecting communities," he said. As part of the initiative, military police officers and security forces members attend training classes at Joint Base Cape Cod and then move on to train with instructors at a Worcester (Mass.) Police Department training facility. Course topics range from constitutional law and investigative techniques to defensive tactics and suicide intervention. Cipro said the initiative is tied to Army and Air Force requirements that call for periodic recertification on certain law enforcement skill sets. "This meets the law enforcement recertification requirements and helps us with the warfighting function of preserving the force," he said. Though Guard members supported civilian police departments before the initiative, operational gaps existed, said Army Col. Brett Conaway, commander of the Massachusetts Army Guard's 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, who oversees a number of military police units. "Despite our high-quality, military police success in airport security missions after 9/11 and other domestic emergencies, there was still ongoing ambiguity in Massachusetts about what the arming and authority status should be for the National Guard when supporting domestic police operations," he said. The initiative developed around 2011, said Conaway, when multiple internal assessments concluded that military police officers and security forces members needed to be similarly postured with civilian police forces during emergencies. "The takeaway was that National Guard members who are doing police tasks need to be armed and equipped for effective re-missioning as a threat environment changes in a domestic mission," he said. In order for the initiative to proceed, Cipro said Massachusetts Guard leaders worked with the Municipal Police Training Committee, the Massachusetts government agency that oversees police training standards throughout the state. By working with the committee, he said the Massachusetts Guard was able to establish "the number of hours that is required to get us civilian police credentialing – giving us credit for prior military law enforcement training."
  As a result of the initiative and state legislation, Cipro said that Massachusetts Guard members are more integrated with civilian police authorities when responding to large-scale events or emergencies. "Now, when we are on state active duty, we have the same power and authority as a state police officer because of the training that we are conducting," he said. The Massachusetts Guard has conducted two initiative-based classes so far, with two more classes scheduled this year. The initiative gives those who have completed the course a leg up when applying for civilian jobs, as they already carry the required civilian credentials for law enforcement officials in Massachusetts, said Cipro. Roughly 96 percent of those in the Guard who applied for civilian police jobs after completing the course have landed those positions, he said, adding that more than 50 percent of Massachusetts Guard military police officers and security forces members have civilian jobs with law enforcement agencies throughout the state. That translates to increased unit readiness and retention, added Conaway. "Nothing is more important for the retention of high-quality personnel in our formations than a [civilian] job that enables them to have a sustainable family life and a concurrently progressing [military] career," he said. In the end, said Conaway, the initiative allows for greater integration of Guard members throughout the civilian police community. "This initiative links Soldiers to a strategic partnership that builds readiness," he said. "It's executed, and valued, at the Soldier level."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 2 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil