Citizen Soldiers of the Georgia National Guard Prepare for Overseas Deployment

By Major William Carraway

Historian, Georgia National Guard

Left: Major General Tom Carden, Georgia’s Adjutant General, addresses Soldiers of the Georgia National Guard’s 178th Military Police Company
during a departure ceremony in the unit’s home town of Monroe, Ga. October 20, 2023.  The unit is preparing for its fourth overseas deployment
since September 11, 2001. Right: Guidon of the 178th MP Company

The Georgia National Guard’s 178^th Military Police Company held a departure ceremony in their hometown of Monroe, Georgia October 20, 2023 to herald their upcoming overseas deployment. The unit previously deployed in support of overseas operations in Iraq in 2003 and 2009.

 

The 178^th MP Company is the latest in a long unbroken chain of Georgia National Guard units who have supported overseas operations since September 11, 2001. More than 23,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have deployed in support of operations in all geographic combat commands. 

 

The 178th MP Company October 20, 2023.

The 178th MP Company has a long history and tradition of overseas service. The earliest Georgia National Guard unit from Monroe was the Walton Guards, which was established in 1874. The unit mobilized to the Mexican Border in 1917 and deployed to France in 1918. In World War II, the unit, then part of the 950^th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion deployed to the Pacific Theater where it provided air defense during the Guadalcanal and New Guinea Campaigns.

 

Soldiers from the 178th MP Company augmented the 190^th MP Company in September 1990 and deployed as part of Operation Desert Shield. The MPs were among the first Georgia Guardsmen deployed overseas where they were stationed in Saudi Arabia.

 

On February 11, 2002, the 178th MP Company was ordered to active federal service in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The unit provided MP support to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and augmented security at installations in Georgia. The 178th was released from active-duty December 17, 2002 but was again ordered to active federal service 2003 for 12-month deployment to Iraq. The unit returned to Iraq in 2008 and supported combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

Major General Tom Carden, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard, conducts the reenlistment ceremony for Sgt. Kyle Potts of the 178th Military Police
Company during a departure ceremony in the unit’s home town of Monroe, Ga. October 20, 2023.

In addition to its robust overseas experience, the 178^th MP Company has played a vital role in numerous state missions responding to hurricanes, winter storms and floods. In March 2020, MPs from Monroe were among the first Georgia Guardsmen called to active duty in support of Georgia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From May 2020 through 2021, the 178th MP Company supported law enforcement officials and augmented security at key locations in response to civil demonstrations, the contested 2020 election and subsequent presidential inauguration.

Near the conclusion of the departure ceremony, Capt. John Lockstedt, commander, of the 178^th MP Company, spoke to Soldier’s family members who had gathered to see their loved one’s goodbye.

“You don’t need me to tell you how loved and appreciated you are. “The truth is, we could not do this without you.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tremblay, commander of the 170th Military Police Battalion; and Capt. John Lockstedt, commander, of the 178th MP Company,
at the conclusion of the company’s departure ceremony in Monroe, Ga. October 20, 2023.