MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Military police from Military Police Support Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, opened the doors to their new temporary consolidated work area during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, the commanding general of II MEF, as the guest of honor, May 5, 2010.

Plans for the move began two years ago, and though Marines have been working in their new offices since the end of March, the area is now officially open for business.

“The move was mostly for the military police working dogs. We have over 70 military working dogs, and now they have the opportunity to live in a state-of-the-art facility,” said Maj. Matt Mestemaker, commanding officer of MP Support Co. “Now everyone works in the new facility.”

Before the move to the new area, Marines in the company had to drive around base to get to one another. It was hard to hold even the most basic events like company physical training, said Mestemaker, a native of Lake City, Mich.

Now that the Marines are consolidated, military working dog handlers, investigators, physical security, accident investigation, general service and military police support Marines can share information more efficiently and build camaraderie, Mestemaker said.

With all 134 of the Marines in the same general vicinity, simple things like holding formation aren’t a hassle. Also, the Marines can get a feel for other aspects of the military police field and get to know each other, he added.

Not only do the Marines now get to work side-by-side, but they have also added some new state-of-the-art equipment to their section. The new military working dog kennel is capable of housing more than 70 dogs. Also, a motor pool that can house up to 30 vehicles and trailers for the motor transportation support is located in the area, said Master Sgt. Rilon Reall, MP Support Company’s operations chief.

Though II MHG is still in the process of replacing the temporary trailers in the consolidated area with permanent buildings, the new kennels and administration buildings will stay where they are, added Reall, a Baltimore native.

The Marines do not have a set date to move into their permanent building yet, but the building is expected to be completed within the next two years.

“The best aspect of the company all being located together in the same facility is that we aren’t all spread out now,” said Reall. “Marines from different platoons didn’t know each other before, they never saw each other. We brought the company out here and now they can get to know their fellow Marines.”