Army's best MP back from Balkans

Military Police, April, 2003 by Nicole Dowell

Reprinted from the Army News Service, January 8, 2003

The 549th MP Company, Fort Stewart, Georgia, won the Brigadier General Jeremiah P. Holland award for excellence among Army military police companies. The 1st MP Company, Wurzburg, Germany, was first runner-up; and the 25th MP Company, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, was second runner-up.

The 549th MP Company won the Forces Command Eagle Award, earning them the title of best military police company in U.S. Army Forces Command, prior to being considered for the Holland Award. Each major command may submit one award nomination each fiscal year. Units submit a packet that details their achievements in areas such as training, physical fitness, retention, weapons qualification, quality-of-life improvements, community volunteerism, and family-support programs.

"Creating a nomination packet ... takes a tremendous amount of work and creativity," said Captain William H. Poole, the 549th company commander.

During fiscal year 2002, the 549th carried out law enforcement operations on Fort Stewart, maintained training and readiness, conducted vehicle and weapon maintenance, and deployed to Bosnia for six months.

"We're prepared for any type of mission," said Sergeant Robert Johnson, a team leader in the company. "With the size of our post and the missions we have, we are on top of our game." Johnson attributed much of the company's success to its leadership, which he said is superior.

"It's a tribute to the NCOs in the unit," Poole said. "Great squad leaders translate to successful missions."

The 1st MP Company, Wurzburg, Germany, demonstrated mission successes this past year, bringing it first runner-up honors. It supported the 1st Infantry Division, V Corps, and U.S. Army Europe in Kosovo and Turkey, in addition to deployments to Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The 25th MP Company, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, won second runner-up with successful missions supporting SFOR-11 in Bosnia and acting as the protective service detail for the commander, Task Force Eagle. A three-man team from the company won first place at the 2002 MP Warfighter Challenge at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, distinguishing itself as the best team in the MP Corps.

Brigadier General Jeremiah Holland, an MP officer, sponsored this award after his retirement in 1969 to promote esprit de corps and professionalism among MP units. The award honors the most outstanding active-duty Army MP unit, company size or smaller.

"The soldiers, NCOs, and officers of the 549th MP Company are truly honored to be recognized as the best of the best in the MP Corps and stand ready to perform all future missions," Poole said.

(Editor's note: Ms. Dowell, a Department of the Army intern, compiled this information with contributions from Specialist Katherine Robinson, a staff writer for the Fort Stewart Frontline newspaper.)