16th Military Police Brigade (United States)

16th Military Police Brigade

Active 20 May 1966 – present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army
Type Active duty
Role Military Police
Size Brigade
Part of XVIII Airborne Corps
Garrison/HQ Fort Bragg
Motto(s) One of a Kind
Engagements Vietnam War
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		 COL Eugenia Guilmartin
Insignia
Combat service identification badge
Distinctive unit insignia of the brigade
beret flash of the brigade
Background trimming of the brigade

The 16th Military Police Brigade is a Military Police brigade of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This military police unit was the only airborne-qualified military police brigade in the United States Army. It provides law enforcement and police duties to the Fort Bragg area, and for the XVIII Airborne Corps when deployed. As an airborne unit, it was authorized a beret flash and parachute wing trimming,[1] and the shoulder sleeve insignia was authorized to be worn with an airborne tab. According to U.S. Army's Institute of Heraldry, the shoulder sleeve insignia "was amended to delete the airborne tab effective 16 October 2008" when jump status was terminated.[2]

Insignia

Shoulder Insignia

Description

Symbolism

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description

Symbolism

Lineage

History

Vietnam War

The brigade dates back to the Vietnam War when it was constituted on 23 March 1966 as the 16th Military Police Group and activated on 20 May 1966 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.[3] Shortly thereafter, the brigade deployed to Vietnam to help fight the Vietnam War. The Group provided command, control, staff planning, and coordination for military police units assigned and attached to the I and II Corps Tactical Zones.

The 93rd, 97th, and 504th Military Police Battalions were under its control.

The unit participated in thirteen campaigns to include nine counteroffensives and two consolidations during the Vietnam War receiving two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Republic Of Vietnam Cross Of Gallantry With Palm for their outstanding effort and dedication.[3]

Cold War Era

On 16 July 1981 the group was reorganized and redesignated as the 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne).[3] Since Vietnam, the brigade headquarters has deployed around the world in support of XVIII Airborne Corps and on-going Army operations. In October 1983, the headquarters was sent to Grenada in support of Operation Urgent Fury.[3] In March 1988, the brigade went to Panama in support of southern command's operation to secure US civilians and property and to protect the canal. In September 1989, the brigade was sent to Saint Croix in the US Virgin Islands to restore law and order and protect property following hurricane Hugo.[3] In December 1989, the brigade again went to Panama this time in support of Operation Just Cause and Promote Liberty during which the brigade was instrumental in standing up the Panamanian police force.[4] in August 1990, the brigade deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The brigade was later recognized for its hard work in the desert with their third Meritorious Unit Commendation.[4] September 1992 the brigade went to Florida to assist in disaster relief following hurricane Andrew. In September 1994, the brigade was sent to Haiti to support Operation Uphold Democracy.[4]

War on Terrorism

In August 2006, the brigade deployed for 15 months to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where they were responsible for detainee operations and convoy security at Camp Bucca, along with detainee operations at The Baghdad Correctional Facility (Abu Ghraib). The Unit also worked with Task Force 131 at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. The brigade was awarded its fourth Meritorious Unit Commendation for the outstanding mission accomplishments in Iraq.

The soldiers of the brigade have consistently been sent first to worldwide hot spots and crisis locations. Other operations that brigade units have supported were:

  1. May 1981 Cuban Refugee Relief, Florida,
  2. Civil disturbance operations at Seneca Army Depot, New York,
  3. Rotations to the Sinai for multinational force and observers duty,
  4. Presidential inaugurations,
  5. Joint Task Force Bravo in Honduras, Somalia, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Bosnia, Kosovo,
  6. Albanian refugee support at Fort Dix,
  7. Pentagon security following the attacks of 11 September 2001,
  8. Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan

The 91st MP battalion, 385th MP Battalion, and 503rd MP Battalion were deployed to Afghanistan, conducting operations in Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces. Unique to military police units, each battalion contains a Military Working Dog Detachment, which certifies military working dog teams to help support both MP and non-MP units worldwide.[5]

Units

Honors

Campaign participation credit

  1. Summer-Fall 1969;
  2. Winter-Spring 1970;
  3. Counteroffensive, Phase II 1966–1967;
  4. Counteroffensive, Phase III 1966–1967;
  5. Tet Counteroffensive 1968;
  6. Counteroffensive, Phase IV 1968;
  7. Counteroffensive, Phase V 1968;
  8. Counteroffensive, Phase VI 1968–1969;
  9. Tet/69 Counteroffensive 1969;
  10. Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970;
  11. Counteroffensive, Phase VII 1970–1971;
  12. Consolidation I 1971–1972;
  13. Consolidation II 1971–1972
  1. Panama 1989–1990
  2. Southwest Asia:
    1. Defense of Saudi Arabia 1990–1991;
    2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 1990–1993
  3. Iraq:
    1. Transition Time 2003–2004;
    2. Iraqi Governance 2004–2005;
    3. National Resolution 2005–2007;
    4. Iraq Surge 2007–2008
  4. Afghanistan:
    1. Consolidation II 2006–2009;
    2. Consolidation III 2009–2011
  1. Panama – Law and order 1989–1990
  2. Saint Croix – Hurricane Relief
  3. Florida – Hurricane Relief
  4. Haiti – Operation Uphold Democracy
  5. Africa – Operation United Assistance 2014–2015 (194th MP CMBT SPT CO.)

Decorations

  1. Meritorious Unit Commendation for VIETNAM 1966–1968
  2. Meritorious Unit Commendation for VIETNAM 1968–1969
  3. Meritorious Unit Commendation for SOUTHWEST ASIA
  4. Meritorious Unit Commendation for IRAQ 2004–2005
  5. Meritorious Unit Commendation for IRAQ 2006–2007
  6. Meritorious Unit Commendation for AFGHANISTAN 2009–2010
  7. Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1966–1971

References

  1. ↑ "16 Military Police Brigade: Beret Flashes and Background Trimmings". The Institute of Heraldy. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "16 Military Police Brigade: Shoulder Sleeve". The Institute of Heraldy. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 16th Military Police Brigade: History, 16th Military Police Brigade Staff. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 GlobalSecurity.org: 16th Military Police Brigade, GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  5. ↑ "Taking cover". flickr.com. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. ↑ http://www.bragg.army.mil/16MP/Organization.htm
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