1138th Military Police Company
The 1138th Military Police Company was a Missouri Army National Guard military police unit that performed domestic emergency response, security, law-and-order, and detainee operations before its inactivation in 2019.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 1138th Military Police Company was a unit of the Missouri Army National Guard headquartered in West Plains, Missouri. Federally recognized on 15 January 1968, it was organized to provide military police capabilities including law enforcement support, security, internment and resettlement, detainee handling, and related combat-support functions. A detachment was initially located in Doniphan, Missouri, while the company headquarters, one platoon, and the machine-gun section operated from West Plains. The unit’s organizational structure changed several times during its existence. In 1993, its Doniphan platoons were realigned to the 735th Support Battalion at Poplar Bluff, and the company gained a detachment in Springfield. A further detachment was assigned at Mountain Grove in 1996 but was inactivated in 1998. The company was reorganized as a combat-support military police company in October 1996 and then reorganized again two years later as an Enemy Prisoner of War Company. In that configuration, it was described as Missouri’s only company specifically organized for enemy-prisoner-of-war duties. The 1138th combined domestic emergency service with overseas military deployments. In 1993, it supported Missouri flood-response operations for approximately three months, conducting law-and-order duties in northeastern Missouri. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the company served at Fort Leonard Wood under Operation Noble Eagle, providing security and law-and-order support from October 2001 through September 2002. It also assisted Louisiana recovery operations after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and supported winter-storm victims in southeastern Missouri during Operation January Ice in 2009. Its overseas record included the 1989 intervention in Panama, where it established and operated a detainee camp at Empire Range during Operation Just Cause. The deployment made the company the first Army National Guard unit activated since the Vietnam War. In 1990 and 1991, it deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm and guarded prisoners of war for approximately five months. From February through December 2003, the company supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom with customs, physical-security, and law-and-order missions in Kuwait and Doha, Qatar. The unit later prepared for a detainee-operations deployment to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10. During preparation, personnel losses caused by transfers to another Missouri National Guard military police company were offset by soldiers drawn from 23 other Missouri Army National Guard units. After pre-mobilization training at Camp Clark and post-mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas, the company completed a mission-evaluation exercise and deployed to Iraq in 2009. The 1138th Military Police Company was inactivated at West Plains in January 2019. Its former location was subsequently associated with the activation of the 1142nd Engineer Company in September 2019. The 1138th therefore remains a historical military unit rather than an active operating organization.
History
The 1138th Military Police Company entered federal recognition on 15 January 1968 as a Missouri Army National Guard unit assigned to West Plains. Its initial structure placed the headquarters, one platoon, and the machine-gun section in West Plains, while two platoons formed a detachment in Doniphan. The company was assigned to the 204th Military Police Battalion at formation, transferred to the 205th Military Police Battalion in 1969, returned to the 204th in 1973, and moved again to the 205th in 1986. From 1995 onward, it was associated with the 175th Military Police Battalion. The company’s Missouri organization evolved in the 1990s. On 1 July 1993, the Doniphan platoons were realigned to the 735th Support Battalion at Poplar Bluff, while the 1138th added a Springfield detachment. A planned replacement of the West Plains company by the 1135th Military Police Company was cancelled, allowing the 1138th to retain its designation and West Plains base. A second detachment was assigned at Mountain Grove on 1 October 1996 and later inactivated in 1998. The unit also changed mission classification. It was reorganized as a combat-support military police company on 1 October 1996, then reorganized as an Enemy Prisoner of War Company on 1 October 1998. This gave it a specialized role in internment and resettlement and made it the only company of that type in Missouri at the time described by the unit history. Domestic service formed an important part of the company’s record. During the Missouri flood emergency beginning 20 June 1993, the unit spent roughly three months in northeastern Missouri maintaining law and order. After the September 11 attacks, it was mobilized under Operation Noble Eagle and served at Fort Leonard Wood from 1 October 2001 to 21 September 2002. In August 2005, it deployed to Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the 175th Military Police Battalion. Its Louisiana mission combined law-and-order work with area security during Hurricane Katrina relief operations. In January 2009, the company supplied personnel for Operation January Ice, assisting communities in southeastern Missouri affected by severe winter weather. The company’s first major overseas activation came during Operation Just Cause in Panama in December 1989. It established a detainee camp at Empire Range and handled both civilian and military detainees. The activation was historically notable because it was identified as the first Army National Guard unit activated since the Vietnam War. In November 1990, the company mobilized for Operation Desert Storm and deployed to Saudi Arabia, where it guarded prisoners of war for approximately five months. Between February and December 2003, the unit served in the broader operational environment of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It performed customs, physical-security, and law-and-order duties in Kuwait and Doha, Qatar. Its later deployment preparation was more directly tied to detainee operations in Iraq. In 2009, the company prepared for a Baghdad mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10. Nearly 50 soldiers were transferred to the 1140th Military Police Company, which was preparing for Afghanistan, and the 1138th rebuilt its personnel strength with in-lieu-of military police drawn from 23 other Missouri Army National Guard units. It conducted pre-mobilization training at Camp Clark, post-mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and a 20-day mission-evaluation exercise before deploying to Iraq. The 1138th Military Police Company was inactivated in January 2019 at West Plains. The subsequent activation of the 1142nd Engineer Company at the site in September 2019 marked the end of the 1138th’s organizational existence. It was a military unit, not a commercial brand, and had no consumer product portfolio, public-company status, or independently reported financial performance.
- 2019
Inactivation
[1]The West Plains company was inactivated in January, ending its organizational existence.
- 2009
Operation January Ice and Iraq preparation
[1]The unit assisted Missouri winter-storm victims and then completed training and personnel reconstitution for a detainee-operations deployment to Iraq.
- 2005
Hurricane Katrina relief deployment
[1]The company supported law-and-order and area-security operations in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
- 2003
Kuwait and Qatar operations
[1]The company performed customs, physical-security, and law-and-order missions in Kuwait and Doha, Qatar.
- 2001
Operation Noble Eagle activation
[1]The unit served at Fort Leonard Wood in law-and-order and security roles from October 2001 through September 2002.
- 1998
Enemy Prisoner of War Company designation
[1]The company was reorganized as an Enemy Prisoner of War Company, described as Missouri’s only unit organized in that form.
- 1996
Combat-support reorganization
[1]The company was reorganized as a combat-support military police company and received a Mountain Grove detachment.
- 1993
Missouri flood response
[1]The company was mobilized for approximately three months of law-and-order support during a Missouri flood emergency.
- 1993
Missouri organizational realignment
[1]The Doniphan platoons moved to the 735th Support Battalion, and the company added a Springfield detachment.
- 1990
Operation Desert Storm deployment
[1]The company mobilized for Saudi Arabia and guarded prisoners of war for approximately five months.
Products and positioning
A Missouri Army National Guard military police company focused on law enforcement support, security, detainee operations, and emergency response rather than commercial products or consumer services.
Military police service · 1968
Law-and-order operations
The company provided military police law-and-order support in domestic and overseas settings. Duties included maintaining order during Missouri emergency response, supporting Fort Leonard Wood after the September 11 attacks, and conducting law-enforcement-related missions in deployed operational areas.
Detainee operations · 1968
Internment and resettlement operations
A central capability of the unit was the custody and management of civilian, military, and enemy prisoners. This role was demonstrated in Panama, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq and was reflected in the company’s 1998 reorganization as an Enemy Prisoner of War Company.
Military security · 1968
Security and physical-security missions
The company conducted installation security, area security, and physical-security assignments. These missions supported military facilities, disaster-relief areas, and overseas bases in Kuwait, Qatar, Louisiana, and other operational locations.
Deployment support · 2003
Customs and movement-control support
During its 2003 Middle East deployment, the company carried out customs-related duties alongside physical-security and law-and-order responsibilities in Kuwait and Doha, Qatar.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Operation January Ice
Southeastern Missouri, United States
A contingent assisted communities affected by severe winter weather while the company was preparing for another overseas deployment.
Outcome. The domestic relief mission concluded before the company continued its preparation for Iraq.
- 2009Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10
Iraq
After training at Camp Clark and Fort Bliss, the company deployed to Iraq for a detainee-operations mission. Personnel from 23 Missouri Army National Guard units were used to fill the company’s ranks after transfers to another military police unit.
Outcome. The company completed mission-evaluation training and deployed in support of the Iraq operation.
- 2005Hurricane Katrina relief operations
Louisiana, United States
Deployed with the 175th Military Police Battalion to Jefferson Parish, the company supported relief operations through law-and-order and area-security missions.
Outcome. The unit returned on 21 September 2005.
- 2003Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom
Kuwait · Qatar
The company conducted customs, physical-security, and law-and-order missions in Kuwait and Doha, Qatar.
Outcome. The company served on active duty from 10 February through 21 December 2003.
- 2001Operation Noble Eagle
Missouri, United States
The unit provided security and law-and-order support at Fort Leonard Wood after the September 11 attacks.
Outcome. Active-duty service ran from 1 October 2001 through 21 September 2002.
- 1993Missouri flood emergency response
Missouri, United States
The company supported state emergency operations in northeastern Missouri and maintained law and order during the flood response.
Outcome. The company remained mobilized for approximately three months.
- 1990Operation Desert Storm
Saudi Arabia
The company deployed to Saudi Arabia after mobilization on 15 November 1990 and guarded prisoners of war.
Outcome. The deployment lasted approximately five months.
- 1989Operation Just Cause
Panama
The company was activated for the Panama operation and operated a detainee camp at Empire Range for civilian and military detainees.
Outcome. The unit completed its detainee and internment mission in Panama.
Brand decisions
2019
Inactivation of the companyOtherBackground
The Missouri Army National Guard reorganized the force structure at the company’s West Plains location.
Action taken
The 1138th Military Police Company was inactivated in January 2019.
Aftermath
The 1142nd Engineer Company was activated at the site in September 2019.
2009
Personnel reconstitution for Iraq deploymentStrategyBackground
While preparing for a Baghdad detainee-operations mission, nearly 50 soldiers were transferred to the 1140th Military Police Company for an Afghanistan deployment.
Action taken
The 1138th filled its ranks with in-lieu-of military police from 23 other Missouri Army National Guard units and completed mobilization training at Camp Clark and Fort Bliss.
Aftermath
The company completed a 20-day mission-evaluation exercise and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10.
1998
Reorganization as an Enemy Prisoner of War CompanyStrategyBackground
The unit’s internment and resettlement role became more formally specialized within Missouri’s military police structure.
Action taken
On 1 October 1998, the company was reorganized as an Enemy Prisoner of War Company.
Aftermath
The designation supported later detainee missions in overseas operations, including Iraq.
1996
Reorganization as a combat-support military police companyStrategyBackground
The company’s mission structure was revised as part of a broader organizational realignment in the Missouri Army National Guard.
Action taken
On 1 October 1996, the unit was reorganized as a combat-support military police company.
Aftermath
The unit was reorganized again in 1998 as an Enemy Prisoner of War Company.
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