| Organized as the 15th Military Police Battalion in 1927, the 519th Military Police Battalion was called to active duty at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, in April 1944. The battalion was deployed to the Pacific Theater one year later. While occupying the island of Okinawa, the 519th Military Police Battalion assisted in processing over 400,000 enemy prisoners taken during the seven-month battle.
Entering combat again when the Korean Conflict erupted, the battalion landed with the advanced elements of the United Nations Force to bolster the threatened Pusan perimeter. When the conflict ended, the 519th was returned to Japan and deactivated in 1956.
During the Vietnam conflict, the 519th MP Battalion was recalled to active duty in 1966 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, with the mission of training for Military Police Contingency Missions.
On October 6, 1990, the 519th Military Police Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield. On January 16, 1991, the 519th Military Police Battalion took part in Operation Desert Storm providing battlefield circulation control, security of enemy prisoners of war, and security of Main Supply Routes into Iraq. The 519th Military Police Battalion returned to Fort Meade, Maryland on March 28, 1991.
On November 27, 1991, elements of the 519th Military Police Battalion were deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to assist in the relocation of Haitian civilians. They redeployed on February 15, 1992. Due to restructuring of the Army, the 519th Military Police Battalion was relocated from Fort Meade to Fort Polk, Louisiana, in August of 1992.
On September 8, 1992, elements of the 519th Military Police Battalion were deployed to Florida to provide humanitarian assistance and support for hurricane relief efforts as part of Joint Task Force Andrew.
On June 28, 1994, the 258th Military Police Company deployed to Panama in support of Operation Promote Liberty and Safe Haven. the company established Cuban containment facilities, and provided forces to restore order during camp riots in December 1995.
On September 20, 1994, HHD, 519th Military Police Battalion and the 204th Military Police Company deployed to the Republic of Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. The Battalion conducted various missions in and around the Capital city of Port-au-Prince, assisting in the re-establishment of the democratically elected government within Haiti.
On October 14, 1995 the 204th Military Police Company deployed to the Republic of Haiti a second time in support of Operation Uphold Democracy.
On July 17, 1996, HHD, 519th Military Police Battalion, the 258th Military Police Company, the 293rd Military Police Company from Fort Stewart, Georgia and the 65th Military Police Company (Airborne) from Fort Bragg, North Carolina deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard. The Battalion assumed a sector in the Serb-controlled Posavina Corridor of Northern Bosnia and conducted the full spectrum of Peace Enforcement Missions. The Battalion provided comprehensive support to the first-ever democratic elections in Bosnia. The Battalion also provided support to operations in the contested areas of Brcko and Celic.
As of 15 January 1997 about 8,900 U.S. troops were in Bosnia, including two engineer battalions dismantling IFOR base camps. Operation Joint Endeavor gave way to Operation Joint Guard 20 December 1996. NATO's 60,000-member implementation force completed its mission, and a 31,000-strong stabilization force deployed for the next phase of the alliance peace effort. At the height of the IFOR mission, 19,000 U.S. troops served at 38 base camps in the northern sector. About 1,200 troops from the 720th Military Police Battalion from Fort Hood, Texas, and the 519th Military Police Battalion from Fort Polk, La., who deployed during the summer of 1996 remained as part of the stabilization force.
On July 27, 1999 the 204th Military Police Company deployed to Panama in support of the US relinquishing canal authority to the Panamanian government, ending the 1977 Carter-Torrijos Treaty. The company returned on 16 December 1999.
In addition, the 2nd Platoon from the 204th MP Company deployed to support JTF-Bravo operations in Honduras.
From its inception, the 519th Military Police Battalion has received credit for twelve combat campaigns. Unit citations include, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (1950-1951), Meritorious Unit Commendation (1952-1953), Republic of Korea Presidential Citation (19 September 1950- 21 July 1952), the Army Superior Unit Award (April-September 1988), Meritorious Unit Commendation (6 October 1990- 24 March 1991).
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