Col. Bryan Patridge relinquished command of Fort Leonard Wood's 14th Military Police Brigade during a ceremony Tuesday on Gammon Field.
Lt. Col. David McNeill, 795th Military Police Battalion commander, will serve as interim brigade commander, until the arrival of Col. Niave Knell who is currently assigned to the Pentagon as the chief of operations, Army Operations Center, Headquarters Department of the Army G-3/5/7.
Knell is scheduled to take command of the brigade in July.
Brig. Gen. Mark Spindler, U.S. Army Military Police School commandant, credited Patridge, whom he referred to as "Bear," with training more than 16,000 Soldiers, conducting the pilot for the Army's credentialing and career skills programs and implementing the first 31K Military Occupational Specialty Advanced Individual Training course.
Under Patridge's command, a Soldier from the 14th MP Bde. was named as the U.S. Army's Drill Sergeant of the Year, and the unit produced a female Army Ranger observer and one Ranger candidate, according to Spindler.
"But arguably, the more important of these things is the values you instilled in this unit -- a pride shown on this field today," Spindler said.
"You developed and improved the military expertise of your troops, not only the training for the Soldiers in training, but for the officers and noncommissioned officers under your command," Spindler continued.
"Our Soldiers are stronger, fitter, better prepared to do their duty. The great command teams are better than they have ever been," he said of Patridge who has commanded the brigade with the motto "Prepare for Battle" for the past 19 months.
Spindler said Patridge is giving the unit back in better shape. "You have been a wonderful steward of these men and women," he said. "You selflessly gave of yourself everyday on their behalf."
In his remarks, Patridge thanked a wide range of leaders, mentors, friends, Family and the Soldiers and leaders of the brigade.
"I feel I simply have the best brigade staff. All of you are truly amazing each day in what you do and the support you provide. While you are small in numbers, you achieve mighty things each day for the 2,700-plus Soldiers in this command," Patridge said.
He added the battalion and command teams are great Americans who work tremendously hard at their mission of training the future military policemen and law enforcement professionals.
To the Soldiers on the field, he said they are the future of the Army and the MP Regiment. "I am proud to have been able to serve you during your tenure. You are all amazing people and should be proud of yourselves and your accomplishments."
Patridge's parting advice was to find a way to be proactive and to keep teaching, coaching and mentoring.
"I have been privileged to have served as your brigade commander and am deeply grateful to the officers and noncommissioned officers, Soldiers and civilians who have placed the interest of the 14th Military Police Brigade above and beyond their own," Patridge said.
"Prepare for battle, assist protect and defend, preserve the force, maneuver support starts here, Battle 6 signing off the net," he said at the conclusion of the ceremony.
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