The Military Police Corps publication "The Dragoon" is printed quarterly for the Military Police Regiment Association. The following interview of Colonel (Retired) Pat Lowrey appeared in a recent edition.
INTERVIEW:
Colonel Patrick R. Lowrey, US Army MPC (Retired)
Editor, Retired MP Officers Digest
Silhouettes of Service
"The Retired Military Police Officers (RMPO) Community"
Interview by Deborah McMahon, Editor-in-Chief, MPRA Quarterly
DM - Q: Let me begin by stating that we thank you and retired MP officers for continued support and steadfast interest in the Military Police Regiment and the MP Regimental Association (MPRA). We are especially pleased that you remind readers of your newsletter of our MPRA existence, the services MPRA provides and our continued recruitment campaign. All of us in the MPRA genuinely appreciate hearing about our retired MP officers and their varied second careers and activities. Can you tell our readers a little about the purpose of "Retired Military Police Officers (RMPO)" ?
PRL - A: Thank you for this opportunity. We are especially appreciative of the continued outreach by the MPRA and the MP Corps leadership. We thank you for initiating the link to the retirees by appointing COL (Ret) Orv Butts to the Dragoon as Editor of Retiree Affairs. That linkage enables active duty brethren to learn more about retirees in short articles about individual officers and NCOs entitled "Where are They Now?" We hope that soon-to-retire MPs will become part what we like to call the "RMPO Community."
We estimate between 3,000 and 4,000 retired MP officers and warrants live somewhere in the United States and we have "registered" nearly half. Feedback to us illustrates strong bonds of friendships within the Corps and much pride in the rich history and many contributions of our Corps to our Nation during its 64 years. Many in our "RMPO Community" served with distinction and valor in WW II, Korea, Vietnam and numerous operations and campaigns in the past two decades -- examples such as Just Cause, Desert Storm, Restore Hope, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Collectively, their Silhouettes of Service have left an indelible mark on the Corps as we know it today. Needless to say, retirees continue to be proud of their sacrifices, dedication, and contributions to the Nation, the Army and the Corps. Retirees know the Regiment is called upon today to perform new emerging Army roles and missions and many retirees remain profoundly interested in world wide MP operations in the war on terrorism. There is no doubt that the RMPO "Community" desires news of colleagues and their families with whom they served. Many like the opportunity to share personal news of themselves and their families. Thus, we might say the solid foundation of the RMPO "Community" and its primary purpose is "Staying in Touch."
DM - Q: Can you tell our readers a little about the structure of "Retired Military Police Officers (RMPO) Community" to how it helps retirees stay in touch?
PRL - A: Please note that we have purposely avoided the term "Association" inasmuch as we have no by-laws or articles of incorporation, no board of directors, no membership dues, and no subscription fees. We function with four independent, but closely coordinated volunteer activities: 1) roster, 2) web site, 3) annual reunion, and 4) quarterly newsletter. Each activity relates to the three other activities in terms of aiding the RMPO "Family" to stay in touch. COL (Ret) Frank Cohn (Alexandria, Virginia) is the roster "registrar" and COL (Ret) Mike Tarman (Simpsonville, South Carolina) is our web master. LTC (Ret) Pete Slusar (Hampton, Virginia) and COL (Ret) Don Greenwald (Kingman, Arizona) are our reunion coordinators. I and several colleagues attempt to perform the duties of newsletter editor.
Because we are not an "association," we make no attempt to lobby our Congress or Executive Branch inasmuch as many fine military associations (MOAA, NAUS, etc) are organized to be effective lobbyists in a wide range of service peoples needs.
DM - Q: Well, let's discuss these activities briefly one at a time. Who is on your roster and how do they get there?
PRL - A: The RMPO Roster is the "unofficial list" of about 1,500 retired Military Police officers and warrant officers. We also have a growing number of active duty soon-to-retire officers. Our Roster contains the name, rank, address, spouse's name, phone number, and e-mail address of each officer. For obvious privacy reasons, we list only the names and rank on our Homepage. Factually, the Roster is the "heart" of our "community" and it serves two primary purposes. First, it is the mailing list for the quarterly Digest which is distributed at no cost to every addressee in the Roster. Second, the Roster is the by-name invitation list to the annual RMPO Reunion held each year in September at different locations across the Nation.
We constantly remind our "registered" members to advise us of MP officer retirees who are not in our Roster. We seek the names and addresses of all retired MP officers. LTC David Glaser, newly assigned Chief of the Military Police Branch, Human Resources Command has offered to advise MP officers nearing retirement of our existence. And finally of course, we make strong efforts to include MP officer widows so they may not be forgotten and continue to remain in touch with their life-long friends.
DM - Q: You mentioned a web site as one of your four RMPO activities. Can you provide the URL and tell us what might be of interest to the MPRA members?
PRL - A: First to be said is the pride we have in Colonel Mike Tarman's efforts with our RMPO Homepage, inasmuch as his real full time job is Federal Security Director at one of our Nation's busy airports. Our Homepage has been selected by Military.com as one of the top military web sites from among 40,000 on the world wide web. Our award announcement states in part: "Our editors (Military.com) have selected your site as one of the best military sites on the Web. We recognize your site as a valued resource for the military community."
Since the RMPO newsletter is distributed quarterly at best, newsworthy items of immediate interest (e.g., job announcements, deaths, accident or injury, etc) to anyone in the RMPO "Family" are placed on the Homepage. More explanation of each RMPO activity can be found by visiting our Homepage at http://rmpo.homestead.com/home.html
The web site has hundreds of visitors and contains a very popular guest book. It links to many informative web sites of value to all MPs. MPRA members are invited to sign the guest book and utilize it as a means for contacting friends.
DM - Q: Annual retiree reunions in locations around the country is not unusual for military people. Is there something special about the RMPO Reunions?
PRL - A: Our annual reunion began 30 years ago in Orlando, Florida. A small group of MP officer retirees held a one day golfing/dinner get-together to celebrate the 25th anniversary (in 1976) of the MP Corps. That first event evolved into an enduring tradition of camaraderie that has continued annually without interruption for three decades. As expected, RMPO Reunions have grown in attendance, duration, and activities. Reunions typically begin on Thursday with a "mixer" followed by several days of tours, a golf tournament and two evening dinner events including a semi-formal banquet on Saturday. The reunion culminates with a solemn Memorial Breakfast on Sunday wherein the names of deceased in the RMPO "Family" of the past year are read aloud.
DM - Q: . These reunions seem to be a major logistical planning effort. How is that accomplished? Who determines the retiree reunion locations and who plans and executes the event?
PRL - A: Annual reunion dates normally coincide with the September anniversary of the MP Corps. However, the host -- who volunteers two years in advance -- selects final dates, coordinates hotel accommodations, local travel, and arranges all tour and entertainment activities for his reunion. Our Reunion locations are decided by a majority vote of reunion attendees. The RMPO Reunion Coordinators develop a list of alternative locations from volunteers attempting to rotate locations from eastern to western sites in the US. Then at a reunion, the coordinators present alternative options to attendees for vote -- two years hence. For example, the 2006 reunion for Branson and USAMPS was voted at the 2004 reunion. COL (Ret) Bob Abernathy made a presentation to the attendees on possible events and activities and the option was unanimously affirmed.
The reasons for scheduling reunion locations two years in advance is to provide hosts ample time to obtain the hotel of their choice with best negotiated prices. Also, an extended lead time allows attendees to avoid conflicts in vacation plans and obtain reductions in air travel, car rentals, etc.
DM - Q: Is RMPO reunion attendance limited to retirees?
PRL - A: The answer is no. We recognize Regimental Anniversary celebrations are held by MP organizations throughout the world. Our annual RMPO reunions are open affairs presenting an opportunity to any member of the Corps to get together with friends and comrades once a year. An advanced scheduled reunion allows MP officers to share memories and Army experiences, to sight-see, and to honor deceased members of our Corps. Attendance varies from year to years for a variety of reasons including geographical location and related travel costs, conflicts with job schedules or personal vacation plans. The RMPO "Community" invites any MP officer or warrant to attend and have an enjoyable time with old and new friends. In the past few years, a growing number of active duty have attended.
DM - Q: How does the RMPO "Community" interact with the Regiment?
PRL - A: We attempt to maintain close ties with USAMPS and the OPMG on a continuing basis in multiple ways. MG Don Ryder has accepted invitations each year to speak at our annual reunion and frequently provides an informative memo for the newsletter on OPMG activities and progress. A number of RMPO participate in varied events of Regimental Week at Fort Leonard Wood. Retirees attend the NCR MP Anniversary Ball and the CIDC Annual Ball. OPMG Ceremonies in Arlington Cemetery at the MP Memorial (Site 55) honoring our fallen MP warriors are attended by dozens of retirees. The RMPO in the DC area (in green blazers with MP Corps Blazon Crest) attend funerals of deceased active duty and retired MPs in Arlington National Cemetery.
In addition to keeping in close touch with the MP Regimental Association, RMPO stay close to the CID Agent's Association (CIDAA) and the Retired MP Association (RMPA) of Fayetteville, NC (all ranks association). We frequently publish information about these associations and other MP organizations in our newsletter. And we are strong proponents of the need for local MPRA Chapters throughout CONUS and hold high hopes for the start-up of a DC Chapter inasmuch as several hundred RMPO reside there..
DM - Q: Your newsletter is called the RMPO Digest. It seems to meet a need for distributing personal information to the RMPO "Community." Is that your primary thrust?
PRL - A: Yes, we have published the Digest for nearly eight (8) years as a communication medium for distributing personal news and human interest stories. Feedback from hundreds of Digest readers reflect a perception of value in each of the RMPO activities. Many e-mails and "Letters to the Editor" illustrate the RMPO "Community" desires to receive news of colleagues. Special TAPs notices in the Digest newsletter and on the Home Page bring about numerous gifts in memory of deceased comrades. The RMPO Digest supports the MPRA and other fine MP unit associations like the CID Agents Association. Through our newsletter and web site, we encourage the RMPO "Community" to join these associations and reap the benefits offered.
I should also explain that Digest communication is obviously two way. Extraordinary interest in the Corps is shown in thoughtful, reasoned letters from respected, retired members of our Corps. In every instance, these "gray beards" recognize the Army's challenges in the war on terrorism and the on-going "Transformation" with the Army's Division structure. Most thoughts come across not as an attempt to "feather our MP nest," but as fundamental ideas on how to enhance the Army's use of the MP Corps in the Army's rapidly changing missions. Retirees suggest ways in which the Army might use more senior military police expertise in 21st Century by integrating more MP general officers into key staff (and command) positions and while recognizing congressionally mandated general officer strength ceilings. Much concern was surfaced about the exclusion of the combat action badge award to MP warriors and individually addressed their views to the Army leaders. These are merely examples of RMPO interests.
Thank you again for the opportunity to discuss the RMPO "Community" and please let us know if we can provide additional information. Best wishes for continued success to the MPRA and each member of the Regiment. We pledge our support.
