The 76th Military Police Battalion held a battalion run, led by Fort Bliss Commanding General Maj. Gen. Robert P. Lennox, Friday. The run marks the last time the battalion, which is reflagging Nov. 15 as the 93rd MP Bn., will run as a battalion under its current colors. Photo by Maj. Deanna Bague.
76th MPs hold final run
Maj. Deanna Bague, Fort Bliss Public Affairs
The 76th Military Police Battalion commemorated the end of an era Friday with a battalion run led by Maj. Gen. Robert P. Lennox, Fort Bliss commanding general.
The unit will reflag as the 93rd MP Bn. next month, said Lt. Col. Thomas Byrd, battalion commander, 76th MP Bn. It was a momentous occasion, and to have Lennox join the battalion on their last run as the 76th meant a lot to the Soldiers, he said.
“It’s always excellent when you have the leadership out here to recognize the outstanding job that our Soldiers are doing,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Dawn Rippelmeyer, 76th MP Bn.
Lennox recognized several Soldiers for exceptional accomplishments and gave them coins. Rippelmeyer said both she and Byrd are very proud of their Soldiers for their successes and undertakings.
“Although the colonel and I tell the Soldiers as often as we can (how proud we are), to have the general and the post sergeant major come down and recognize their outstanding job is truly wonderful for the Soldiers.”
Nov. 15 will mark the next significant event for the 76th, when they officially reflag, said Rippelmeyer. The reflagging is combined with the growth of the battalion; another company, the 591st MP Co., will be added in January, and in the next couple of years two more companies will follow.
Rippelmeyer said the battalion’s expansion will allow MPs to deploy in support of the war on terror and ensure enough troops remain at Fort Bliss to cover the law enforcement for the post. This will alleviate the strain on Guard and Reserve units that would normally backfill homeland stations when an installation’s Soldiers deploy.