551st Military Police Company 'Hooligans' Conclude Third OIF Deployment

Photo By Sgt. Kenneth Bince | Capt. Robert Eyman (left), the 551st Military Police Company commander and 1st Sgt. Ivan Cornier (right), 551st MP Company first sergeant, furl and case their company's guidon during the unit's end of mission ceremony held June 1, Forward Operating Base Prosperity, Baghdad, Iraq. The 551st, from Fort Campbell, Ky., arrived in theater September 2009, and it was responsible for Entry Control Point operations for the purpose of safeguarding the frequently targeted International Zone, center of the government of Iraq and the United States Embassy.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, IRAQ

06.05.2010

Story by Sgt. Kenneth Bince 

49th Military Police Brigade

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROPERITY, Iraq – An end of mission ceremony for two American military police companies here, June 1, furthered the transition of securing the center of Iraq's democratic government between U.S. Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.

The 336th Military Police Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Pittsburgh, ended its security forces mission in the International Zone as the 551st Military Police Company from Fort Campbell, Ky., and the 571st Military Police Company from Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., cased the their guidons, and prepared to return home.

This end of mission ceremony for the two MP companies was a milestone in the partnership between UF Forces and Iraq security forces in the International Zone. The ceremony concluded a seven-year mission of US Forces helping secure the entrances into Iraq's government center.

This is a hallmark day for the IZ, as the 336th MP Battalion, the 551st 'Hooligans' and the 571st 'Dragon Crushers', hit their end of mission, and the Iraqi Security Forces take complete control of securing the entrances into the International Zone said, Brig. Gen Joseph DiSalvo, United States Forces-Iraq (USF-I), deputy chief of staff.

"From a USF-I point of view, we are very confident with (the 56th Iraqi Army Brigade) and with the entire Iraqi Security Forces in the key center of gravity for Iraq," said DiSalvo.

While located in the IZ, the 551st MP Company was primarily responsible for the ECP mission, which provided over watch, mentorship and training to the Iraqi Army's 56th Brigade. "The purpose of our operations was to safeguard the frequently targeted IZ, the center of the government of Iraq and US Embassy", said Capt. Robert Eyman, the 551st MP commander.

"The partnership with the 56th ensured safety and security for more than 150,000 U.S. Soldiers, coalition forces, Iraqi government officials, dignitaries, and the local civilian personnel working or residing in the IZ," said Eyman.

In addition to their daily mission, the 551st contributed to several historical events during the course of its 10-month deployment. "In November 2009 and January 2010, Soldiers of the 551st provided route security during Vice Present Joseph Biden's visits to the IZ to meet with senior Iraqi government officials," said Eyman.

Another highlight of the 551st included supporting the Iraqi National Parliamentary Elections in March 2010. " While partnering with the 56th Iraqi Army Brigade, we conducted more than 20,000 personnel and vehicle searches, which contributed greatly to the security of the historic event," he added.

The 336th MP Battalion commander Lt. Col. Marc Garcia, described the importance of his 551st's mission by saying, "This was a zero defect mission, with no room for error, and it had a no failure option."

"During the 551's MP Company's mission, the IZ remained free of security breaches, including the tumultuous 2009-2010 Iraqi parliamentary elections," said Garcia.

"You worked side by side with the 56th on the entry control points, secured movements and provided support for high profile events," said Col. Mark Campsey, commander of the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Joint Area Support Group-Coalition.

"You accepted every mission and accomplished every task, no matter how short fused or complicated it was," said Campsey.

He concluded with, "You made a difference, and the impact of your missions ran sound, but profound."

Along with the more than 400 Soldiers attending the mid-morning event, dozens of civilian media, and representatives from the US, Australian, British, Spanish, Italian and Japanese embassies were also present at the end of mission ceremony.

In the upcoming weeks, the 551st MP Company will redeploy back to Fort Campbell, Ky., and resume their law and order duties. They will leave theater with their heads held high, having demonstrated true professionalism to the citizens of Iraq, the MP Corps and the United States Army.

• Date Taken: 06.05.2010
• Date Posted: 06.05.2010 11:50
• Story ID: 50924
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, IQ