FORT BELVOIR, Virginia – On Wednesday, December 18, military police Soldiers and distinguished guests gathered in the gymnasium of Wells Field House at Fort Belvoir to witness a historic change of responsibility ceremony.
The Fort Belvoir Law Enforcement Activity was constituted on August 24, 1944, as the 312th Military Escort Guard Section. It was activated on February 18, 1945, in Italy and was redesignated as the 312th Military Police Escort Guard Detachment in April of the same year. Over the years, the organization underwent several activations and deactivations, until July 21, 1964, when it was redesignated as the 212th Military Police Detachment. Earlier this year, on September 30, the 212th was inactivated once again, and subsequently redesignated.
For the past 18 months, Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Huggins has served as detachment sergeant of both the 212th Military Police Detachment and the newly designated Fort Belvoir Law Enforcement Activity, affectionately known as the Road Dawgs.
Huggins will go down in history as the newly reformed unit’s first detachment sergeant. During today’s ceremony however, he relinquished his position to the incoming detachment sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Jared Martin.
Following the passing of the guidon, a symbolic ceremony rich in military tradition, U. S. Army Capt. David Byers, commander of the Fort Belvoir Law Enforcement Activity, approached the podium. He bid farewell to his command team counterpart and welcomed a new chapter of leadership.
Byers read through a lengthy list of contributions Huggins made to the organizations, including staffing more than 36 National Capital Region Joint Security Escorts, supporting 30 Garrison events, and completing the Military District of Washington (MDW) Joint Law Enforcement Certification in April. This certification ensured that Soldiers met law enforcement requirements across four different installations.
“You have made this unit successful, and you have made me successful,” said Byers. “A captain of his ship oversees every soul under his commission but cannot do everything alone. Through each change of course, each storm, each doldrum, you have been there supporting the Soldiers and NCOs of this organization with a ferocious tenacity and care that is unmatched in any in my career.”
A self-professed man of few words, Huggins kept his remarks brief and focused on the caliber of Soldiers that make up the Road Dawg family.
Before leading the attendants in a round of applause for the Soldiers he successfully led, Huggins said, “[The] Soldiers standing before you today, and even those that are not, due to them conducting law enforcement operations with our civilian counterparts, are the most resilient group of professionals that I’ve had the opportunity of meeting.”
He went on to thank the leaders in attendance for their support and mentorship, as well as his fiancée Lauren and daughter for their unwavering support during the last 18 months of his tenure. He concluded by once again highlighting the outstanding work of the Soldiers and offering words of encouragement to his successor.
“Sgt. 1st Class Martin, I want to wish you the best of luck as you step into this role. It is challenging but rewarding. The one thing I can assure you, is you have the best group of military police Soldiers standing in front of you and they will go to the end of the world for you.”
After sharing a light-hearted high five with outgoing detachment sergeant, Martin took his place at the podium as Fort Belvoir Law Enforcement Activity’s detachment sergeant. He delivered an emotional speech that demonstrated his commitment to the organization, sharing just two words to sum up this momentous occasion.
“I’m excited and I’m thankful,” said Martin. “I have been and will continue to be excited to lead this activity into the future. And I’m thankful for the example of leadership in the former detachment sergeants…they laid the groundwork to make the activity a premier military police unit. I have some big boots to fill.”
The Fort Belvoir Law Enforcement Activity provides policing and security operations in support of the Fort Belvoir Garrison and the MDW. Its mission is to prevent crime, maintain order, manage risk, and, when ordered, deploy in support of contingency operations within the National Capital Region.
Social Sharing