MPs address Army senior leader initiatives on Buffalo Soldier Day

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz., -- Members of the 18th Military Police and 483rd Military Working Dog Detachments here gathered in recognition of the installation’s monthly Buffalo Soldier Day on March 5, 2021, to address those topics currently at the forefront of the Army.

The Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff have directed all Army leaders to focus on these initiatives. In addition, the Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC) commanding general has implemented initiatives to emphasize and address these concerns with the force.

Nested with the Army senior leader guidance, Maj. Gen. Anthony Hale, commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence & Fort Huachuca established monthly Buffalo Soldier Days on the first Friday of every month.

With the beginning of Fiscal Year 2021, Buffalo Soldier Days provides a specific day each month for developing and empowering junior leaders across Fort Huachuca to engage with their Soldiers and civilians on the issues of prevention of sexual harassment and assault; diversity, equity and inclusion; and suicide prevention and response.

For the military police, March’s Buffalo Soldier Day brought the Soldiers together for small-group discussions, training and unit recognition. They also discussed training announced Feb. 19, 2021, by Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin III, to address extremism in the military.

Due to the nature of their mission, Soldiers from the five different sections of the military police detachment are seldom all together, explained Sgt. 1st Class Spencer Greene, detachment sergeant, 18th MP Det.

Among the training sessions conducted for alcohol awareness, equal opportunity and suicide prevention the Soldiers also heard from the detachment command team regarding extremism and project inclusion.

The goal of coming together for Buffalo Soldier Day is to address those topics Soldiers might be experiencing and to ultimately raise morale, Greene said.

The day also gave Col. Jarrod Moreland, Fort Huachuca’s garrison commander, a chance to address and commend the group.

“This is the team that keeps this base safe; that keeps people under law and order,” Moreland said.

“This matters in order to keep our society on this installation operating the way it should,” he said. “Thank you for this opportunity to come out and spend a little time with you this morning.

“More importantly than any of that, thank you for being total professionals.

“I do want you all to feel as comfortable as you can, given your challenging job,” he said. “You have leaders that care about you.”

Leadership will do everything they can to make this a safe work environment, one that holds nothing but dignity and respect and is free of hostility and extremism, Moreland pledged.

The MP Detachment also celebrated a few of their achievements recognizing Soldiers with Army Achievement Awards, Army Commendation Medals and challenge coins.

Two Soldiers, Cpl. Brett Lovoi and Cpl. Andrew Green, were also promoted to the rank of sergeant during the day’s activities.

“Normally, days like this, I would be working the road,” said Spc. Jack Condren, military police, 18th MP Det. “Days like this, especially during COVID-19, it is nice to get with the unit. I look forward to more days like this.”

# # #

Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command, and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 964 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.

Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.

We are the Army's Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/