18th Military Police Brigade (United States)

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18th Military Police Brigade
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Commanding officerCol. Richard D. Stearns
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 18th Military Police Brigade is a

United States Army Europe
.

Activated during the

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

Global War on Terrorism to the Iraq War. Its primary responsibilities have been to train and equip the national Iraqi Police
forces.

Organization 2023

The 18th Military Police Brigade is assigned to the

United States Army Europe.[1]
The brigade is headquartered in Vilseck, Germany. The brigade consists of the following units:

The Brigade is modular in nature, allowing it to take on additional units when deployed.[3] Normally the Brigade only deploys with its Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC); organic battalions and companies normally don't deploy with the HHC.

History

Vietnam War

Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters detachment deployed to Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam on 7 September 1966.[4]

On 26 September 1966, the Brigade assumed operational control over all non-divisional

8th Military Police Group (Criminal Investigation) at Long Binh.[4]

The 16th and 89th Military Police Groups were composed of seven military police

Soc Trang in the south.[5] The total strength of the Brigade numbered more than 5,000 personnel.[4]

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.[4] During the Tet Offensive, the 716th Military Police Battalion fought off a resolute Viet Cong unit determined to take over the US Embassy, while other 18th Brigade units performed similar duties in the Mekong Delta, Bien Hoa and the Central Highlands.[4] The Brigade completed its service in Vietnam and was deactivated on 20 March 1973[6] in Oakland, California.[4]

Cold War era

The Brigade was redesignated on 16 August 1985 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade

Operation Joint Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia.[4]

Demonstrating its rapid deployability and ability to support V Corps and

Task Force Falcon. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade deployed in July to Sarajevo in support of Task Force Summit.[3] 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.[3]

War on Terrorism

Soldiers of the brigade en route to their 2007 deployment to Iraq.
An MP prepares a defensive position in a Humvee.

In support of

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.[3] During their deployment, the Brigade recovered several precious artifacts, such as the Mask of Warka, which was recovered on 23 September 2003.[7] The brigade returned to Sandhofen in 2004 only to return to Iraq in 2007.[3]

The 127th and 630th Military Police Companies began serving in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II in mid-2007.

8th Military Police Brigade, which was set to replace the 18th MP Brigade when its 15-month tour of duty ended.[citation needed] The brigade cased its colors on 2 December 2008 and began redeploying back to its home bases. The 18th MP brigade trained 20,000 Iraqi police during its deployment, and lost 15 soldiers.[17]

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 the central region of Europe.[3]

Honors

Campaign streamers

Conflict Streamer Year(s)
Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase II 1966–1967
Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase III 1967–1968
Vietnam War Tet Counteroffensive 1968
Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase IV 1968
Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase V 1968
Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase VI 1968–1969
Vietnam War Tet 69/Counteroffensive 1969
Vietnam War Summer–Fall 1969 1969
Vietnam War Winter–Spring 1970 1970
Vietnam War Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970
Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase VII 1970–1971
Vietnam War Consolidation I 1970
Vietnam War Consolidation II 1971
Vietnam War Cease-Fire 1973
Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq 2003–2004
Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq 2007–2008
Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan 2008–2009
Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan 2013–2014

References

  1. ^ "18th Military Police Brigade". eur.army.mil. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  2. ^ "529th Military Police Company | Lineage and Honors | U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)". Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Fact File: History – 18th Military Police Brigade Archived 30 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, 18th Military Police Brigade Staff. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h GlobalSecurity.org: 18th Military Police Brigade Archived 13 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Mike Little. "U.S. Army's B Company, 504th Military Police Battalion Patrolled Central Highlands Highways During the Vietnam War" Vietnam Magazine. June 1991; republished at historynet.com". 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Lineage and Honors: 18th Military Police Brigade". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  7. ^ Parsons, Jennie.Coalition Forces, Iraqi Police Recover Ancient Warka Mask Archived 13 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, DefendAmerica. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  8. ^ Blottenberger, Daniel D. Iraqi Police, Military Police work for security in Iskandariyah Archived 24 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, BlackAnthem.com. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  9. ^ 18th MP Brigade starts 3rd rotation in Iraq, ArmyTimes.com. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  10. Multi-National Force Iraq
    Press Release. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  11. ^ a b Blottenberger, Daniel D. U.S. MPs Help Iraqi Police Improve Performance Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, American Forces Press Service. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  12. ^ Blottenberger, Daniel D. 153rd Continues To Train Iraqi Police Archived 4 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Delaware National Guard page. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  13. ^ Military Police give aid to local Iraqi boy Archived 16 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, United States Central Command. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  14. ^ 18th Military Police Brigade applies enhanced 'systems' approach to improving Iraqi Police Archived 14 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, United States Army Homepage. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  15. ^ Delaware MPs heading home as KY Guard MPs take over Archived 12 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Multi-National Division, Center Press Release. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  16. ^ 18th Military Police Brigade helps create new permanent training center for Iraqi Police Archived 14 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, United States Army Homepage. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  17. ^ 18th MP Bde concludes 15-month deployment[permanent dead link], Multi-National Corps Iraq Homepage, retrieved 2008-12-12.

External links

Media related to 18th Military Police Brigade (United States) at Wikimedia Commons

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