Local military police units sent off for training

HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Simultaneous community send-offs for about 250 members of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's Company A Military Police unit were conducted Sunday in Hermitage, New Castle, Oil City and Pittsburgh.
The send-off for the Company A MP Guard unit in Hermitage, composed of Battery A and Headquarters of the 1st 107th Field Artillery, was at 2 p.m. in the Hickory High School auditorium.
Staff Sgt. Harold Barr, retention and recruiting NCO for the 107th, said the Hermitage unit has soldiers from the Youngstown, Sharon, New Castle, Pittsburgh, Hermitage and Warren areas.
The other send-offs were Battery B in Pittsburgh, Battery C in Oil City, and Headquarters Battery in New Castle.
The guardsmen will undergo six to eight weeks of military police training at Fort Dix, N.J., before being sent to the Middle East, possibly in March or April, Barr said.
The last time the 107th was activated was in the early 1950s during the Korean War.
State Sen. Robert D. Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, and Maj. Grey Barrier, battalion executive officer, addressed troops and family members at the send-off.