Military Police

Answer 1

Each branch of the United States Armed Forces maintains its own uniformed law enforcement branch of military police (MP): the U. S. Army Military Police Corps, the Marine Corps Police, the Air Force Security Forces, and the Master-at-Arms branch of the U. S. Navy.

The Military Police Corps traces its origins to 1778, when the Marechaussee Corps was established during the American Revolution to enforce order within the Continental Army. The U. S. Army Military Police Corps was established in 1941 and is one of the most deployed branches of the U. S. Army. MP personnel are recognized for their versatility and are considered a “Force of Choice” for low-intensity conflicts.

Generally, the primary role of MPs is to provide discipline and security within the U. S. Armed Forces. MPs are tasked with five functions: mobility support operations, area security, law and order operations, internment/resettlement operations, and police intelligence operations. Although some military police may be tasked with guarding prisoners, most MPs are deployed in patrol vehicles for the purposes of securing a specific area. MPs are trained to operate checkpoints, investigate criminal activity within their jurisdiction, and to deal with detainees, such as prisoners of war.

Although an individual may join the U. S. Army at the age of 18, the minimum age requirement to become an MP is 21. There are two training phases for MPs: nine weeks of basic training, and 12 weeks of specialized training. Training of MPs involves both field training and classroom instruction.

MPs may select one of four areas of specialized training in the U. S. Army’s Military Police Corps: 31E Internment/Resettlement Specialist, 31D Criminal Investigations Special Agent, 31B Military Police, and 31A Military Police Officer.

In recent years, U. S. MPs have been frequently assigned combat zone responsibilities, such as protecting transportation routes, reconnaissance, and guiding soldiers who have become separated from their units.

The average starting salary for U. S. Army military police trainees is approximately $28,000. The average annual salary for military police that have completed training and attained full status as a military police officer is between $32,000 and $34,000. Combat military police platoon leaders make between $57,000 and $64,000.