The 720th MP Battalion Makes US Armed Forces History Under Operation STABILIZE The 720th MP Battalion made military history when It was the first time in the history of the United States Armed Forces that a military police unit was assigned an infantry mission in a war zone.

The 18th MP Brigade assigned the 720th MP Battalion a 22 square mile Tactical Area Of Responsibility (TAOR) along the southern perimeter of Long Binh Post, and tasked it with the unique responsibility of fighting as infantry when required in support of Operation Stabilize.

Under “Operation STABILIZE” the Battalion’s three organic companies along with the 615th MP Company were tasked with the additional responsibility of increasing the security of United States Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV) Headquarters and Long Binh Post and nearby the Bien Hoa Air Base.

To accomplish this mission the battalion would be required to conduct; civic action programs; ambush and recon; village outpost duty; river patrol security and transport to stabilize the four primary villages within the TAOR.

In preparation for the reconnaissance, ambush and combat patrols they were to conduct, the entire 615th MP Company and 40 men from the three organic companies of the battalion (A, B, & C) attended refresher classes on recon and ambush patrol methods and techniques taught by instructors from the 5th Special Forces Group.

5th

Operation CORRAL, the cordon and search conducted in the TAOR on 11 September 1967 was the preliminary phase of Operation STABILIZE.