Kenner deploys to Qatar with 1137th MP Company

KENNETT, Mo. -- Spc. Andrew Kenner, of Jackson, is one of nearly 130 Missouri National Guard Soldiers deploying to Qatar with the 1137th Military Police Company, of Kennett.

The 1137th joins more than 450 Citizen-Soldiers under the command of the 175th Military Police Battalion and Lt. Col. Sharon Martin. The Soldiers have been undergoing extensive pre-mobilization training in Missouri for their yearlong mission.

Soldiers spent 29 days training at Camp Crowder for pre-mobilization training that allowed them to learn necessary skills for deployment. They trained with hand grenades, hand-to-hand combat techniques, how to run a military post checkpoint and much more. Soldiers will finalize appropriate training for deployment at Camp Shelby, Miss. before heading to Qatar.

Kenner has been with the Missouri Army National Guard for three years and has been deployed to Haiti in the summer of 2010 in support of earthquake disaster relief.

"I have been looking forward to my first deployment since I graduated from basic training," said Kenner. "I am excited about this opportunity and ready for the experiences I will gain overseas."

Qatar is located on the Arabian Gulf and serves as a central hub for all U.S. military activity in the region. The unit will be providing security for military bases and personnel in Qatar, which is both a staging area for equipment and a rest and relaxation area for military personnel.

Kenner is a graduate of Jackson High School and is currently attending Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

Kenner is supported in his decision to deploy with the Guard by his wife, Lorean; his father, John; and his mother, Kay, all of Cape Girardeau.

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