FORT BENNING, Ga. - Fort Benning's 209th Military Police Detachment received the Stem Award, which recognizes TRADOC's best Military Police unit Wednesday.
The award, originally named the Liberty Award, was renamed in 1987 in honor of Brig. Gen. David H. Stem, who served as commandant of the U.S. Army Military Police School and chief of the Military Police Corps and Regiment.
Lt. Gen. John E. Sterling, deputy commanding general and chief of staff of Training and Doctrine Command, presented the award to the 209th.
"The 209th has demonstrated the leadership and the performance ... that has really caused them to stand out among the other companies," Sterling said.
Capt. Brian Miller, the 209th MP detachment commander, said being leader of a unit recognized as the best is an awesome experience.
"It's always a reward to be in a leadership position for those who are being honored," he said.
Sgt. Jonathan Davis, squadron leader, said the Soldiers of the 209th worked hard to achieve the award.
"The level of discipline that's required of a military police Soldier is a lot higher than what's required of other Soldiers," Davis said. "They have to know all state codes, all federal codes, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice like the back of their hands."
In addition to memorizing necessary codes, military police work long-rotating hours. For example, one week a military police officer will work a dayshift and the next week may need to work the midnight shift, Davis said.
"It's all of their hard work and effort that they put into this that they are being recognized for," Miller said.
"Over an entire year's accumulation of activity, training, hard work and effort that all the Soldiers did both on duty and off is a reflection of them and not so much myself."
Winners are selected yearly based on submissions, which highlight the unit's accomplishments, achievements and command programs.
For more information about the award, visit www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/regs/r672-7.htm.
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