414th Military Police Company

In the historical pages of Camp Atterbury, the first mention of the 414th Military Police Company can be found. In those days, the facility was used as a training ground.

The 414th Military Police Escort Guard Company was activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, upon departure of Camp Atterbury. It was while the active duty unit's stateside base of operations was located in Kentucky, that it received the EAME (European Africa Middle Eastern Campaign Medal) battle streamer depicted here, awarded for the unit's participation in Northern France in 1944.

Upon returning stateside, it appears that the unit as a whole as inactivated at Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. After the war 500,000 Soldiers were processed out through the separation centers at Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis. It was nothing unusual to deactivate entire units at the time.

The redesignation of the then inactive "414th MP Escort Guard Company" to the Reserve "414th Military Police Prisoner of War Processing Company" was done on paper on 12 November 1948, during the creation of the Organized Reserve Corps, which would itself be redesignated to the United States Army Reserve on 9 July 1952.

It took very little time for the 414th POW Processing Company, now belonging to the Organized Reserve Corps, to become a reality. Less than twenty days later, the unit came into official existence on 1 December 1948 in Newark, New Jersey. One year and two months later, on 27 January 1950, it would again be deactivated.

The 414th MP POW Processing Company was reactivated 1 October 1950, this time on the opposite side of the country, on the West coast, at Chico, California. While based in Chico, the unit was redesignated on the 4th of July, 1953, to the "414th Military Police Company" as we know it today but still had a primary training mission of POW Processing. At this time, it is believed that the unit was simply moved from Chico, California, to Santa Ana, California in 1968.

The 414th Military Police Company was moved to Santa Ana, California, 1 May 1968. At this time, it would remain active on the Reserve rolls for more than 20 years.

From SP4 RJ Dawson:

... "The unit itself was designated a prisoner of war processing company, part of the 6th Army and was an interesting mixture of leftover draft evaders from the Vietnam Era, and professional law enforcement personnel. Several members of the unit were peace officers from surrounding jurisdictions to include Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. I was a prior service school trained MP. We never deployed while I was assigned, but our active duty for training was conducted at Fort Irwin by Barstow, CA. We also pulled weekend duty at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station which became an Armed Forces Reserve Center. I was on duty the day the Secretary of the Army visited to make the transition official."

Iraqi Governance 2004-2005

National Resolution 2005-2007

Permanent Orders 241-14 (DTD: 28 August 2008)

Award: Mertitorious Unit Commendatioin

Reason: For exceptionally meritorious service. During the period of 31 October 2005 to 22 September 2006, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d Military Police Brigade and its subordinate units displayed exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade was tasked with the control and accountability of over 15,000 detainees, and it was instrumental in supporting the adjudication process of a record number of terror suspects in accordance with Iraqi Law, thereby removing them as a threat to Iraqi people and Coalition Forces. Additionally the unit's efforts to strengthen and enforce the rule of law in Iraq enabled the emerging Iraqi Government to more actively participate in the processing, rehabilitation, and release of detainees, allowing them to return as more productive members of society. The unit was also instrumental in the planned transition operations of the Iraqi government by developing and managing a transition plan that included the training of over 1,500 Iraqi correctional officers. These efforts resulted in the seamless closure of both the Abu Ghraib and Fort Suse detention centers, as well as the renovation, and expansion of Camps Remembrance II and Bucca, thus vastly improving Iraq's correctional infrastructure. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d Military Police Brigade's outstanding performance of duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects distinct credit upon the unit, the United States Army National Guard, and the United States Army.

Consolidation III 2009-2011

Permanent Orders 228-04 (DTD: 16 August 2011)

Award: Meritorious Unit Commendation

Reason: For exceptionally meritorious service. During the period of 7 July 2010 to 30 April 2011, Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 46th Military Police Command and its subordinate units assigned to Task Force Peacekeeper displayed exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Task Force Peacekeeper provided command and control over detention operations in Afghanistan, ensuring that proper custody, care and control was always conducted in accordance with international law and humane standards. Additionally, the Task Force trained Afghan National Army Soldiers in detention operations in preparation of eventual transition to the government of Afghanistan. The dedication, professionalism and outstanding performance of Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 46th Military Police Command and its subordinate units is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon the unit, United States Forces - Afghanistan, United States Central Command and the United States Army.

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