KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (June 24, 2013) -- The 202nd Military Police Group (Criminal Investigations Division), based out of U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, and 1002nd Military Police Battalion (CID), based out of USAG Bamberg, inactivated during a ceremony at the Noncommissioned Officer Field at Daenner Kaserne June 21.
During the ceremony, the former commanders and senior enlisted Soldiers cased their unit colors. The casing of a unit's colors symbolizes the relinquishment of responsibility and inactivation.
The 1002nd MP Bn. cased their colors first with Lt. Col. Jason M. Stoddard, the 1002nd MP Bn. commander, and Sgt. 1st Class LaTonya Langston, the 1002nd MP Bn. first sergeant, performing the casing.
"I challenged everyone in this battalion to finish strong," Stoddard said. "I really wanted to set the 5th Military Police Battalion up for success as they take over responsibility for our criminal investigation offices."
The responsibility of the criminal field offices and agents throughout Germany was passed to the 5th MP Bn. All agents and Soldiers formerly assigned to the 1002nd MP Bn. field offices will continue to operate in those areas with no diminished capabilities, said Lt. Col. Sarah K. Albrycht, the 5th MP Bn. commander.
"We had a really great transition plan with the 1002nd Military Police Battalion, and we will continue to provide the same great service," Albrycht said. "These agents and Soldiers are capable and will perform their mission with the highest level of professionalism regardless of what battalion they are under."
Next, the 202nd MP Group cased their colors although their unit has an inactivation date of May 17. Col. Donna W. Martin, the former 202nd MP Group commander, and Sgt. Maj. Peter D. Harrington, the former 202nd MP Group command sergeant major, performed the casing. The group's responsibility was transferred to the 3rd Military Police Group, located at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
"As I see these colors being cased and this unit inactivating after serving with them for two years, it is a bittersweet moment," said Martin, currently serving as the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's, 18th Military Police Brigade rear detachment commander. "It is difficult to see this great organization's colors being cased, but the mission will continue."
The 202nd MP Group has supported felony crime investigation operations on three continents -- Europe, Africa and Asia -- for 14 years. In this time, both the 202nd MP Group and 1002nd MP Bn. conducted multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The Soldiers of these units conducted more than 800 investigations a year.
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