Photo By Rick Emert | FORT CARSON, Colo. — Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, left, provost marshal general, awards...... read more read more
By Scott Prater
Mountaineer staff
FORT CARSON, Colo. — When the 759th Military Police Battalion announced last November that two of its units had garnered U.S. Forces Command excellence awards for 2019, most assumed that if any unit inside the battalion was going to win an Army-level award it would be the 110th MP Company or the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 759th MP Bn.
However, the battalion’s 59th MP Company was deployed at the time, supporting U.S. European Command units and, as it turned out, had also advanced to the Army’s top level of excellence competition, the Maj. Gen. Harry H. Bandholtz Award, through U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR).
Last month, the Army announced after careful consideration, the 59th MP Company was the best company in the Army MP corps for 2019.
Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, provost marshal general, traveled to the Mountain Post to congratulate and recognize the Soldiers during a ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Feb. 12, 2020. He brought along some hardware, too – an official framed Maj. Gen. Harry H. Bandholtz Award and an impressive gold trophy — which he awarded to Capt. James W. Walton, commander, 59th MP and 1st Sgt. Jason W. Craddock, senior enlisted leader, 59th MP Company.
“The 59th MPs deployed to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve, but even as newcomers to the theater, they impressed brigade theater leadership to the point where they were recognized over the brigade’s organic units,” Vereen said. “They competed for the Bandholtz award with their readiness in every single category. Their Soldier, training and equipment readiness was exemplary, as they earned a 95-percent or better (grade) in every single category.”
Following the official delivery of the Bandholtz Award, Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, provided U.S. Forces Command (FORSCOM) Eagle Awards and unit trophies to Capt. Alexis A. Marione, commander, and 1st Sgt. Ashley J. McDougle, senior enlisted leader, both with 110th MP Company; and Capt. John T. Horner, commander, and Sgt. 1st Class, Adam R. Norton, detachment sergeant, both with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 759th MP Bn.
Last November, when the FORSCOM Eagle Awards were announced, Lt. Col. Ryan Cagle, commander, 759th MP Bn., said winning the FORSCOM Eagle Award is an outstanding symbol of the hard work and dedication by the amazing Soldiers across the “Lone Sentinel” Battalion. Competing in competitions such as the Eagle Award and Bandholtz Award helps make a better organization, while providing a great opportunity to represent the Griffin Brigade, Mountain Post and “Ivy” Division.
“This kind of thing doesn’t happen often,” Vereen said during his recognition speech Feb. 12. “We have two different units receiving FORSCOM Eagle Awards and a third earning the newly named Bandholtz Award, all in the same battalion at the same time. That is an amazing feat. It speaks to the leadership of this organization, the commissioned officers, the NCOs and our Soldiers. It truly distinguishes the 59th MP Company for what it’s done.”
To be considered for both the Eagle and Bandholtz awards, military police units develop packages detailing their experiences and accomplishments throughout the year, then submit those packages to FORSCOM and the Army for review.
A board of officers and sergeants major then comb through packages and form a consensus about the best units. They compare the best and determine a winner. There is no award for second place.
Oddly enough, the 59th MP Company includes 159 Soldiers, a standard sized unit for an MP company. But Craddock explained that most of the Soldiers arrived in the unit a few months prior to its deployment to Europe.
“When Capt. Walton took command early last year, he and I set a goal for this company to be the best,” Craddock said. “We resolved to create a climate and culture of developing Soldiers. Regardless of the trophy, we are proud of these Soldiers because they’ve proved … they are the best.”
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2020 11:33 |
| Story ID: | 363493 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 565 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Carson MP company claims top Army honor, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
