Enabling Protection During a Crisis: The Role of the MSCoE NCOA

By Sergeant First Class Fidben Lepe

The U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regiment consistently adheres to its motto—Assist, Protect, Defend. The U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE) Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, fosters this dedication and continues to create great leaders who uphold that motto.

The MSCoE NCOA, which continuously adapts to the changing demands of the contemporary operational environment, is crucial to the Military Police Corps Regiment. Through a partnership with the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS), Fort Leonard Wood, the academy has spearheaded efforts to revamp the Military Police Advanced Leader Course and the Military Police Senior Leader Course curricula. This collaboration has resulted in the revision, modernization, and implementation of 59 lesson plans, amounting to 435 hours of programmed instruction. The new curricula prioritize the preparation of leaders for the complexities of large-scale combat operations and stress the critical importance of understanding Field Manual (FM) 3-0, Operations, which emphasizes the shift of the “Army’s readiness focus from counterinsurgency to large-scale combat operations” while incorporating “elements of the multidomain operations concept.”¹ The continuous adaptation of NCOA curricula and training approaches to meet Army demands for conducting operations better prepares military police noncommissioned officers (NCOs) to embody the core values of the Assist, Protect, Defend motto and ensures that leaders are versatile and skillful at handling domestic and international challenges.

Assist

The MSCoE NCOA educational strategy aims to equip leaders with the operational skills and leadership abilities necessary to effectively support and assist their units. The objective is to develop leaders who can think critically, solve problems, and apply basic military skills in any operational environment. This type of training is essential for enabling military police NCOs to effectively manage personnel and resources and for better preparing them to navigate through complex situations during a crisis. The focus of the courses is currently on large-scale combat operations in conflict zones (including major sustainment ports) in the Middle East, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific. However, various regular, irregular, and hybrid threats can challenge U.S. forces in any geographical area.

MSCoE NCOA NCOs gain the fundamental knowledge and basis of comprehension necessary to ensure that they are competent leaders who can assist commanders in defeating enemy forces and seizing, occupying, and defending land areas, as needed for Army operations.² The support of the NCOA is vital for achieving operational success while guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of military personnel in challenging situations.

Protect

The basis of protection, which begins with the individual Soldier, applies to all elements of the military profession, including Army civilians. The Military Police Advanced Leader Course and the Military Police Senior Leader Course curricula focus on more than just the physical safety of assets and information; they emphasize the core elements of protection. The MSCoE NCOA stresses that protection involves prioritizing the well-being of all members associated with the profession of arms. The courses of instruction include enhanced training in security protocols and risk management, which prepare NCOs for implementing vigorous protection strategies in peacetime and in times of crisis. This decreases vulnerabilities and improves the safety of military operations and civilian interactions in any setting.

The MSCoE NCOA also extends its holistic approach to protection by creating a supportive environment that values and empowers leaders who are capable of facing adversity. Coursework ensures that leaders are familiar with Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 3-37, Protection, which focuses on providing protection for the welfare of their charges; providing area security; and protecting and maintaining clear lines of communication for the efficient deployment of personnel, logistics, and resources required to sustain, enable, and control operations in any environment.³

Regardless of the echelon in which military police leaders operate, they will consistently deliver adequate protection, preserving combat power and reinforcing freedom of mobility and maneuver across any dynamic or complex environment.

Defend

The MSCoE NCOA, considers “defending” to involve a profound commitment to upholding our country’s highest ethical and moral standards, as required by the oath that we took to “support and defend” the U.S. Constitution. This commitment has played a pivotal role in major conflicts, from the Spanish-American War, to the Vietnam War, to operations in Grenada and Kosovo and beyond. It was notably evident when, on 14 October 1968, following its significant contributions in Vietnam, the Military Police Corps Regiment became a combat support branch.⁴ And it is a legacy that has been carried forward by the Regiment, as it continues to demonstrate the capacity to defend individuals and settings while also maintaining the Nation’s highest ethical and moral values. NCOA instruction helps ensure that the actions taken by leaders in the field align with Army objectives and the interests of the Nation. The NCOA is committed to enhancing the readiness of all leaders in the event of a crisis in any geographic location. Army and military police commanders and NCOs prioritize addressing difficulties in defending ethical and moral standards in conflict settings in both national and international territories in any operational environment.

Conclusion

In conjunction with their partners, the MSCoE NCOA and USAMPS provide military police leaders with a solid educational foundation. The Military Police Advanced Leader Course and the Military Police Senior Leader Course equip these leaders with the tools and resources necessary to embody the Assist, Protect, Defend motto in every facet of their military careers. This holistic approach enhances the role of the Military Police Corps Regiment in supporting the Army mission “to deploy, fight, and win our Nation’s wars.”⁵ It not only secures operations of today but also fortifies the future of operations, as it prepares leaders who will navigate, and influence the outcomes of, potential conflicts at home and around the globe.

Endnotes