Military Police

[Bob1234]

I've got a few questions about MP's...

1) Do they get badges?


2)What do they do on an average day?

3) Do they always have to wear those MP armbands?

Thanks
Bob

[Doc_Earp]

MP's mission varies all over the world. Some units are solely tactical MP's and train for their missions in the field for worldwide deployments, some work mainly law enforcement on a daily basis just like a civilian law enforcement agency, and some units rotate between the two in cycles.
1-they don't get badges. If you work in MPI or CID you'd have credentials, but MP's don't have badges.
2-their really isn't an average day for an MP. It's going to vary on the unit's mission like I mentioned. For the most part, an average MP unit, unless deployed, is going to rotate between working law enforcement on post and training their tactical missions in cycles.
The armbands are called brassards and are worn when working law enforcement on post. There are also subdued brassards, for the field, that are worn in training in the field or while conducting MP missions while on a deployment.

[CustomsCop]

I cant speak for the army but in the air force
1. Yes we get badges, however they are not authorized to be carried off duty. I belive the Marine MP's and Navy MAA's also get badges.
2. In the air force, your day can be spent walking around an airplane, working in a nuclear missle silo or doing patrol on a base or being the gate guard. If your real lucky you can be sent to lovely Saudi Arabia and preform Air base ground defense or ground combat skills (which ever name you prefer)
3. In the Air force, we dont wear bassards because we are different because we wear a beret (The cops look the coolest in the Air Force:cool: ). We also wear a subdued badge patch. HOWEVER in some overseas locations (IE Germany/Saudi Arabia and Turkey) Secuirty Forces do wear the bassards with big letters saying SF(or SP) and in the host nations language.

[TTRAIN222]

Well I am an MP (95 Bravo), but I am on delayed entry and will be going to training in February. So I guess I am not an offical MP yet. But from my drill weekends that I have attended thus far, I have learned that the MPs:
-Do a lot of security functions
-Take part in field combat operations
-Drive humvees
-Carry 9mm and M16's
-Wear the brassards and berets
-Are the enforcers in the army community, with respect to rank

Hope that helps!
Steve

[Bob1234]

-Do a lot of security functions Sweet!
-Take part in field combat operations Sweet!
-Drive humvees Very sweet!
-Carry 9mm and M16's Oh yeah!
-Wear the brassards and berets Well, I don't know about those brassards...but the berets look pretty sweet!

Thanks for your replies everybody!

Bob

[SkipInHiro]

Marines assigned to Base Law Enforcement duty are all assigned gold badges with the Marine Corps emblem in the Middle, standard LE gear (sidearm [Beretta 92F], cuffs, baton, radio, extra mag, flashlight, etc...) Uniforms and equipment for bike patrol, SRT, and of course investigators is varies.

For patrol, your day includes;
coming in, drawing needed equipment, going to brief, checking you car if your on patrol, or checking your post if you are on a gate, etc. The job is same as most police depts., you answer calls for service, write tickets, drink some coffee, answer an alam activation (false), check on the guys at the gates, etc.. Finish the days paperwork, turn in gear, debrief and go home.

http://www.skymkk.com/images/usmcbadge.gif

[five-oh]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Most of the law enforcement functions of Military LE are performed be at least an E-4. A new enlistee can look forward to gate guard, perimeter security, guarding a building, aircraft, etc.

When I was in the AF I can't remember ever seeing less than a SrA on patrol in base housing, but I do remember seeing AMN and A1C's spening a lot of time standing next to my plane (dreaming of being somewhere else!)

[SkipInHiro]

I don't know about AF or Army MPs, but the Corps has no rule that E3s and below will stand gate, etc. It really depends on the size of the base, and the number of MPs. Of course the newest guys will stand alot of post, but they will stand it with someone who will train them until they can stand it alone. (They will also ride along with a FTO).
By the time a Marine is fully trained and knows what is going on, he/she will be more than likely a senior LCpl (E3) working toward promotion.
(But even gate sentrys will still do some paperwork, i.e. write tickets and apprehend DUIs at the gate.)

[RoscoeRuhl]

I can tell you that the Army MP badge no longer exist and is part of it's history now. There is no longer an official issue MP Badge. As far as duty is concerned, normal law enforcement functions are the same as they would be in any city in the USA. A private straight out of the MP school works the same duty as anyone else. Of course, the more rank the less time you spend on the gates HOWEVER is depends on the location. Once you graduate, it's assumed that you have the basic knowlege to work, the rest is learned on the job.

Of the troops, for the troops!

Have a great day!

[CustomsCop]

Roscoe and others who are MP's,

Why did the army do away with the badge? I have one in my collection (along with various shields of the USAF Security police and other branches) and it was bought new.

As for the E-4 and below the AF really doesnt have a rule against it but most flight Sgts usually will try to mix up patrol with rivet counting (flightline duty) and gate duty.

[Bob1234]

What are the field exercises like as an MP?
What do you do?

So you have patrol cars as an MP?
What do they look like?
(i.e. any resemblence to inner city cop cars?)

How long do you have to be an MP before applying to the Special Reaction Team?
Anyone on here ever been in one?

Thanks again
Bob

[Doc_Earp]

In regards to performing law enforcement, in the Army (can't speak for the other services), rank is really not an issue. You'll have a squad leader as the shift patrol supervisor, a couple of NCO's conducting one man patrols, and other patrols most likely 2-soldier patrols with seasoned E-4's with privates that have been there a while, or conducting on the job training. Privates won't necessarily work gate guard, static posts right off the bat coming into a unit. Every post will have it's own way of doing things and how the schedule is set up. Last post I was at, there was at least 1 E-5 working gate duty during day shift, so things will vary.

CustomsCop-
As far as doing away with the badges...I came in after the badges were discontinued. I had heard that they were taken away because some were abusing it. That's what I heard, and I could be wrong.

Bob-
The field exercises are used to train the units in their combat support missions. Either going out for a day or two to train in squads or platoons, or going out for a week or more in larger elements. The training will depend on what the unit's mission is. Could be conducting route recon, convoy security, stability and support or hasty attack....MP's mission is pretty vast.
Patrol cars kind of vary. Last unit had Lumina's...pretty standard package inside....some older SUV's for off-road/down range.
SRT, not sure about the requirements about getting in, but I had a soldier that joined SRT after a year of coming into the Army.
Hope that helps.

[SkipInHiro]

Marine MPs in the field train very similar to infantry, esp when it comes to crew served weapons, patrol, guarding convoys, and defensive combat. Outside of that you will train on handling POWs which is a big mission of MPs in combat/ forward areas.

As for SRT there is no time in service rule to join, but you won't find someone fresh out of MP school on a team either. Each base has its own selection rules (which are usually harder than the basic req. according to the LE manual). Some of them being, 1st class PFT, expert with both the M16 rifle and M9 pistol, no page 11s, recommended by supervisor. After making it throught those you will train with the team until you get a school seat to SRT school. If you are at base with a full time team then you will train daily. Part time teams on smaller bases train as often as possible. You will also get a chance to go to some good schools both with the military and civilian. (I was able to go to H&K Tactical school, EMT school, Tactical High Risk supervisors course, local PD shooting courses, to name a few. Military scout-sniper, CQB, Breachers school, are also open sometimes. If you get luck although it has nothing to do with LE you might even get to jump school. (depends on who you know. A hard thing for normal Marines to get! I think it is a easier to get them in the Army, but don't quote me.)

[krellum]

If you get luck although it has nothing to do with LE you might even get to jump school. (depends on who you know. A hard thing for normal Marines to get!

That's the truth. When I was in, every time a unit got a quota for jump/scuba school, the CO or another officer, or maybe a high-ranking enlisted person got it. That's the way it was in the grunts, anyway. Gotta know someone.

k