- For the Israeli corps, see Military Police Corps (Israel).
The Military Police Corps is the uniformed law enforcement branch of the United States Army. Investigations are conducted by the USACIDC MPs are service members of the U.S. Army and United States Marine Corps. Some U.S. MP units, usually at the division or brigade level, are designated as combat, division MPs whose combat zone responsibilities include protection of vehicle routes, defile control, route reconnaissance and straggler control, the guidance or detention of soldiers who have become lost, separated from their units, or have fled the battlefield.
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Mission
The Army's Military Police provide an important function in the full spectrum of Army operations. The Army's Military Police can be utilized in direct combat and during peacetime. The Military Police have five main functions: 1. Maneuver and mobility support operations
2. Area security operations
3. Law and order operations
4. Internment and resettlement operations
5. Police intelligence operations
These five functions of the Army's Military Police all provide a commander with the necessary information and support for the successful completion of many Army missions. The Military Police Corps has four career paths within the Army: 31A Military Police Officer 31B Military Police 31D Criminal Investigations Special Agent 31E Internment/Resettlement Specialist
History
The Military Police Corps is one of the youngest branches of the United States Army. It was officially established on 26 September 1941. However, American soldiers have been performing police duties from Revolutionary War times, when these duties were assigned mainly to a mounted police force called the “Troops of the Marechaussee.” Soldiers of the Veteran’s Reserve Corps and Provost Corps performed military police duties during the US Civil War. The complexity of warfare during World War I required a Corps comprised of specially trained soldiers to handle massive numbers of prisoners of war and control the movement of troops and supplies in the zones of operation. During World War II, Military Police soldiers moved traffic along the Burma Road, supported amphibious operations on Normandy beachheads and managed enemy prisoners of war from Italy to the South Pacific. The Corps was heralded for gallantry at Remagen, as a fighting force in numerous combat actions and as peacekeepers at war’s end. In 1944, the Army again saw the need for a unit to investigate crime involving Soldiers in Europe. The United States Army Criminal Investigation Division was established as a branch of the Provost Marshal General’s Office and has continued investigative activity since. During the Korean conflict, Military Police kept supply routes open. Subsequently, Military Police monitored the exchange of prisoners and patrolled the demilitarized zone. Military Police, adapting to a different style of warfare in Vietnam, earned status as a combat support arm, partially as a result of combat success during the Tet Offensive. Since Vietnam, the versatility of the Military Police Corps has made it a "Force of Choice" for use in low-intensity conflicts and Operations Other than War such as Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and Operation Just Cause in Panama. During Operations Desert Shield and Storm, the Military Police provided area security, conducted battlefield circulation control, and exercised custody over thousands of Iraqi prisoners. Since 1991, the Military Police have assisted in restoring hope to Somalia and upholding democracy in Haiti and Bosnia. Military Police maintained order in war-torn Kosovo, as well as keeping the peace in Afghanistan. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, MPs were used extensively to maintain control over the large numbers of detainees being held by coalition forces, as well as helping to conduct raids and regular patrols. In the United States, MPs often provided disaster relief and internal security, while still fulfilling their fundamental function of maintaining discipline and security within the Army. The Military Police Corps has been a very busy organisation during the years of its existence, and as one of the most deployed branches of the Army, it appears that it will remain so for the foreseeable future.
Weapons
The standard weapons of the United States military police are the M9 9 mm magazine-fed semi-automatic pistol, the M4 Carbine, the M203 grenade launcher, and the 12 gauge shotgun. Crew-served or vehicle based weapons include the M2 Browning .50 BMG Machine gun, the Mk 19 40 mm Grenade Launcher, the M240B Machine Gun, and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).
Uniforms
In the U.S. Army, a simple patch with the legend "MP" worn on the left arm distinguishes a military police soldier wearing the new Army Combat Uniform (ACU). This patch is attached to the uniform by Velcro. For garrison law enforcement duty, the patch is reflective; for tactical field work it is plain cloth in subdued tones. US military police used to be distinguished by a brassard worn on the left arm when on duty in previous uniform versions such as the Battle Dress Uniform. The brassard was black with white lettering for garrison law enforcement duty and could include extra designations such as "Customs MP" or "K-9 MP" (for dog handlers). Tactical brassards were green with black lettering for temperate climates and sand with light brown lettering for desert duty. When wearing a Class A (suit) or B uniform they are authorized wear of combat boots instead of regulation low-cut shoes. However, like Airborne soldiers who may only wear the boots while on jump status, MP's may only wear these boots with Class A or B uniforms when performing law enforcement duties. During World War II, the emblems used were a wide white band around the helmet or a white helmet liner or a white peaked cap, a white webbing Sam Browne belt, white gloves, and white gaiters, atop the standard olive drab uniform. From this clothing, the nickname they were given by the British civilians at the time was "snowdrops." An MP armband was also worn on the left arm, usually black with white letters.
Military Police Investigations
The Military Police Investigations (MPI) office is usually responsible for the investigation of minor crimes, such as crimes against property under $1,000.00 and crimes against persons except murder and rape committed on a military installation, but they may investigate other crimes in certain circumstances. MPI personnel are enlisted MP's who go through a special course at the Military Police School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The Military Police Investigations office also assists the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in investigating felonies committed by soldiers, cadets and civilians.
Military Police units
- United States Army Criminal Investigation Division
- 16th Military Police Brigade
- 18th Military Police Brigade
- 42nd Military Police Brigade
- 43rd Military Police Brigade
- 49th Military Police Brigade
- 89th Military Police Brigade
- 220th Military Police Company
- 300th Military Police Brigade
- 372nd Military Police Company
- 40th Military Police Detachment
Other Military Police
The U.S Navy and U.S. Coast Guard use the term Shore Patrol and Master at arms, while the U.S. Air Force uses the term Security Forces, or SFs to describe the Air Force Security Forces. The Department of Defense use DOD Civilian Police. Each service also maintains uniformed civilian police officers. They are referred to as either DOD Force Protection (formerly known as Pentagon Police), DOD (Department of Defense) Police, DOD (Department of Defense) Guard, DA (Department of the Army) Police or DA Guard. The police officers' peacetime duties are the same as those of civilian police, namely to enforce the laws of the U.S. Military in the form of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and the regulations of their particular installation. The civilian guards' duties are normally restricted to protection of priority resources.
See also
- Military police
- Military law
- Air Force Security Forces
- Master-at-arms
- Shore patrol
- United States Constabulary (Obsolete Organization)
