The 744th Military Police Battalion was originally constituted on 10 January 1942 in the Army of the United States and would serve under that designation in the Leyte and Luzon campaigns in the Pacific Theater during World War II, earning a Philippine Presidential Unit for its outstanding service. It was inactivated in May 1946 in Japan and was subsequently redesignated as the 322nd Military Police Battalion and allotted to the Organized Reserves (which became the Army Reserve in May 1952) on 5 June 1947. It was activated on 19 June 1947 and then inactivated again on 10 April 1952 at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The unit received its current designation on 24 June 1953, but its Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment were not activated until 16 December 1991 at Allentown, Pennsyvlania.
Deployed in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Battalion's HQ and HQ Detachment was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2009 for its service between March 2003 and April 2004 in the establishment, operation and sustainment of the first trans-shipment point for enemy prisoners of war and six Iraqi prisons. During its next deployment to Iraq in 2007-2008, the Battalion performed detention functions at Camp Cropper Theater Internment Facility in Baghdad, garnering a second Meritorious Unit Commendation for its exceptional service.
As of Autumn 2023, the 744th Military Police Battalion remains allotted to the U.S. Army Reserve, where it is assigned to the 333rd Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command. It is Headquartered in Forks Township, Pennsylvania and consists of three Military Police Companies: the 363rd, 367th, and 374th.
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The original Distinctive Unit Insignia for the 744th Military Police Battalion was approved on 31 August 1942 but cancelled on 30 March 1993 when this insignia was approved. Green and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Military Police Corps. The sun in the middle of the insignia is inspired by the sun used on the coat of arms of the Philippines, while an eagle’s head inside it symbolizes the principles of freedom for which the unit fought and defends to this day. A yellow border containing barbed wire symbolizes denote the Battalion’s mission as a Prisoner-of-War unit. Gold is used to denote honor, high achievement, and excellence.
Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
More guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e), "Beret" and "Garrison Cap," respectively,