SPRINGVILLE, Utah –
SPRINGVILLE, Utah -- Members of the Utah National Guard who were part of the 489th Brigade Support Battalion became part of the 625th Military Police Battalion during a ceremony at the Springville Readiness Center, Sep. 13, 2020.
During the brief ceremony, Lt. Col. Budd Vogrinec and Command Sgt. Maj. Garrett Whatcott cased the former guidon, or flag of their unit, and uncased the guidon for the new unit.
“As we close the chapter of the 489th BSB supporting victory and open a new chapter of the 625th MP Battalion, I promise you that I will continue to lead with clear expectations of enforcing high standards,” said Vogrinec.
The Adjutant General of Utah, Maj. Gen. Michael J. Turley, attended the ceremony and spoke to the assembled troops. His message was for all Soldiers to be clear, accessible and bold.
“Every Soldier, from commander to team leader, needs to act boldly,” Turley said. “We don’t put you in charge of a unit, assignment or a team so you can sit back and not do anything.”
The 625th MPB’s mission will be to provide mission command, supervision and coordination for military police operations as assigned.
The 489th BSB was activated into the Utah Army National Guard in 2008 with the primary mission of providing logistics support to its parent unit, the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
The battalion was composed of three companies: Headquarters and Headquarters Company in Springville; the 118th Transportation Company in Spanish Fork, Utah; and a field maintenance company in Louisiana, which will also be deactivated.
Those units will be reassigned to other battalions. The 625th MPB will have a new headquarters detachment.
The 625th MPB has a history in the Utah National Guard. The 625th MP Co. was organized in 1963 and performed prisoner of war missions in the 1970s, according to Vogrinec. It was activated in 1991 to participate in Operation Desert Storm. In 1997, the unit was deactivated.
As a platoon sergeant in 1997, Vogrinec remembers the deactivation. The last company commander, Maj. Teri Sommers, presented him with a small plaque in recognition of his service to the unit. Summers also recommended Vogrinec to officer candidate school.