18th Military Police Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=18th Military Police Brigade


caption=18th Military Police Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
country=United States
type=Military Police Brigade
branch=Active duty
dates=March 23, 1966 - Present
specialization=Military Police
command_structure=V Corps
size=brigade
garrison=Sandhofen, Germany
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto="Ever Vigilant"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
current_commander=COL Mark S. Spindler
current_commander_label=
current_command sergeant major=CSM Bernard McPherson
current_command sergeant major_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive unit insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

The 18th Military Police Brigade is a military police brigade of the United States Army based in Sandhofen, Germany. It provides law enforcement and force protection duties to V Corps.

Activated during the Vietnam War, the Brigade oversaw all Military Police operations in the country for a large portion of the conflict, undertaking a wide variety of missions throughout the country and providing command and control for other military police groups in the region. After Vietnam, the Brigade deployed units to several other operations, namely Operation Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort. The brigade itself also deployed to Kosovo, supporting many of the units operating there attempting to settle unrest in the area due to the 1999 Bosnian War.

The brigade has also seen multiple deployments in the War on Terrorism to Iraq. Its primary responsibilities have been to train and equip the national Iraqi Police forces. As of August 2008, the Brigade is on deployment to Iraq serving in the Baghdad area.

Organization

The 18th Military Police Brigade is a subordinate unit of V Corps, which is, in turn, part of the Seventh United States Army and United States Army Europe. [http://www.18mp.army.mil/#organization 18th Military Police Brigade Homepage] , 18th Military Police Brigade Staff. Retrieved 08-10-2008.] The brigade is headquartered in Sandhofen with one subordinate unit permanently attached; the 793rd Military Police Battalion, headquartered in Bamberg, Germany. The Brigade is modular in nature, allowing it to take on additional units when deployed. As V Corps is in the process of deactivating, the subordinate battalions that are assigned to the brigade upon deployment are generally from the National Guard or other units in the continental United States.

History

Vietnam War

The 18th Military Police Brigade was constituted March 23, 1966 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 18th Military Police Brigade. On May 20, 1966, the 18th Military Police Brigade was activated at Fort Meade, Maryland. The brigade received a shoulder sleeve insignia and a distinctive unit insignia on June 1, 1966. [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/MP/18th%20Military%20Police%20Brigade.htm The Institute of Heraldry: 18th Military Police Brigade] , The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 08-10-2008.]

Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters detachment deployed to Vung Tau, Republic of Vietnam on September 7, 1966. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/18mp-bde.htm GlobalSecurity.org: 18th Military Police Brigade] , "GlobalSecurity.org". Retrieved 08-10-2008.]

On September 26, 1966, the Brigade assumed operational control over all non-divisional military police units in the Republic of Vietnam. The Brigade was composed of three major subordinate elements; the 16th Military Police Group at Nha Trang, and the 89th Military Police Group and 8th Military Police Group (Criminal Investigation) at Long Binh.

The 16th and 89th Military Police Groups were composed of seven military police battalions, containing a mixture of military police and infantry companies. The units were stationed throughout every corps tactical zone in the Republic of Vietnam, ranging from Da Nang in the north to Soc Trang in the south. The total strength of the Brigade numbered more than 5,000 personnel.

Members of the Brigade performed a wide variety of missions including evacuation of prisoners of war, security of vessels and ports, convoy escort, security of vital installations and VIPs, maintenance of discipline, law and order, and direct support to combat operations. During the TET Offensive of 1968, the 716th Military Police Battalion, which included the 527th Military Police Company presently with the Brigade, was the principal force that defeated the Viet Cong's attack on Saigon. The Brigade completed its service in Vietnam and was deactivated on March 20, 1973 [http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/mp/0018mpbde.htm Lineage and Honors: 18th Military Police Brigade] , US Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 08-10-2008] in Oakland, California..

Cold War era

The Brigade was redesignated on August 16, 1985 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade and activated in Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany. During 1990-1991, battalions from the Brigade deployed to support VII Corps in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and V Corps in Operation Provide Comfort. Elements of the Brigade have also deployed to support Operation Provide Promise and Operation Joint Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia.

Demonstrating its rapid deployability and ability to support V Corps and United States Army Europe contingency operations, every unit within the 18th Military Police Brigade deployed to the Balkans in 1999. [http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/factfiles/factfile_history-018MP_2007-12.pdf Fact File: History - 18th Military Police Brigade] , 18th Military Police Brigade Staff. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] The 92nd Military Police Company, followed by the 527th Military Police Company deployed to Sarajevo, Bosnia to provide security in support of SFOR. The 615th Military Police Company deployed to Albania in April in support of Task Force Hawk. The Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 793rd Military Police Battalion and 127th and 630th Military Police Companies deployed in July to Kosovo in support of Task Force Falcon. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade deployed in July to Sarajevo in support of Task Force Summit. The HHD, 709th Military Police Battalion and 92nd and 212th Military Police Company deployed in November to Kosovo in support of Task Force Falcon. While in Kosovo, the battalions were the first ever Military Police battalions to conduct joint peacekeeping operations in general support of Russian, Greek, Jordanian, and Polish maneuver battalions.

War on Terrorism

In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I, the 18th Military Police Brigade crossed into Iraq on March 22, 2003. During its year of deployment, the brigade established Prisoner of War Holding Areas for over 3,600 Iraqi prisoners and conducted Main Supply Route patrolling over 2,500 kilometers in southern Iraq. The Brigade entered Baghdad in April 2003 and began establishing a new Iraqi Police Service and rebuilding Iraqi police stations. From the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom until February 2004 the Brigade provided command and control for seven Military Police battalions, one Mechanized Infantry battalion, 30 Military Police companies, and two Law and Order detachments. The Brigade’s MPs conducted over 24,000 combat patrols, apprehended over 2,400 criminals, confiscated 7,500 illegal weapons, and trained over 10,000 Iraqi police officers. During their deployment, the Brigade also recovered several precious artifacts, such as the Warka Mask, which was recovered on September 23, 2003. [Parsons, Jennie. [http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/sep2003/a092403h.html Coalition Forces, Iraqi Police Recover Ancient Warka Mask] , DefendAmerica. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] The brigade returned to Sandhofen in 2004.

The 127th and 630th Military Police Companies began serving in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II in mid 2007. The 127th Company served in Iskandariyah, on patrol operations with local police. [ Blottenberger, Daniel D. [http://www.blackanthem.com/News/toa/Iraqi-Police-Military-Police-work-for-security-in-Iskandariyah12315.shtml Iraqi Police, Military Police work for security in Iskandariyah] , BlackAnthem.com. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] In November 2007 the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the brigade and the 793rd Military Police Battalion deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The brigade replaced the 89th Military Police Brigade which was assigned there previously. [ [http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_18mpbrigade_071106w/ 18th MP Brigade starts 3rd rotation in Iraq] , ArmyTimes.com. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] The transition ceremony for this command was held on October 30 as 100 soldiers from the brigade's headquarters took charge of the 89th's area of responsibility. [ [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14928&Itemid=128 18th Military Police Brigade assumes Iraq mission] , Multi-National Force Iraq Press Release. Retrieved 08-10-2008.] They deployed to the Baghdad area, and took responsibility for the training of the Iraqi Police. Blottenberger, Daniel D. [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48890 U.S. MPs Help Iraqi Police Improve Performance] , American Forces Press Service. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] The brigade is supporting Iraqi police logistics, personnel management, maintenance, budget, operations, training, leadership and judicial integration. Other training for Police units included proper search of vehicles, [ Blottenberger, Daniel D. [http://www.delawarenationalguard.com/home/new/content/dngnews/2008/apr/153MPTraining.cfm 153rd Continues To Train Iraqi Police] , Delaware National Guard page. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] providing medical assistance to Iraqi civilians, [ [http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/military-police-give-aid-to-local-iraqi-boy.html Military Police give aid to local Iraqi boy] , United States Central Command. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] as well as expanding the number of Iraqi police and improving their training overall. [ [http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/02/07/7328-18th-military-police-brigade-applies-enhanced-systems-approach-to-improving-iraqi-police/ 18th Military Police Brigade applies enhanced 'systems' approach to improving Iraqi Police] , United States Army Homepage. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] In theater, the brigade commanded over 5,000 soldiers. Blottenberger, Daniel D. [http://newsblaze.com/story/20080803134307zmil.nb/topstory.html MP Brigades Complete Mission Recon] , NewsBlaze.com. Retrieved 08-10-2008.] Units that the Brigade assumed control of included the 153rd Military Police Company of the Delaware Army National Guard and the 223rd Military Police Company of the Kentucky Army National Guard. [http://www.delawarenationalguard.com/home/new/content/dngnews/2008/may/153_MP.cfm Delaware MPs heading home as KY Guard MPs take over] , Multi-National Division, Center Press Release. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] The brigade worked with the 35th Engineer Brigade to finish construction on the Furat Training Facility, the primary training facility for thousands of Iraqi police. The project was completed in February of 2008. [ [http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/02/11/7356-18th-military-police-brigade-helps-create-new-permanent-training-center-for-iraqi-police/ 18th Military Police Brigade helps create new permanent training center for Iraqi Police] , United States Army Homepage. Retrieved 08-11-2008.] In August of 2008, the brigade began facilitating the transition for the 8th Military Police Brigade, which will replace the 18th MP Brigade when its 15-month tour of duty ends.

The 92nd and 212th MP Companies are also preparing for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VI. In addition to the brigade's support to the War on Terrorism, many soldiers of the brigade continually conduct law enforcement and force protection duties in communities located throughout central region of Europe.

Honors

Unit decorations

Campaign streamers

References

External links

* [http://www.18mp.army.mil/#history 18th Military Police Brigade Homepage]