History 42nd Military Police Brigade (United States)

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 cold war years
1.3 iraq war
1.4 war in afghanistan

history
origins

the 42nd military police group traces lineage 7751st military police detachment, established on 21 march 1949, fight organized , widespread black-market activities posed serious threat german economy. unit enforced useucom customs regulations, investigated violations, controlled parcel post shipments of black marketable goods, , manned twenty-three border stations used military personnel crossing international borders of post-world war ii, occupied germany.

in august 1950, high commission germany requested services of customs unit, later designated 42d military police detachment, control eastward movement of restricted goods satellite bloc countries. increase in tensions between united states , soviet union, function important interests in europe. on 1 november 1952, detachment relieved of strategic export control function, subsequently resumed german authorities. in may 1955, germany regained sovereignty on land military forces. rights, privileges, , obligations of foreign forces , members stationed in germany based on bonn forces convention, forerunner of north atlantic treaty organization status of forces agreement (nato sofa) , supplementary agreement followed. result, unit charged establishing customs controls within germany. because of responsibility unit never deployed in support of korean war or vietnam war.

cold war years

on 25 january 1968, headquarters , headquarters detachment, 42nd military police group constituted in regular army , activated in germany. group charged providing customs enforcement , maintaining liaison , cooperation german customs authorities @ levels. in addition, group responsible establishing customs policies , procedures federal republic of germany , negotiate german authorities on questions of procedure , forces entitlements arising tax , customs issues within nato status of forces agreement. received meritorious unit commendation outstanding job performing role. in 1969, group received own distinctive unit insignia.

on 1 july 1974, 42d military police group transferred 15th military police brigade, retaining missions , affiliation united states army europe. on 13 december 1974, drug suppression , anti-hijacking protection added missions of 42d military police group. on 1 june 1976, relieved assignment 15th mp brigade, 42nd mp group reassigned army europe , seventh army and, on 21 october 1977, placed under 21st support command.

on 1 december 1977, commander of 42nd mp group became executive agent customs matters in european command. executive agent, group commander provided staff supervision on military customs inspection programs in 11 countries throughout europe. responsibility included staff supervision of 169 military customs inspection programs operated army, navy , air force.

on 21 january 1978, 42d mp group reassigned headquarters, army europe/7th army (office of deputy commander in chief) , converted major command. in august 1983, commander of 42d military police group designated usareur executive agent customs forces personnel in germany.

the brigade s responsibilities in europe prevented being deployed in gulf war although many of soldiers did participate in customs clearing of cargo , equipment forces shipped usa after war. in august 1994, 42nd military police group deactivated military drawdown of military forces in europe. in may 2004, still inactive unit redesignated brigade, in preparation reactivation fall.

iraq war

a 42nd mp brigade soldier mourning fallen comrade @ ceremony in iraq in 2008

in late june 2004, 1st military police brigade (provisional) based @ joint base lewis-mcchord, washington, received word reflagged 42nd military police brigade. on 15 october 2004 provisional brigade deactivated , 42d military police brigade activated corps military police brigade. next day, brigade received own shoulder sleeve insignia. responsibilities of brigade @ joint base lewis-mcchord include direction of inter-service corrections operations @ northwestern joint regional corrections facility, emergency services , force protection operations joint base lewis-mcchord area. unit received word department of army deploy iraq less thirty days after activation.

the 42nd military police brigade deployed baghdad, iraq november 2004 november 2005 in support of operation iraqi freedom, relieving 89th military police brigade had been assigned there. brigade operated out of forward operating base volunteer during tour. during tour, subordinate units of brigade responsible training cadets of baghdad civilian police department. training included law training, human rights education, first aid, , weapons training on glock-19s , ak-47s. had counter-terrorism class iraqi officers. during assignment, brigade suffered several casualties, including multiple soldiers killed improvised explosive devices, , soldier killed in rocket-propelled grenade attack. organizational operation during deployment received praise, , basis organization of subsequent military police brigades deployed. after return iraq, brigade s operations assumed 49th military police brigade. brigade received meritorious unit commendation work during deployment.

the brigade received orders deploy iraq again in spring of 2008. assignment conduct theater wide internment facility , reconciliation center operations, managing iraqi correctional officer training academies. subordinate units of brigade have been deploying iraq regularly. 571st mp company deployed 15 months, november 2006 until january 2008. 504th mp battalion deployed iraq in july 2007. deployed 54th , 170th military police companies.

on 16 march 2008, brigade deployed again iraq, assuming command of task force bucca 300th military police brigade. 42nd mp brigade operated out of forward operating base bucca, located in southeastern corner of iraq near port of umm qasr , border kuwait. duties of brigade during deployment included force protection, operation of internment facilities, , detainee reconciliation, teaching iraqi prisoners read , write , training them in technical skills boost employment potential. during deployment, soldiers of brigade worked closely iraqi police forces , united states navy forces operate facilities. on 2 june 2009, brigade cased colors , transferred command of task force bucca 89th mp brigade tactical actions center. brigade redeployed joint base lewis-mcchord in mid-june. brigade received meritorious unit commendation work during deployment.

war in afghanistan

the brigade scheduled deploy afghanistan in winter of 2012.

subordinate units of brigade have been deploying afghanistan regularly. hhd, 504th military police battalion , 170th military police company deployed afghanistan in june 2010 12 months. deployed 54th , 595th military police company. 67th military police company (i/r) deployed camp sabalu-harrison, afghanistan.