Originally constituted in the Rhode Island Army National Guard (ARNG) as HQ and HQ Detachment, 103rd Replacement Battalion on 4 March 1959, the 43rd Military Police Brigade had been in existence over forty years before it was ordered into active Federal Service in April 2002 and deployed to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba the following month. Relieving the 89th Military Police Brigade, the 43rd Military Police Brigade became the new Headquarters Element for Joint Task Force – 160, one of two JTFs that had been established to oversee and operate facilities for interrogation and detention at Guantanamo. More Soldiers from the 43rd MP Brigade deployed to Cuba in November 2002 when the two JTFs were consolidated to form Joint Task Force – Guantanamo; for its work leading up to the consolidation, the HQ, JTF – 160 was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
As of March 2023, the 43rd Military Police Brigade remains a Rhode Island ARNG unit, with its HQ and HQ Company located in Warwick, Rhode Island and comprising two Military Police Battalions, one also headquartered in Warwick and the other based in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Approved for wear on 23 May 1972, the 43rd Military Police Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia features its motto, “Protect The Right,” inscribed on three of four scrolls encircling a green oval that is bisected horizontally with a wavy white band; the white band is vertically bisected a gold anchor. The gold anchor is taken from the State flag of Rhode Island, and the wavy band alludes to the waters of Narragansett Bay, near the Brigade’s garrison of Warwick.
Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a 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.
More 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.Related Items
43rd Military Police Brigade Patch (SSI)
43d Military Police Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)