Military Policemen: Policing the Military

They drive marked patrol cars, carry loaded pistols, respond to emergencies, write reports and put people in hand cuffs. This is a basic description of members of the law enforcement community as a whole. Aside from traditional police agencies, there exist several agencies tasked with enforcing quite specific laws and who maintain quite a unique jurisdiction. This does not diminish their status as members of the law enforcement community in any way because the service and commitment they make to the communities and populace which they serve are made safer and more secure because of their presence.

The United States Military is an organization deep rooted in customs, history, and tradition. One aspect of the military which sets it apart from other governmental organizations is that the U.S. military is allowed to police itself. The military was granted this right when the U.S. Congress enacted into law the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The UCMJ is the basis for the military legal system, and applies to active duty military members, guard / reserve military members on active duty orders, retired military members, cadets of certain military academies, and civilian contractors (depending on location). The UCMJ is actually a tool for military commanders to maintain good order and discipline on their installations. Because the military commander cannot be everywhere, he or she will delegate law enforcement and security duties and authority to members of his or her respective police force. Members of military law enforcement units have the power to apprehend military members, detain civilian violators of rules or law, and are tasked with enforcing military, local, state, and federal laws on their installations. Each branch of service has their own police force. While their names and specific duties may vary, their overall mission is the same.

The peace time mission of each military police agency is relatively similar. Supervising road traffic, investigating minor violations of the law, and serving as an over all deterrent to crime are just part of their daily tasks. They may also conduct local security operations to include serving as tower scouts, gate guards, and personal protection specialists to certain high ranking service members.

The mission of the respective police agencies of the military branches begins to differ when they are sent overseas or into war time environments. The U.S. Army Military Police Corps and the U.S. Marine Military Police will often provide security to U.S. forces in hostile environments, act as a back up force to any military units in hostile areas who become under attack, perform law and order functions on deployed installations, and are given the responsibility of guarding enemy / hostile detainees. U.S. Navy Masters At Arms will secure ports, ships, and act as the law enforcement entity for any Naval ship at sea. They will man the brig (or jail) and secure violators of military law. U.S. Air Force Security Forces will protect air bases, air craft, and are well known for their work guarding nuclear weapon sites. it was often rumored that it was U.S. Air Force Security Forces members who protected the highly controversial Area 51. Specially trained members of the Air Force Security Forces, known as Phoenix Ravens, will provide security to aircraft which must park outside U.S. controlled areas.

The training that military police members must go through, beyond the basic training that all service members must experience, will cover police tactics, military law, security of sensitive resources, entry and crowd control, basic investigations, interviewing techniques, convoy tactics, weapons training, and detainee procedures. Depending on where the individual military policeman is stationed, some assignments may allow for more law enforcement duties while others may allow for more security related duties. The actual job of the military policeman will ultimately depend on the needs of the installation and commander which the member serves under. When enough experience has been gained, the member may often request to attend advanced training schools such as Military Police Investigator's School or Hostage Negotiation courses. These courses are especially helpful for military members who want to transition to civilian law enforcement. Many military members are attracted to civilian law enforcement because civilian police do not deploy nor are they constantly uprooted from their lives to transfer to another part of the country or to an entirely different country. This is especially appealing for military policeman with small children who do not want their children to have to suffer the consequences of the member's job.

Military law enforcement is a highly respected and regarded field to enter. Every day and in every major conflict which the United States has been a part of, military policeman constantly show the rest of the law enforcement community what it means to be a battle ready and combat tested cop.

Sources:

Military Legal Resources. Library of Congress.

Military Police (31B). U.S. Army.

Law Enforcement and Security. U.S. Navy.

Security Forces Apprentice. U.S. Air Force.