Published Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Coweta lawmen to head to Afghanistan
The Newnan Times-Herald
Coweta County will commemorate the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 by honoring public safety members who have served or now serve in the armed forces.
The program will be Friday beginning at 9 a.m. on the West Court Square, and everyone is welcome.
Meanwhile, two former Coweta County Sheriff's Office employees are now involved with the U.S. Marine Corps' Law Enforcement Program (LEP). Mike McGuffey and Mark Fenninger are preparing to deploy overseas to Afghanistan, according to Warren Driggers, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel involved with the LEP.
Fenninger is in his final training evaluation on the West Coast. He is expected to deploy in the fall for seven months. McGuffey is attached to a Marine infantry battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and is expected to deploy in the spring for seven months, according to Driggers.
The LEP program has been under way since 2007 and has "proven very successful in both Iraq and Afghanistan," according to Driggers. Once the pre-deployment training is completed, the LEP deploys as a member of the unit.
"The program basically brings in former experienced local and federal law enforcement officers to embed with deploying units to provide their law enforcement expertise to many of the problems the military finds itself facing in a counter-insurgency fight," said Driggers. "They share many of the same hardships and challenges and dangers that the Marines face on a daily basis while deployed."
McGuffey and Fenninger will be supporting fighting battalions that deal with the local populace on a daily basis. Driggers says the operations of the current insurgent is similar to that of a criminal gang or crime organization. The military calls this "criminal enterprise analytical experience."
"The law enforcement professional brings that viewpoint with him and helps the military better understand how to deal with these threats," said Driggers. "These people are there for the overall good. They're putting their lives on the line to protect and serve -- that applies to law enforcement and military, too."
"It was very hard to leave Newnan and a lot harder to leave the sheriff's office," said Fenninger in an e-mail correspondence with longtime Coweta-area public safety supporter Norma Haynes. "I do plan on being back in 2-5 years to bring what I have learned. I will work very hard to help the Marines put bad guys in jail."
Fenninger said he takes his job very seriously because the majority of his unit consists of men under the age of 20. He vowed to work hard to bring them all home safely.
"I'm able to do this job today because of the sheriff's office and your support," he said.
"These men have stepped up for their country and put their lives on the line to help Americans and Afghans," said Driggers. "They're bringing a skill set to the Army and Marines that's necessary in a counter-insurgency environment -- that makes them more effective at what they're doing. And it will allow more of them to come home because they do their job better."
"All of us here certainly appreciate the continued support provided by the local communities to our brave folks in the armed forces as well as those individuals who have stepped up to the plate to do their part in this fight."
