92nd MP Co. named Army’s best

One of the 18th Military Police companies was deemed the best MP company in the Department of the Army.

On April 17, 130 Soldiers from the 92nd MP Co. were given commander coins by Maj. Gen. David E. Quantock, U.S. Army provost marshal general, and Sgt. Maj. Dawn Rippelmeyer, provost marshal general sergeant major, for winning the Brig. Gen. Jeremiah P. Holland Award. The award honors the most outstanding military police unit, company-size or smaller, each fiscal year.

After his retirement in 1969, Holland, an MP officer, began to sponsor this award to promote esprit de corps and professionalism in MP units throughout the Army.

“The award should be based on total accomplishments of the unit, encompassing every phase of activity bearing directly on mission accomplishment,” wrote Holland in a letter to the U.S. Army.

“This year, the (Brig. Gen.) Jeremiah P. Holland Award selection board considered eight outstanding military police companies and detachments that included combat support and internment and resettlement military police companies and a headquarters and headquarters detachment from Criminal Investigation Command,” Quantock said. “Despite fierce competition, the accomplishments and performance of the 92nd Military Police Company distinguished it as the Army’s best military police company for 2013.”

One of the most important factors in winning the award was outstanding leadership, said Capt. Nicholas R. Yetman, 92nd MP Co. commander.

“The most important factor in winning the J.P. Holland Award is the leadership of the young officers and (NCOs) in the company and the hard work of our Soldiers,” Yetman said.

The Soldiers were grateful to have Quantock and Rippelmeyer make the trip to Baumholder from the Pentagon to award the unit in person.

“It’s exciting,” said Spc. Daveya Allen, a native of Los Angeles. “It didn’t feel like a big deal at first, but now it kind of feels like a big deal.”

Other Soldiers echoed her sentiments.

“It’s nice today being able to come out and receive a coin from the general,” said Staff Sgt. Yolisma Cisneros, a native of Midland, Texas. “I have never received a coin from a general before. The recognition the unit got for their hard work is awesome.”

Although the 92nd walked away with a trophy, coins and recognition, they never planned to win.

“First Sgt. Bombard and I didn’t start a program to win the award,” Yetman said. “We wanted to build the best company we could that focused on taking care of Soldiers, families and accomplishing any mission given to the best of our ability.”