JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD -- On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, the best military police detachment in U.S. Forces Command (FORSCOM) received one of the most distinguished unit awards in the Army.
The FORSCOM Eagle Award is presented annually to the best MP company, detachment and canine detachment in the command's footprint. This year's Eagle Award for Best MP Detachment was presented to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade.
Considering the size of FORSCOM, the award's weight was not lost on Command Sgt. Major Michael Grinston.
"[FORSCOM] owns 80 percent of the Army, and this detachment was the best out of 80 percent of the Army," said Grinston, FORSCOM Command Sergeant Major. "That's a big deal."
To win the Eagle Award, the detachment distinguished itself with high readiness levels across various categories, including physical fitness, weapons qualification and military and civilian education.
"For me it represents how disciplined the unit is, and how we go about it every day and get our jobs done," said Capt. Raquel Felder, detachment commander, from West Haven, CT. "It means every day our Soldiers go about their jobs 100 percent."
Felder and Sgt. 1st Class Axel Castellanos, detachment first sergeant, accepted the award from Grinston surrounded by their Soldiers.
"A bar is set, every day we do so much but now it sets a real benchmark for everyone to improve on for years to come," said Castellanos, a Chicago native.
One of the ways HHD 504th distinguished itself from other detachments was excellence in its physical fitness program, with 13 Soldiers scoring above 270 and six scoring a perfect 300.
The primary mission of 504th MP Battalion is the security and safety of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, while also training for worldwide deployments. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment enables the battalion's operations through training and sustainment.
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