December 11, 2006

91st MPs Prepare To Return To Drum After Year-Long Deployment

COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

By Army Sgt. Michael J. Taylor
Joint Logistics Command


BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the 10th Sustainment Brigade’s 91st Military Police Battalion handed over responsibility to the 385th MP Battalion from Fort Stewart, Ga., during a transfer of authority here Dec. 6, as they prepare to head back home to Fort Drum.

During the 91st MP Battalion’s year-long tour, the 500-plus Soldier task force played a vital role in the security of Afghanistan by training more than 1,000 Afghan Border Police officers on tactical tasks while also conducting more than 1,300 combined patrols with their Afghan National Police and Afghan Border Police partners.

The 91st continuously performed military police functions such as area security, maneuver and mobility support, police intelligence operations, and law and order operations.

“The 91st has accomplished their inherited and given task while maintaining a high spirited and disciplined outfit that has been second to none,” said Army Col. Larry D. Wyche, Joint Logistics Command commander.

The battalion was successful in integrating a wide range of non-kinetic operations into daily combat operations to further improve the conditions for the local national population.

These included facilitating 15 medical civil affairs projects, ultimately treating over 1,800 local nationals within the country of Afghanistan. They also distributed over three tons of humanitarian aid items.

“To the troopers of Task Force Vigilant, let there be no doubt in your mind that you have made a difference in the country of Afghanistan and to the people of Afghanistan,” said Wyche. “You have truly exemplified and lived your battalion’s motto of ‘Honor above all,’ and we are very, very proud of you – job well done.”

The Soldiers of the 385th expect to remain in Afghanistan for about a year.

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