The Spartans of ancient Greece would be proud of the "Spartans" of the 595th Military Police Company, 508th Military Police Battalion (Internment/Resettlement) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Tuesday afternoon, the unit - under the command of Capt. Adam Fulton - received for the first time the coveted Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Barr Award for fiscal year 2013.

The award is presented to the best military police unit (company or smaller) that is attached to or supportive of the Army Corrections Command.

"Today we honor the hard work this unit has done," said the company's 1st Sgt. Kathryn Fair.

The award is based on total unit accomplishments, encompassing every phase of activity bearing directly on mission preparation and accomplishment.

>>> Capt. Adam Fulton, commander, 595th Military Police Company, accepts the Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Barr Award from Maj. Gen. David Quantock, Provost Marshal General of the Army.

Barr, a lawyer by training, served in the Army from 1865 to 1901.

In a 1871 letter to the Secretary of War, he made a number of suggestions to improve conditions for incarcerated soldiers. 

For his work, Barr is remembered as the Father of U.S. Military Prisons.

He served as the commissioner of the United States Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from 1873 to 1894.

Barr would have enjoyed meeting Fulton's soldiers.

"Everything this company does it does well, very well," said Maj. Gen. David Quantock, Army Corrections Command, Army Provost Marshal General.

"This award is a recognition of your excellence."

It's the kind of work Barr would have appreciated and approved of.

The first active duty corrections company to deploy to Afghanistan, the 595th is home to I Corps' Soldier of the Year, an Audie Murphy Club Inductee and a soldier who beat a Ranger to take first place in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord and I Corps combatives tournament.

What's more, the company is active in the community connector program, and 50 percent of its soldiers are enrolled in college courses.

"It is amazing what this company has been able to accomplish and still strives to accomplish all while supporting the Northwestern Joint Regional Correctional Faculty," said Fulton in prepared remarks.

"This is absolutely your reward.  Without your hard work, sweat and sacrifice, this would not have been possible."