MP school welcomes new CSM

By U.S. ArmyJanuary 15, 2015

MP school welcomes new CSM
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Woodring, left, incoming U.S. Army Military Police Regimental command sergeant major, accepts the Noncommissioned Officer's Sword from Brig. Gen. Mark Spindler, USAMPS commandant, during a change of responsibility ceremony h... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Woodring is the U.S. Army Military Police School's 12th regimental command sergeant major after a change of responsibility Jan. 8.

Woodring accepted responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. John McNeirney during a ceremony at Nutter Field House.

Brig. Gen. Mark Spindler, USAMPS commandant, said he is going to miss McNeirney's partnership and friendship.

"We are going to miss you guys," Spindler said. "Your impact on this community and the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence has been simply phenomenal."

Spindler highlighted some of the significant changes McNeirney helped accomplish while he was the regimental command sergeant major.

One of those achievements was the addition of the military occupational specialty 31K Military Working Dog Handler to the MP Corps.

"The last 37 months the corps has enjoyed arguably one of its greatest periods of growth, in great part because of the work and initiatives set forth by John McNeirney," Spindler said.

McNeirney said he was privileged to have been able to impact thousands of MPs as their top noncommissioned officer.

"What an awesome opportunity during a very exciting time," McNeirney said. "The Army is about people. I've traveled across our entire regiment to visit our military police officers' units, both in combat support, our Criminal Investigation Division units and our corrections units. The best part of this assignment was the opportunity to talk to those Soldiers."

Spindler welcomed Woodring to Fort Leonard Wood and said he was looking forward to working with him again.

"I had the pleasure of serving with (Command Sgt. Maj.) Rich Woodring in our combat support brigades. I can tell you first-hand that there is not a finer gentleman or a more skilled Soldier and leader worthy of this post than Command Sergeant Major Woodring," Spindler said. "He is a Soldier's sergeant. He has been since the day he put on the uniform."

Woodring said he was grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve the regiment in this capacity.

"Thank you for having the confidence in me to select me for this tremendous responsibility," Woodring said to Spindler. "I'll do my very best to serve this regiment."

He said he is humbled to be the 12th USAMPS command sergeant major.

"Since my arrival at Fort Leonard Wood, I have been constantly reminded about how fortunate I have been," Woodring said. "I have no doubt that the Military Police Corps will continue to be a vital force in supporting the Army of the future. I look forward to working with all of you."

Woodring entered the military in 1984 under the delayed entry program in the Army Reserves.

He has served as the provost marshal sergeant major for the Operational Protection Directorate, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; command sergeant major, 8th MP Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and senior enlisted leader Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435, Camp Sabalu -- Harrison, Afghanistan, just to name a few.

His deployments include Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.