CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Marines with 3rd Marine Logistics Group attended a deactivation ceremony at Camp Kinser May 18.
The ceremony was for the Military Police Company with Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
“As it stands right now, we are deactivating to form a consolidated 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion on Camp Hansen,” said Capt. Kimberly A. Julka, company commander for MP Company.
This company will not be the only one deactivated, according to Col. John E. Kasperski, Camp Kinser commander.
“All the Marines from the various military police companies on the island are going to centralize into the new law enforcement battalion,” said Kasperski. “Both the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and the 3rd Marine Division are turning over their military police companies to become an asset for III MEF.”
The company supported units during Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as various exercises in the Pacific region.
“We formed Aug. 7, 2009, and on Aug. 26, 2009, we had Marines conducting predeployment training with 9th Engineer Support Battalion,” said Julka. “Since that point we have constantly supported Operation Enduring Freedom with 9th ESB and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 and CLB-4. We also have a squad of Marines that is always with CLB-31 on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.”
This high of deployment tempo is due to the demand for skills possessed by MP Company Marines, according to Julka.
“From an operational perspective, I do not think there is a more in-demand (military occupational specialty) which meets the needs of Operation Enduring Freedom,” said Kasperski.
“With the environment in Afghanistan changing from a combat operation to more of a police mentoring and advising role; it is more feasible to send units from a law enforcement battalion,” said 1st Lt. Jocelyn M. Mills, executive officer for the company. “You can know exactly who you are sending, and you will still have plenty of Marines to support the MEF while accomplishing the mission.”
Because the company is constantly deploying Marines, not all members of the company were at the deactivation ceremony.
“Half of the company is currently deployed to Afghanistan with 9th ESB and CLB-4,” said Kasperski. “When we are conducting combat operations and 3rd MLG elements are deployed, MP Company Marines are the tip of the spear for us.
“It will be both challenging and exciting to see how everything works out with this change,” he said. “These Marines have greatly helped 3rd MLG in the years they have been with us.”
The new law enforcement battalion is slated to stand up under III MEF Headquarters Group on June 7.