By Brian Hill, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 31, 2023) — The U.S. Army Military Police School held a change-of-responsibility ceremony May 25 in Lincoln Hall Auditorium, where Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mark Arnold relinquished responsibility of the Military Police Regiment to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Angela Rulewich.

Providing remarks at the ceremony was Brig. Gen. Sarah Albrycht, USAMPS commandant, who said Arnold’s more than 30 years of MP experience has been invaluable to both herself and her predecessor, Brig. Gen. Niave Knell, “as we forged the future of the regiment.”

“Chief Arnold has had to operate with his feet in two worlds,” Albrycht said. “One that supports the vision of (Army Criminal Investigation Division Director Gregory Ford) at headquarters CID, and one that supports how (U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command) mans, trains and equips the Soldiers of the Army. To say he has done this with incredible pragmatism, professionalism and grace is an understatement.”

Arnold, who became a special agent in 1994, and a warrant officer in 1997, has served at locations around the world, investigated hundreds of cases — and likely reviewed thousands more — and impacted thousands of lives in his career, Albrycht said.

“Despite seeing the worst of the Army every day for decades, he so deeply believed in the good in the Army, he continued to fight for justice,” she said.

Rulewich, Albrycht noted, did not have to travel far to take on her new responsibilities.

“She was right upstairs as the Warrant Officer Advanced Course Manager,” Albrycht said. “Her background suits her perfectly to what we need in the position at this time.”

Arnold, whose service in the Army began in 1984, called his final assignment his best.

“I knew this assignment was going to be challenging, as there were a lot of changes since the last time I was here,” he said. “But the one thing that didn’t change was the quality and commitment of our workforce.”

Arnold pointed out some of the major milestones Fort Leonard Wood — and the MP Corps — achieved during his time here, including accomplishing the training mission while creating a safer, lower-risk work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic and redesigning the warrant officer professional military education system.

“It was truly a sight to see, and I am extremely proud to be associated with such professionals,” he said.

To Rulewich, Arnold said “you are absolutely the right leader at the right time to take this position.”

“Your passion and dedication to the profession are unmatched and I am confident you will continue the forward momentum in moving our regiment into the future,” he said.

Arnold, who will retire later this year, said it was “truly an honor and privilege to serve as your regimental chief warrant officer.”

“The Military Police are continually examined, evaluated and graded by the community we are charged to protect,” he said. “No other branch of the Army is subjected to such frequent, exacting scrutiny. We are elite members of the law enforcement community, and I am proud to possess the title of ‘professional.’”

Rulewich, who grew up in the town of Miller, Missouri, west of Springfield, noted Arnold took a chance on her 18 years ago, when she became a CID special agent.

“Chief, thank you for taking that chance and continuing to mentor me throughout the years,” she said.

Rulewich also thanked Albrycht, “for taking a chance on me now to serve the regiment,” adding she has heard from many leaders, peers and subordinates over the years that she is a caring person.

“Well, that’s true,” she said. “I have learned throughout my time as an agent you have to not only care about the ‘what’ you do, but care about the people around you to be successful.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About Fort Leonard Wood

Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.

Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.

More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission