FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The 221st Military Police Detachment received the 2012 Brig. Gen. David H. Stem Award April 5, an honor reserved for the best military police unit in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Presentation of the award is based on the unit's performance measured by recorded accomplishments, achievements and command programs that best exemplify the intent of Stem.
"This award represents the hard work our Soldiers put forth every day for the community," said Capt. Samantha Hoxha, 221st MPD commander.
Originally named the Liberty Award, the Stem Award was created in 1985 and was intended to recognize the most outstanding military police unit in TRADOC. In 1987, the award was renamed the Brig. Gen. David H. Stem Award in honor of the late commandant of the United States Military Police School and Military Police Corps chief who perished in a plane crash that year.
The award is given annually to one of 50 MP units in TRADOC based on a variety of factors from weapons qualification to individual physical fitness. Hoxha said the winning unit is selected not only for their outstanding performance of the military police profession, but for their "Soldiering" skills.
The 221st MPD's accomplishments in 2012 include:
· A 10 percent decrease in Fort Eustis' crime rate in fiscal year 2012.
· Security, force protection and traffic control for a multitude of community events.
· Hosting the Domestic Violence Intervention Training Mobile Training Team.
· Three 221st MPD Soldiers made the Noncommissioned Officer Education System Commandant's List, and one received the NCOES Leadership Award.
· An accumulated total of 900 civilian-education semester hours.
· Met 100 percent of the unit's reenlistment goals.
With the bar set high, the 221st MPD is looking to top this past year's accomplishments, but Hoxha said they are focused on the work, not the reward.
"As military police, we set the standards of excellence. It's our duty to provide a challenge to our Soldiers and hold them to a higher standard," she said. "Throughout the year, we don't focus on winning the award -- we focus on our Soldiers."
Although the award recognizes the unit's accomplishments, Sgt. Melinda Storsin, 3rd MPD military working dog patrol explosive detection dog handler, believes that because the award fosters an environment that urges Soldiers to constantly strive for excellence, it benefits the Army MP corps as a whole.
"Each 221st [MPD] Soldier takes the knowledge and skills they learned here to their next duty station. The 'sharing of excellence' makes better Soldiers, which makes the Army better each day," said Storsin. "Our MPs are going the extra mile to make our installation better. Being a part of a unit that is constantly striving for excellence is outstanding."
Hoxha said the detachment's motto, "Assist and Protect," is testament to the dedication and hard work the Soldiers put forth each day that earned them the award.
"I'm proud to command such a great unit and group of high-caliber Soldiers," she said. "Their determination to succeed, set standards and be a positive example for the community drives me to ensure our Soldiers are taken care of and recognized for their accomplishments."