Promotions (units not identified) The following Battalion members were promoted during the months of March-April, 1LT’s Pedro Vasquez and Stephen Dugan to CPT, 1SG Eric Hodges to SMG, SSG Arnetta Williams to SFC, SPC’s William Davis and Jimmy Lujan to SGT, PFC's Laura Jensen, Cedric Jackson and Ryan Grady to SPC.

        The 1st Platoon remains attached to Battalion HQ Detachment and 18th Airborne Corps. (exact date unknown) The following Soldiers were recognized for their tireless efforts, sense of duty, and dedication to company mission success, SSG Miller, SPC Adams, Sean, SPC Martin, SPC McGinnis. (exact date unknown) SGT Pearson was awarded the Commanding Generals Coin of Excellence for exceptional meritorious achievement. (exact date unknown) MSG Snead was reassigned from Platoon Leader to the Company operations cell. SSG Williams was assigned as a new Platoon Sergeant. 1LT Gonzales was transferred in from the 411th and assigned as the Company XO. MSG Pierri was selected to serve as the First Sergeant of the 64th Military Police Company.

411th MP Company (Grizzlies) Based in FOB Shield, the 411th continued with its new mission of Force Protection, instruction of Iraqi Police Cadets at the Baghdad Police College, and highway and route security throughout Baghdad. In addition to their combat and training mission they have also been upgrading their living quarters.

        Members of the 3rd Platoon, SGT Paxton and SPC Teklinski were selected as the company NCO and soldier of the month respectively.

        SGT McGee was designated as maintainer of the month for getting all the company weapons up to mission capable status.

        1LT Cobos was moved up from 4th Platoon Leader to Company Executive Officer (XO), 2LT Wille was assigned as the new 4th Platoon Leader, 1LT Gonzales was reassigned to the 401st MP Company as the new executive officer (XO).

Date unknown, Combat Patch & Awards Ceremony The 42nd MP Brigade authorized the 401st MP Company to wear its patch for wartime service. During the ceremony two members of the company received awards. SPC Matthew C. McGinnis, wounded during an IED explosion received the Purple Heart Medal and SSG Michael S. Hernandez received the Army Commendation Medal (Meritorious Service) for being selected as the III Corps and Fort Hood Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for education.

42nd

Battalion Sustainer of the Month (support soldier, non-MP), SGT Murray, 401st MP Company, light wheeled vehicle mechanic.

64th MP Company (Guardians) The 64th based at Camp Rustamiyah, continues its new mission of support of the Iraqi Police services (IPS). The Guardians on a daily basis visit the Iraqi Police Stations and repair and inventory weapons, provide apprehension classes and other law enforcement training. The most important function however is coaching and mentoring them with the emphasis on conducting police work instead of "street justice." Their Area of Operation (AO) involves daily interaction with three separate Iraqi District Commanders.

1st Platoon (Stryker) 64th MP Company is in direct support to 1-13 Armor [1st Battalion,13th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division] located in Taji, Iraq. Their mission consists of the training, mentoring, monitoring and joint operating two Iraqi Police Stations, Tarmiyah and Mishahdah. They were responsible for finding one unexploded, Improvised Explosive Devise (IED), gathering intelligence on a suspected IED manufacturing plant and apprehending one insurgent digging a hole for a future IED.

1st

MSG Pierri of the 401st was selected to serve as the new company First Sergeant.

Alpha Battery (Mustangs), 1/151st Field Artillery Battalion There were few changes in company operations. The 1st Platoon is working at several new Iraqi Police stations, with the 2nd and 3rd Platoon Iraqi Police stations remaining the same. 1LT Johansson organized an Arabic class in the evenings for the company soldiers to learn to speak and write in Arabic. The company is hosting two imbedded reporters from the Star Tribune, (St. Paul & Minneapolis) Mark Brunswick (reporter) and Rick Sennott (photographer).

313th MP Detachment (Black Sheep) Based in FOB Shield with their new neighbors the 411th, the 313th continues its mission of instructing Iraqi Police Cadets at the Baghdad Police College with 34 soldiers on staff. Nine others from the 313th are continuing their missions in support of the Iraqi Police Services at Camp Liberty, Camp Falcon, the International Zone, and Camp Rustamiyah.

C Company, 1st Battalion, 182 Field Artillery (Deuce) Currently the company elements oversee 30 Iraqi Police stations continuing their missions of Inspection, Force Protection and Mentoring.         SPC Summers, SSG Oswald, SPC Carlson, SGT Rivera (Nomads) and SGT Vickery have all received the company’s nod as heroes of the week for the end of March and month of April. Additionally, SGT Rivera and SGT Vickery went on to take the honor of Battalion Hero of the Week for their quick thinking to aid wounded Iraqis.         During the month 15 members of C 1st/182nd reenlisted, SGT Dickie, SGT Quick, SPC Charlie, SGT Hatfield, SPC Matthews, SGT Swanson, SPC Ehrig, SGT M. Napier, and SSG Wrubel. SGT Simms took a 1 year extension to advance in rank.

1/182nd

860th MP Company (Desert Reapers) The Reapers remain headquartered at Camp Rustamiyah with their 3rd Platoon assigned to a security mission north of Baghdad and 1st Platoon, 1st Squad stationed at Camp Victory conducting security escorts for the 42nd MP Brigade. In addition to their primary mission company members also stand guard duty in the perimeter towers of Camp Rustamiya and conduct security surveillance on contracted civilian employees working inside the camp.

2 April, 401st MP Company The 401st MP Company conducted a Change of Command ceremony with the transfer of authority between the outgoing Commander CPT Jennifer J. Knight, and the incoming commander CPT Kendrick L. Lusk.

14 April, 411th MP Company The 411th MP Company long awaited barracks renovation began: 18 air conditioners were installed; all room were painted; doors and ceiling fans installed. In the following weeks all rooms will have carpeting, mirrors and equipment hooks installed.

16 April, Friday PFC Aaron M. Hudson age 20, of Highland Village, Texas, a member of the 401st MP Company, was mortally wounded from shrapnel as the result of an improvised explosive devise detonating next to his vehicle while assigned as the gunner in his MP team performing convoy escort security between Baghdad and Camp Asheraf, Iraq. Others on the escort mission were, CPT Kendrick Lusk, SSG Gomez, SGT Price, CPL Seth A. Johnson, SPC Delrosario, SPC Hornsby, PFC Fryer and PFC Robertson.

Hudson

Photographs and remembrances of PFC Hudson for his Honor Roll page, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of this page.

23 April, Fight Night The 411th MP Company in conjunction with Kellogg’s Brown & Root sponsored a "Fight Night" at FOB Shield.

27 April, Gauntlet Games The 720th MP Battalion hosted all subordinate units to participate in the Battalion organization day Gauntlet Task Force Task Force Games . The games featured unit competition in three events: volleyball, basketball, and the notorious "Junk Yard Wars."