Honoring Legacy: Military Police Inactivation / Activation

FORT RILEY, Kansas – U.S. Soldiers serving in the 97th Military Police Battalion, 1st Infantry Division conducted an inactivation, activation and patching ceremony at Cavalry Parade Field on Fort Riley, Kansas, Sept. 27, 2024.

An imperative piece to the Army staying ahead of its potential adversaries is to transform its force structure to fight and win whenever called. As the Army shifts its focus from counterterrorism operations to large-scale combat operations, its force structure will change to modernize and continue transforming force capabilities.

“As the Army evolves and adjusts its demands, changes to our core structure are inevitable,” said Col. Travis M. Habhab, 1st Infantry Division chief of staff. “With the inactivation of these three companies in the 97th MP Battalion, the Army will only get better.”

The inactivation of the 287th, 300th and 977th Military Police Companies is a strategic decision that reflects changes in military priorities, structure and capabilities. It disables the units from performing their usual functions or operations. On the other hand, the activation of Law Enforcement Activity, 1st Infantry Division, shows its operational status by assembling and organizing personnel, equipment and resources to make it ready for action.

“This activation ceremony shows the military police commitment to law enforcement and being able to provide that as an asset to the commanders and also combat support companies, ” said Capt. Abigail Adamski, the commander of Law Enforcement Activity, 1st Inf. Div.

The 97th MP Battalion has been deactivated and reactivated multiple times since its first activation in June 1945. While active, they were called to action in the Korean War, Southeast Asia and the Cold War. The battalion served in the Korean War until its inactivation on 20 March 1953 and received two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. The 97th MP Bn. reactivated on Fort Riley, KS, in 2005, and later deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where they received the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

“The activation allows the commander the opportunity to assess the readiness and discipline of the unit,” said U.S. Army Capt. Justin Harmon, a human resource specialist assigned to the 1st Inf. Div.

Over the last decade, the 97th MP Battalion has continuously contributed to law enforcement duties and military police operations, ensuring the safety and security of Fort Riley and the community.

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