Currently a unit in the Maryland Army National Guard, the 115th Military Police Battalion was originally organized in the Maryland National Guard as Company I, 1st Regiment of Infantry. It was mustered into Federal service in June 1916 and mustered out the following November, but mustered into Federal service again in July 1917 and drafted on 5 August 1917. It was reorganized and redesignated as part of company I, 115th Infantry, an element of the 29th Division. While deployed to France in World War I it took part in two campaigns, Meuse-Argonne and Alsace 1918, before returning stateside to be demobilized at Camp Meade, Maryland in early June, 1919.
It would quickly be reorganized and Federally recognized on 20 November 1920 in the Maryland National Guard as Company I, 1st Infantry, still an element of the 29th Division. It was redesignated under that title on 1 January 1941 and inducted into Federal Service on 3 February 1941. Again serving overseas with the 29th Division (now 29th Infantry Division), the unit took part in four campaign and was awarded an Arrowhead device for taking part in the Normandy landings. Its service was also recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation (embroidered ST. LAURENT-SUR-MER) and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm embroidered BEACHES OF NORMANDY.
After several more redesignations and reorganizations, the unit received its current title of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 115th Military Police Battalion on 21 January 1968 and was relieved from assignment to the 29th Infantry Division. Though briefly called into Federal service in April 1968 in anticipation of possible civil unrest in the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the situation did not escalate to that point and it was reverted to state control. It has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan on several occasions since the start of the War on Terrorism, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its support of the Afghan National Security Forces during the period from 25 December 2012 to 19 September 2013. As of Summer 2023, the 115th Military Police Battalion remains in the Maryland Army National Guard, assigned to the 58th Troop Command and headquartered at Salisbury, Maryland.
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The 115th Military Police Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, was approved on 15 February 1974. A scarlet and white cross in the center of the insignia is a symbol of the Maryland Army National Guard, and two scale pans—the scales of justice—stand for equal justice in the lawful processes carried out as part of the overall mission of the organization. A fleur-de-lis in for service in World War I and World War II in France and Central Europe; the arrowhead it rests upon is for the Normandy Landings, with its blue color referencing the Presidential Unit citation it was awarded. "Maryland's Finest" emphasizes the organization's role as a law enforcement unit, as the phrase "the finest" is commonly applied to those performing the difficult yet necessary task of law enforcement.
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.