Each of the military services has its military police components. They are well known to all who have served in the military, as they are responsible for enforcing military law and order on all of our military bases. In the Navy, they are called Shore Patrol, but this video looks specifically at Army MPs and their diverse duties both in combat situations and on military installations both here at home and on bases abroad.
Army MPs, like their civilian counterparts, protect lives and property on Army installations by enforcing military laws and regulations, as well as controlling traffic and participating in crime prevention and responding to emergencies on those Army bases. That is where most of us have some experience with their duties. It is the way most of us picture the duties of an Army MP, or a Navy SP, but that is only part of their many duties. They also have duties and responsibilities on and around the battlefield in times of war.
Among the Military Police’s combat duties are to support the battlefield by conducting force protection, area security, and police intelligence operations, as well as crime prevention duties when necessary. In recent decades, they have taken on certain anti-terrorism duties as well. They are also trained in corrections and confining of inmates and, in combat situations, securing and maintaining enemy prisoners of war. They conduct investigations and provide mobile security support in combat arenas. But their main job is to preserve and protect the rule of law, both in war and in peace.
MPs can also be assigned as Military Working Dog Handlers (WDH), responsible for the care and training of their service dog. This training can be diverse as well, being divided between regular policing duties and detection of explosives and drugs. These WDHs and their dogs are generally used as non-lethal options in neutralizing threats and psychological deterrents during law enforcement operations.
This video will give you a broad sense of what modern Army MPs do. Their role in combat zones is complex and very important to providing and maintaining the freedom of maneuver for combat forces. They guard convoys, secure and maintain the safety of enemy prisoners of war, and give combat support when necessary.
Enjoy this video. It gives a really good picture of the important and integral role the Military Police bring to bear both here at home and abroad on our military installation, and also on the battlefield. Their motto is: Assist, Protect, Defend.