WASHINGTON, DC -
There are about 60 of them, members of the 372nd Military Police Battalion of the DC National Guard. They will be deployed to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba on Tuesday to support the Joint Task Force detaining enemy combatants as the country battles the global war on terror.
A special send-off ceremony was held today at the DC Armory, where the soldiers were honored by colleagues, family members, DC police brass and other city officials. Their commander says they are ready after a year of training.
It was an emotional gathering as the military police prepared to leave their loved ones behind for almost a year. Many have been deployed before, to places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Their mission in Cuba will be to help run the prison and to keep order amongst the troops.
