16th Military Police Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne)


caption=16th Military Police Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
dates=May 20, 1966 - Present
country=United States of America
branch=United States Army
type=Active duty
role=Military Police
size=Brigade
command_structure=XVIII Airborne Corps
current_commander=COL John Garrity
garrison=Fort Bragg
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto="Combat Support"
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=Vietnam War Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

The 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) is a Military Police brigade of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It is 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.

History

Vietnam War

The brigade dates back to the Vietnam conflict when it was constituted on March 23, 1966 as the 16th Military Police Group and activated on May 20, 1966 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. [http://www.bragg.army.mil/16MP/HHC%20History.htm 16th Military Police Brigade: History] , 16th Military Police Brigade Staff. Retrieved 2008-07-28.] Shorthly thereafter, the brigade deployed to Vietnam in support of the Vietnam War, providing law enforcement duties for US units stationed there. The unit participated in thirteen campaigns to include nine counteroffensives and two consolidations during the Vietnam conflict receiving two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Republic Of Vietnam Cross Of Gallantry With Palm for their outstanding effort and dedication.

Cold War Era

On 16 July 1981 the group was reorganized and redesignated as the 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne). 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. 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. 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. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/16mp-bde.htm GlobalSecurity.org: 16th Military Police Brigade] , GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2008-07-28.] 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. 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.

War on Terrorism

In January 2004 the brigade deployed for one year to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where they were responsible for detainee operations and convoy security at Camp Bucca. 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 world wide hot spots and crisis locations. Other operations that brigade units have supported were:
# May 1981 Cuban Refugee Relief, Florida,
# Civil disturbance operations at Seneca Army Depot, New York,
# Rotations to the Sinai for multinational force and observers duty,
# Presidential inaugurations,
# Joint Task Force Bravo in Honduras, Somalia, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Bosnia, Kosovo,
# Albanian refugee support at Fort Dix,
# Pentagon security following the attacks of September 11, 2001,
# Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

* Vietnam:
# Counteroffensive, Phase II;
# Counteroffensive, Phase III;
# Tet Counteroffensive;
# Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
# Counteroffensive, Phase V;
# Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
# Tet/69 Counteroffensive;
# Summer-Fall 1969;
# Winter-Spring 1970;
# Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
# Counteroffensive, Phase VII;
# Consolidation I;
# Consolidation II
* Armed Forces Expeditions:
# Panama
# Southwest Asia:
## Defense of Saudi Arabia;
## Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
# Iraq:
## Operation Iraqi Freedom
* Contingencies
# Panama – Law and order
# Saint Croix – Hurricane Relief
# Florida – Hurricane Relief
# Haiti – Operation Uphold Democracy

Decorations

# Meritorious Unit Commendation for VIETNAM 1966-1968
# Meritorious Unit Commendation for VIETNAM 1968-1969
# Meritorious Unit Commendation for SOUTHWEST ASIA
# Meritorious Unit Commendation for Operation Iraqi Freedom
# Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1966-1971

References

Links

* [http://www.bragg.army.mil/16MP/ 16th Military Police Brigade Website]