The 501st Military Police Company was originally organized on 15 July in the regular Army, as the Military Police Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division. The unit was reorganized on 20 July 1944 as the Military Police Platoon, 1st Armored Division.
The unit accompanied the Division throughout Africa and Europe and received participation credit for the Tunisia, Naples-Foggia and Po Valley campaigns.
Redesognated on 27 February 1951 as the 501st Military Police Company, it was again activated on 1 March 1951, at Ft. Hood, TX and assigned to the 1st Armored Division. Later inactivated at Ft. Polk, LA on 23 December 1957, it was again activated with the 1st Armored Division on 3 February 1962 at Ft. Hood, TX.
The Company has supported the 1st Armored Division in Europe with platoons in Vilseck, Erlangen, Bamberg, Ansbach and Bad Kreuznach. In July 2001 the Company Headquarters and three platoons moved with the Division to their present location in Wiesbaden, Germany. Additionally, the Company has 2 outlaying platoons, with 1st Platoon stationed in Freidburg and 2nd Platoon in Baumholder.
Recent recognitions include being recognized as the best Military Police Company in USAREUR for 1992 and 1993, runner up for the 1993 J.P. Holland Award for the Army’s Best Military Police Company, and winning the 1992 Blanchard Award. In 1997 the 501st was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award for participation in its deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.
The company deployed in support of the 1AD to Bosnia-Herzgovina from December 1995 to December 1996. During the deployment the company provided direct support to the Ready First Combat Team, Headquarters in Tuzla, and Protective Servies to the Division Generals.
In June 2000, 2nd Platoon deployed to Hungary with Team Warrior as part of the 1AD Immediate Reaction Force. This was the first such deployment ever and served to proof the concept of USAREUR level IRF.
From June 2000 to December 2000, the company deployed two platoons to Kosovo in support of KFOR Rotations 2A and 2B.
