| Provost Marshal General of the United States Army |
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Incumbent: MG David E. Quantock Since: September 28,2011 |
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| First | CPT William Marony |
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| Formation | January 10, 1776 |
| Website | Official Website |
The Provost Marshal General is a United States Army staff position that handles investigations and incarcerations of U.S. Army personnel. It is the senior-most Provost Marshal position in the U.S. Army, reporting to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. The position brings all aspects of law enforcement in the U.S. Army in a single office.[1]
The role has been off and on since 1776 (usually in periods of war time). After shutting down in 1974 at the end of the Vietnam War, it was resurrected on January 30, 2003 following the September 11 attacks.
It is responsible for:
Prior to its most recent organization, the responsibilities of this position were scattered across various army units.
Since 2003, the position has been occupied by the following general officers:
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William Marony was the first Provost Marshal General, appointed by George Washington on January 10, 1776. The principal job was maintaining jails and supervising 40 executions. Nine men served as Provost Marshal General until 1778 when the duties were transferred to the Marechausse Corps. Service ended at the end of the war.[3][4]
James Fry was appointed on March 3, 1863 to be the first Provost Marshal General during the American Civil War. The office dealt with recruitment and desertion issues. It also supervised Invalid Corps, in which disabled soldiers performed at garrisons. The position was abolished in 1866.[3]
Arthur MacArthur, Jr. was appointed Provost Marshal General of Manila in July 1901 which provide law enforcement in Manila and the provinces. The position was abolished after about a year.[3]
Enoch Crowder was appointed Provost Marshal General July 1917 with focus on enforcing the Selective Service System. During the American Expeditionary Force Provost Marshal Generals oversaw military police, prisoner of war, criminal investigation, and circulation in Europe. Among the European marshals were Hanson E. Ely, William H. Allaire, John C. Groome III, and Harry Hill Bandholtz. The European component was dissolved in 1919 and the Provost Marshall General remained an advisor to the War Department until 1927.[3]
The Basic Field Manual in 1937 outlined the position when it was reactivated. Allen W. Gullion was appointed in 1941. Its duties initially were to control enemy aliens but were later expanded to do security clearance investigations and Military Police. After 1943 it was responsible for prisoner-of-war camps in the United States as well as Japanese-American relocation camps. Toward the end of the war it began investigating crimes and apprehending deserters and would handle the War Crimes Division of the Judge Advocate General's Office.[3]
Gullion remained until April 1944 when he was succeeded by Archer L. Lerch, Blackshear M. Bryan in 1945, Edwin P. Parker Jr. in 1948, William H. Maglin in 1953, and Haydon L. Boatner in 1957.[3]
Ralph J. Butchers was appointed in 1960 followed by Carl C. Turner in 1964, Karl W. Gustafson in 1968 and finally Lloyd B. Ramsey in 1970 until the office was abolished on May 20, 1974.[3]