LAS VEGAS - Metropolitan police officers and a drug-sniffing dog carefully approached a suspicious bag at McCarran Airport here New Year’s Eve.
Army Pfc. Josh King, assigned to the 72nd Military Police Company, aided with the examination by analyzing the situation and approaching civilians in the airport.
“Everything is OK,” King said after consulting with civilian officers.
King and about 200 Nevada National Guardmembers participated in the ninth annual Vigilant Sentinel training exercise, which supported Metro police at several locations in Las Vegas, including McCarran International Airport.
With more than 300,000 people visiting the city for the holiday, the drainage system that runs below the downtown area, also called The Strip, was an especially important area to assist in providing security for the New Year celebrations.
“It’s good to interact with the public in a training environment,” said Army Pfc. Abraham Steinman, with the 72nd MP Co., who participated in his third New Year’s Eve mission this year.
Of the training aspects associated with the exercise, most junior enlisted Soldiers said inter-personal communication was the most beneficial.
“This exercise really is 70 or 80 percent IPC,” said Army Spc. Mark Belanger, also with the 72nd MP Co. “IPC skills let you better decipher a situation and prevent escalations.”
Of the countless skills military police must have, inter-personal communication is one of the most important, Belanger said.
“Some of these Soldiers tend to go through the motions, reporting to drill two days a month,” said Army 2nd Lt. Lorenzo Aranda, of the 72nd MP Co. “But forcing them into real-life scenarios, like this exercise, really helps with establishing their ability to communicate. It also shows that Soldiers can do a good service for the community.”
Army Staff Sgt. Jason Steele said one of the most important aspects of interpersonal communication is being able to read people before approaching them.
“Normally we aren’t going to run into a combative situation in this exercise, but every now and then we see someone who has maybe had a few too many drinks and gets impatient waiting for their luggage,” Steele said. “They will ask, ‘I’ve been here for five minutes, where is my bag?’ And we have to tell them, ‘Well, sir, it’s going to be at this terminal and you are going to have to give it a few more minutes.’”
Steele said having Soldiers present to provide increased security helps because civilians tend to respect Soldiers in uniform.
“I think it’s useful,” said Larry Hansard, of Atlanta, who visited Las Vegas for a four-day New Year’s Eve vacation. “You never know when you may need the added security.”