153rd Military Police Company (United States)

The 153rd Military Police Company (Combat Support) is a unit in the Delaware Army National Guard.[1] The 153rd MP Company, founded in 1996, is home stationed at Fort DuPont in Delaware City, Delaware. Since 1996 the 153rd has conducted missions in Panama, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other locations across the United States.

153rd Military Police Company
Delaware Army National Guard shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1996 – present
CountryUnited States
BranchArmy National Guard
TypeMilitary police
SizeCompany
Part ofDelaware National Guard
Garrison/HQFort DuPont
Nickname(s)"Wolf Clan"
Motto(s)"One Team, One Mission"
ColorsGreen and Gold
EngagementsAfghanistan
Iraq
Commanders
CommanderCPT Brian Grant
First Sergeant1SG Bruce Ashby
Insignia
Delaware ARNG distinctive unit insignia

History

Since 1996 the 153rd Military Police Company has conducted operations in support of Operation Roving Sands, Operation Blue Crab, Operation Enduring Freedom, Hurricane Katrina Relief, Operation Jump Start, Iraq War, and the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.[2]

Soldiers with the 153rd MP Company discuss a route recon mission during Hurricane Katrina relief operations at the Trent Lott National Guard Training Center, Gulfport, Miss., August 2005.

Saudi Arabia

In September 2002 the 153rd Military Police Company was deployed to Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia, conducting force protection operations. The Delaware military police unit was augmented with one platoon from the 28th Military Police Company from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division. The two MP units were under the command and control of the Third United States Army during the nine-month deployment.

Hurricane Katrina Relief

On 31 August 2005 "Task Force Delaware" composed of 153rd MPs and the Delaware Air National Guard's 166th Security Forces deployed to Gulfport, Mississippi in response to Hurricane Katrina. The joint task force operated 24-hour traffic control points, roving patrols, presence patrols, as well as conducting humanitarian operations in the Gulfport, Long Beach, Biloxi, and Pass Christian areas.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

From 6 June 2007– 28 May 2008, the 153rd MP Company was deployed to Iraq. During the deployment the 153rd was attached to the HHC of the 18th Military Police Brigade, as well as administratively attached to the 720th Military Police Battalion. The company's main body was based out of Camp Liberty, and its 3rd Platoon element based out of FOB Kalsu,[3] south of Baghdad. 3rd Platoon "Punishers" were under the tactical control of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

The 1st Platoon "Smokin' Aces" provided police training[4] and health and welfare inspections at the Criminal Investigative Division Academy, and training the Protective Services Detail (PSD) of the CID Iraqi Commanding General. They conducted training classes on weapons safety, combat life saving techniques, vehicle searches, handcuffing, armed/unarmed self-defense, as well as personal search techniques. First Platoon also conducted the national level PTT mission at the CID Headquarters, and conducted combat patrols and PSD for the 89th and 18th Military Police Brigades.

Second Platoon "War Pigs" conducted force protection at the Iraqi Police academies at Fiji and Furat, and conducted one of the largest daylight logistics mission[5] delivering donated Japanese motorcycles to the Iraqi Traffic Police. Second Platoon elements also conducted several humanitarian operations to local schools and medical centers.

The Operations Platoon "Blacksheep" operated a 24-hour tactical operations center (TOC), conducted combat patrols,[6] and PTT missions to the prison at CID Headquarters. Operations Platoon elements were also detached to provide protective services for General Raymond T. Odierno, Commanding General, III Corps.

The 3rd Platoon element was fundamental in opening an IP station in Arab Jabour area, south of Baghdad. Third Platoon also conducted Sons of Iraq (SOI) training, recruitment,[7] and provided medical assistance to local civilians.

Afghanistan

In February 2013, the 153rd Military Police company deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan as a part of Combined Task Force Chesapeake headed by the 115th Military Police Battalion. The combined task force operated in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province. The unit headquartered at a small post called BP3, with a squad element as a protective security detail (PSD) at Camp Nathan Smith. Due to downgrade of Camp Nathan Smith the PSD element relocated to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Walton.[8] The unit returned to the United States on 18 Sept. 2013.[9]

Unit decorations
Ribbon Award Year Notes
Delaware Governor's Meritorious Unit Award 2002–2003 For service in Saudi Arabia
Delaware National Guard Unit Strength Award 2007–2008 For maintaining unit strength
Meritorious Unit Commendation 2007–2008 Operation: Iraqi Freedom
Superior Unit Award 2009 56th Presidential Inauguration

Missions
Mission Location Year(s)
Panama Panama Canal 1997–1998
Operation Roving Sands Fort Bliss, Texas 1999
Operation Blue Crab Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 2000
Operation Enduring Freedom Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia 2002–2003
Hurricane Katrina Relief Gulfport, Mississippi 2005
Operation Jump Start Ajo, Arizona 2007
Operation Iraqi Freedom Baghdad, Iraq 2007–2008
56th Presidential Inauguration[10] Washington, D.C. 2009
Operation Enduring Freedom Kandahar, Afghanistan 2013
58th Presidential Inauguration Washington DC 2017

References
  1. Delaware National Guard Units Archived 22 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  2. Mackie, Brendan., Peter K. Morrill, Laura M. Lee. Images of America: Fort DuPont. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2011., p 120.
  3. Military Police Train Iraqi Security Volunteers , Retrieved 8 April 2009. Archived 6 August 2009.
  4. Key leaders discuss future of Iraq CID, Retrieved 8 November 2008. Archived 6 August 2009.
  5. MPs assist is distribution of Japan's donation to IPs, Retrieved 8 November 2008. Archived 6 August 2009.
  6. MP unit out of Germany works with all levels of Iraqi police for an eventual handover, Retrieved 8 April 2009. Archived 6 August 2009.
  7. IP Recruitment Drive in Arab Jabour Aims to Maintain Security Gains , Retrieved 8 November 2008. Archived 6 August 2009.
  8. "Del. Unit bridges gaps in Afghan handover". USA Today.
  9. "Welcome home, 153rd Military Police Company".
  10. 153rd MP's surround the capital , Retrieved 5 November 2009. Archived 6 August 2009.
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