709th Military Police Battalion

The 709th Military Police Battalion is a United States Army Military Police unit currently located on Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. The Battalion is the United States Army's only Military Police Battalion in theater. The unit falls under the command of the 18th Military Police Brigade, associated with 21st Theater Sustainment Command.

709th Military Police Battalion
Active9 April 1942 - Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeMilitary Police
RoleMilitary Police
SizeBattalion
Part of18th Military Police Brigade
21st Theater Sustainment Command
Garrison/HQVilseck, Germany
Nickname(s)The Warrior Battalion
Motto(s)Guardians of the Troops!
ColorsGreen and Gold
EngagementsWorld War II
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
CommanderLieutenant Colonel Russel B. Smith
Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sergeant Major Antonio J. Soto
Past CommandersLTC Richard H. Martin
LTC William B. Halloway
LTC Ted S. Chesney
LTC Richard A. Mosco
LTC Richard D. Miller
LTC John F. Fitzsimmons
LTC Robert N. Dillon
LTC Roger P. Hedgepeth
LTC Steven G. Yamashita
LTC Matthew R. Gragg
LTC Jeffrey A. Searl
LTC John W. Copeland
LTC Samuel A. Meyer
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 709th Military Police Battalion relocated from Hanau to Grafenwoehr in 2007. The Battalion Headquarters again relocated in the fall of 2018 from Tower to Rose Barracks.

The 709th Military Police Battalion has served with honor and distinction in the European Theater since the summer of 1944. Stationed in Grafenwoehr Germany as part of the "Ever Vigilant" 18th Military Police Brigade, the battalion provides community law enforcement and force protection within thirteen communities while training for future operations and contingencies in support of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command. In addition to providing Law Enforcement across Europe, the Battalion also supports Operation Atlantic Resolve, to include Saber Guardian 2017, Saber Strike 2018 and many other exercises throughout the theater.

Lineage and honors

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  • Began on 10 January 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 709th Military Police Battalion.[1]
  • Activated 9 April 1942 at Camp Niantic, Connecticut.[2]
  • Reorganized and redesignated 5 June 1945 as the 709th Military Police Service Battalion
  • Reorganized and redesignated 18 September 1951 as the 709th Military Police Battalion and allotted to the Regular Army
  • Companies A, B, and C inactivated 21 October 1977 in Germany

HHD 709th Military Police Battalion Campaign participation

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  • World War II:
    • Northern France
  • Peace Keeping:
    • Operation Provide Comfort
    • Operation Provide Promise Kosovo & Bosnia
  • GWOT:
    • Iraq - First Military Police Battalion to cross into Iraq
    • Afghanistan
  • HHD 709th MP Bn Unit Decorations
    • Meritorious Unit Commendation for Afghanistan 2009-2010
    • Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ 2003–2004
    • Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996

Subordinate units

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HHD 709th Military Police Battalion - Vilseck; Commander: CPT Rivera-Rodriguez Christian, Detachment Sergeant: SFC Perry, Joseph

92nd Military Police Company - Kaiserslautern & Baumholder; Commander: CPT Anderson, Gartell, First Sergeant: 1SG Feliciano, Stevie

527th Military Police Company - Hohenfels & Ansbach; Commander: CPT Robinson Monika, First Sergeant: SFC Laplume, Steven

529th Military Police Company - Wiesbaden, Vicenza & Camp Darby; Commander: CPT Rico, Allan, First Sergeant: SFC Detwiler, Andrew

554th Military Police Company - Stuttgart; Commander: CPT Avello Camila, First Sergeant: 1SG SFC Burnett, Allison

615th Military Police Company - Vilseck; Commander: CPT Mallory Johnson, First Sergeant: SFC Luke Joseph

Command group

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Unit decorations

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Ribbon Award Year Notes
  Valorous Unit Award 2003 – 2004 For service in Iraq
  Superior Unit Award 1995 – 1996
  Meritorious Unit Commendation 2009 – 2010 For service in Afghanistan

References

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  1. ^ "709th Military Police Battalion". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. ^ "709th Military Police Battalion". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
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