372nd Military Police Company

372nd Military Police Company
US Army · Public domain · source
Unit name	372nd Military Police Company
Caption	Insignia of a Military Police Company
Dates	Activated 20th century–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Role	Military police
Size	Company
Garrison	State National Guard armory
Nickname	372nd MP Co.
Motto	Legislative
Mascot	Eagle

372nd Military Police Company is a United States Army National Guard military police company that performs law enforcement, security, detention, and convoy escort missions for both state and federal authorities. The unit traces lineage through National Guard, Army Reserve, and federalized components and has conducted deployments supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and domestic disaster relief. Its personnel have integrated with units from the United States Army Military Police Corps, United States Army Reserve, National Guard Bureau, United States European Command, and United States Central Command during joint and combined operations.

History

The company's antecedents were formed during the early 20th century as part of state National Guard reorganizations influenced by the Militia Act of 1903, World War I mobilizations, and interwar reforms associated with the National Defense Act of 1920. During World War II, units with a shared lineage provided provost and security duties in theaters under European Theater of Operations (United States), Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and supported operations linked to the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Normandy landings. Postwar restructuring during the Cold War placed the company within state National Guard force structures responsive to crises like the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and domestic disturbances such as the 1967 Detroit riot. The company was federally mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and participated in homeland support following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Maria relief efforts. Throughout its history the unit reflagged, consolidated, and converted in parallel with broader reforms embodied by the Total Force Policy and the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) model.

Organization and Structure

Organizationally the company follows a standard Military Police company table of organization and equipment derived from United States Army Force Structure guidance, typically composed of a headquarters element, multiple platoons, and specialized sections aligned with the Military Police Corps Regiment lineage. The headquarters coordinates with state Adjutant General offices, joint task forces under Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed authorities, and echelon-above-company commands such as the Brigade Combat Team or Division. Platoons are configured for law-and-order missions, area security, and detainee operations in accordance with doctrine from the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and policies of the Department of the Army. The company maintains liaison relationships with Transportation Corps units for convoy security, Judge Advocate General's Corps for legal support, and Provost Marshal General offices for policy alignment.

Missions and Operations

Primary missions include area security, law enforcement support, convoy escort, internment/resettlement operations, and critical-asset protection in both expeditionary and domestic contexts, aligned to doctrine from the United States Northern Command, United States Southern Command, and United States Indo-Pacific Command. The unit has conducted security operations at forward operating bases associated with Camp Victory, Bagram Airfield, and provincial reconstruction teams linked to the Provincial Reconstruction Team (Afghanistan) model. In domestic roles it has supported state emergency responses coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Response Commission, and local law enforcement such as County Sheriffs' Offices and municipal police departments during civil disturbances and natural disasters.

Deployments and Combat Service

The company deployed in force rotations to Iraq War theaters including tasks in Baghdad, Mosul, and along key lines of communication during Operation New Dawn and Security Transition. Elements deployed to Afghanistan performing detainee operations, route reconnaissance, and close protection for Provincial Reconstruction Teams in provinces such as Kandahar Province and Helmand Province. The unit's soldiers also served on multinational missions under the auspices of NATO and combined commands, integrating with forces from United Kingdom Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and other coalition partners. During domestic mobilizations the company executed security and crowd-management missions for major events coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security and supported civil authorities during emergencies declared under various state constitutions and statutes.

Training and Readiness

Training follows standards promulgated by the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, and National Guard Bureau readiness guidance, including collective training at regional centers such as the National Training Center (Fort Irwin) and the Joint Readiness Training Center (Fort Polk). Soldiers complete individual military occupational specialty training for Military Police (MOS) designations and wartime skills verified by pre-deployment training events, mission rehearsals, and assessments overseen by Mobilization Readiness Centers and joint task force certification teams. The company engages in interagency exercises with Federal Bureau of Investigation field offices, United States Secret Service protective details, and state public safety agencies to maintain interoperability for law enforcement support and consequence management.

Decorations and Honors

Elements of the unit and predecessor formations have received campaign streamers and unit awards associated with deployments and operations, paralleling decorations awarded by the Department of the Army and state adjutant general citations. Recognitions include campaign participation credits for Iraq Campaign Medal-era phases, Afghan Campaign Medal-era phases, and state emergency service ribbons issued under gubernatorial authority. Individual soldiers have been awarded decorations ranging from the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service to the Purple Heart for wounds in combat, with professional commendations from commanders at the brigade and division level.

Notable Personnel and Incidents

Notable personnel associated with the company's history include soldiers who later served in elected office, state adjutant general positions, and senior roles within the Department of Defense, Homeland Security Council, and state emergency management agencies. Incidents involving the unit's deployments have been examined in after-action reports by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense and oversight reviews by congressional committees such as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Armed Services Committee. The company's experiences contributed to doctrine updates by the Army War College and influenced policies developed by the Center for Army Lessons Learned.

Category:Military police units and formations of the United States