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Commander
Colonel John W Copeland
COL John W. Copeland is from San Antonio, Texas. In 2000, he graduated from Texas Christian University earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a commission in the United States Army Military Police Corps. In 2004, he earned a Master of Business (Organizational Security Management) from Webster University; in 2008, he earned a Master of Public Administration (Public Policy) from Georgetown University; and in 2021, he earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
His military education includes the Military Police Officer Basic and Advance Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, and the Army War College.
His assignments include Platoon Leader, 65th MP Company (Airborne) and 82d MP Company, and Company XO, 82d MP Company, Fort Liberty, NC and Afghanistan; Commander, 401st MP Company, Fort Cavazos, TX and Iraq; Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington DC; Strategic Initiatives Group, Office of the Provost Marshal General, Washington DC; Battalion Executive Officer, 503d MP Battalion (Airborne) and Brigade S3, 16th MP Brigade, Fort Liberty, NC and Afghanistan; Presidential Strike Advisor, Washington, DC; Commander, 709th MP Battalion, Vilseck, Germany; G3, Task Force CAIN, Operation Allies Welcome, Camp Atterbury, Indiana; and Division Chief, Command and Tactics, U.S. Army Military Police School, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal (Valor and Service), the Purple Heart Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and other awards commensurate to his assignments and time in service. He’s earned the Joint Staff Badge, the Army Staff Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Master Parachutist’s Badge. COL Copeland is a member of the Military Police Regiment’s Order of the Marechaussee.
He is married and has one son.
Command Sergeant Major
CSM Charles D Neikirk
Command Sergeant Major Charles David Neikirk hails from West Salem, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Army in October 1995 as a Military Police Soldier. He attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort McClellan, Alabama and obtained the Military Occupational Specialty of 95B Military Police Soldier.
CSM Neikirk has served as a Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, BN and BDE Operations Sergeant Major, Inspector General Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of a two-star level Inspector General Team, and Battalion Command Sergeant Major.
His stateside assignments include 978th Military Police Company Fort Bliss, Texas, 988th Military Police Company Fort Benning, Georgia, Delta Company 795th Military Police Battalion, United States Army Drill Sergeant School, Noncommissioned Officer Academy Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, 82nd Airborne Division Provost Marshal Office, Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion 82nd Airborne Division, 108th Military Police Company, 65th Military Police Company, Headquarter and Headquarters Company 16th Military Police Brigade, 1st Support Command (Theater), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Fort Bliss, Texas, and Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 503D Military Police Battalion, and 91st Military Police Battalion, Fort Drum New York.
His overseas assignments include 230th Military Police Company Kaiserslautern, Germany and the Office of the Program Manager Saudi Arabian National Guard, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has deployed to Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Iraq for Combat and Peacekeeping Operations.
CSM Neikirk’s military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Airborne School, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Drill Sergeant School, Combatives level one, two and three, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Anti-Terrorism Force Protection School, Jump Master School, Inspector General School, and the United States Sergeants Major Academy.
His civilian education includes a High School Diploma from Mount Carmel High School, an Associate Degree in General Studies from Colombia College, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Excelsior College.
CSM Neikirk’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (7th award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal (13th award), Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, and German Jump Wings.
Permanent Party Reporting
When you arrive sign in from leave at Dillard Hall, Bldg 470, 140 Replacement Ave. New Soldiers will start the “Arrive Strong” program the following duty day. The “Arrive Strong” program is a seven day installation in-processing program for all permanent party Soldiers.
Graduation Information
Inside the Wire
Headquarters Company
Basic Military Police Training Division
701st MP Battalion
787th MP Battalion
795th MP Battalion
43rd Reception Battalion
Mission
The 14th Military Police Brigade transforms civilians into disciplined and physically fit Soldiers of character; trains and educates law enforcement professionals to continuously support the Army’s premier dual-purpose force and mitigate strategic risk.
History of the 14th Military Police Brigade
The 14th Military Police Brigade played a major role in the defense of freedom since it was first activated as the 14th Military Police Group in Mannheim, Germany on 25 June 1965. The Group was reorganized 10 June 1968 at Fort Meade, Maryland to provide support to the nation’s capital until it was reactivated and returned to Germany as the 14th Military Police Group at Moehringen, Germany on 16 November 1981. It was reorganized and redesignated as the 14th Military Police Brigade on 16 August 1985 at Wilkin Kaserne, Kornwestheim, Germany.
The Brigade, comprised of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, the 385th Military Police Battalion in Kornwestheim, and the 793rd Military Police Battalion in Nurnberg, supported VII (US) Corps with a powerful force ready to conduct rear combat operations, battlefield circulation control, prisoner of war operations and war-time law enforcement. The Brigade also provided trained military police for peacetime force protection in the thirteen military communities of the VII (US) Corps. The Brigade deployed with one battalion to Saudi Arabia in December 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield while its remaining units worked with the Polizei and Feldjaegers to provide security for the soldiers and families left in Germany. When Operation Desert Storm commenced in January 1991, the Brigade commanded 21 units of active and reserve forces – 2,800 soldiers – until redeployed in May 1991. It was then inactivated at Kornwestheim, Germany on 17 March 1992 and reorganized at Mannheim, Germany on 18 March 1992 as the command and control headquarters for the 95th and 97th Military Police Battalions.
The 14th Military Police Brigade was later inactivated on 15 September 1994 at Mannheim, Germany. On 1 October 1999, as part of the move of the Military Police Corps Regiment from Fort McClellan, Alabama the Brigade was reactivated at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. In 1999, 14th Military Police Brigade contained the 701st Military Police Battalion, the 787th Military Police Battalion and the 795th Military Police Battalion. On 15 January 2007 to accommodate the surge of Soldiers the 796th Military Police Battalion was activated. The 796th Military Police Battalion was inactivated shortly after on 17 December 2008. On 24 May 2018, the 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment was reactivated at Fort Leonard Wood and assigned to the 14th Military Police Brigade to conduct basic combat training in support of the Army’s end strength increase. The 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment was inactivated on 18 September 2020. Yearly the Brigade trains thousands of Soldiers where it proudly upholds its motto, “Forge the Regiment”.
Bde Staff Duty (Cell) (573) 842-8930 (DSN) 573-596-0424