With the official Special Designation of “Southwest Peacemakers” because of its headquarters at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) in Texas, the 11th Military Police Battalion has relied on “Strength Through Truth” to carry out its mission of conducting criminal investigation for more than seven decades. Its peacetime Area of Responsibility includes Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The Battalion was originally formed on 12 August 1943 as the 11th Military Police Section, Criminal Investigation. Operating under that and several other designations, the unit earned credit for participation the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns. During the First Gulf War, the Battalion took part in all three of the named campaigns, and in the War on Terrorism the Battalion’s outstanding performance during four deployments between January 2005 and January 2010 has been recognized with three Meritorious Unit Commendations and an Army Superior Unit Award.
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Approved on 18 August 1998, the 11th Military Police Battalion unit crest, officially referred to as its Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), features the image of the scales of justice with a cup on each side of the balance, with the Fleur-de-Lis on the left representing service in France and the eagle on the right denoting service in Germany. A column in the middle of the insignia suggests support and strength, and the two barrulets flanking it create the appearance of the Arabic numeral “11.”
The 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.
Full 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.