The exercise paired the 5th Security Forces Squadron (5 SFS) with the Army’s 816th Military Police Company (816 MPC) to build practical skills in installation law enforcement, a mission set that differs from this Army unit’s typical combat support roles. Training scenarios included installation breach response, high-risk traffic stops, traffic investigations, theft and assault response, as well as routine patrol and gate operations.

“(The 816 MPC) reached out to us and we put together two days of training to get them as much law enforcement training as we could,” U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Booker, noncommissioned officer in charge of operations for the 5 SFS, said. “They don’t really have too much law enforcement experience; they have more combat support.”

The training aimed to prepare Army personnel for missions in garrison environments and future deployments where base security and law enforcement duties may be required.

“We’re learning more about functioning in law enforcement on a military installation,” U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Memorie Andrade, 816 MPC standardized field sobriety test instructor, said. “That’s outside of what we would normally do in the field. We’re learning more garrison tactics like basic patrol duties and responses.”

Submitted Photo U.S. Air Force defenders from the 5th Security Forces Squadron instruct soldiers from the U.S. Army National Guard’s 816th Military Police Company on gate operations at Minot Air Force Base April 10. Along with gate operations, the joint training exercise went over other scenarios, including installation breach response, high-risk traffic stops, traffic investigations, theft and assault response, as well as routine patrol. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum.

The exercise marked the first time the 5 SFS and 819 MPC conducted joint training at this scale.

“Our goal is to build relationships,” Booker said. “We don’t want this to be a one-time thing. We want to build on this training and make sure that we’re both equipped in the future.”

For Andrade, the experience showed both professional growth and hospitality between the Army and Air Force.

“We’ve never been to Minot as a unit,” she said. “The training here has been exquisite. We appreciate everything they’ve done for us.”

Integrating capabilities improves effectiveness during real-world operations. Joint training with other units, especially other military branches, improves that cohesiveness.

Submitted Photo U.S. Air Force defenders from the 5th Security Forces Squadron (5 SFS) instruct soldiers from the Army National Guard’s 816th Military Police Company (816 MPC) on high-risk traffic stop procedures during a joint military training exercise at Minot Air Force Base April 10.The exercise paired the 5 SFS with 816 MPC to build practical skills in installation law enforcement, a mission set that differs from this Army unit’s typical combat support roles. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum.

“It’s good that we put our brains together to make a more cohesive force,” U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Shamari Carter, a 5 SFS defender assigned to the base defense operations center during the exercise, said. “It’s really important with law enforcement because I want to trust whoever I’m going in with. We can just go in and execute the mission.”

In addition to instruction from Air Force personnel, Army members contributed expertise from civilian law enforcement experience, offering insight into real-world policing techniques.

Andrade also led sessions on standardized field sobriety testing, covering principles and procedures for identifying impaired drivers. The reciprocal training highlighted the benefits of cross-service collaboration, officials said.

“In exchange for [the Air Force’s law enforcement] training, I instructed the standardized field sobriety testing with members of the Minot Air Force Base,” Andrade said. “We have gone over the basic principles and the different phases of DUI and standardized field sobriety testing.”

While readiness remained the primary focus, participants said the event also strengthened relationships between units. Many of the 819 MPC’s soldiers have ties to the local community, building bonds with Minot airmen.

Submitted Photo U.S. Army Sgts. Logan Hellman and Jacob Clark, both 816th Military Police Company National Guardsmen, practice law enforcement response procedures during a joint military training exercise at Minot Air Force Base April 10. In addition to instruction from Air Force personnel, Army members contributed expertise from civilian law enforcement experience, offering insight into real-world policing techniques. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum.

Continued joint training will enhance readiness across both services, ensuring forces remain prepared to respond to evolving security challenges.

Submitted Photo U.S. Army soldiers from the Army National Guard’s 816th Military Police Company, practice law enforcement response procedures during a joint military training exercise at Minot Air Force Base April 11. The training aimed to prepare Army personnel for missions in garrison environments and future deployments where base security and law enforcement duties may be required. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum.