U.S. Army military police
| United States Army Military Police Corps | |
|---|---|
|
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| Active | 26 September 1941–present |
| Country |
 United States of America
|
| Branch |
 United States Army
|
| Part of | U.S. Department of the Army |
| Motto(s) | Assist. Protect. Defend. |
| Branch Colors | Green piped with yellow. Green – 65007 cloth; 67129 yarn; PMS 357. Yellow – 65002 cloth; 67108 yarn; PMS 123 |
| Engagements |
World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Commanders | |
| Commandant | BG Donna Martin |
| Insignia | |
| Branch Insignia |
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| U.S. Army Law Enforcement Shield |
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| U.S. Army Military Police brassard |
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The Military Police Corps is the uniformed law enforcement branch of the United States Army. Investigations are conducted by Military Police Investigators or the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC), both of which report to the Provost Marshal General.
U.S. Army MP units have combat zone responsibilities in addition to their law enforcement duties. These responsibilities include mounted and dismounted patrols, response force operations, area damage control, route reconnaissance, cordon and search operations, and convoy and personnel escorts. Operationally, these duties fall under the "security and mobility support" discipline of the Military Police Corps. Since the beginning of the Global War on Terror, military police have become a valuable asset to combat operations due to the versatility of the MOS.
The Army's Military Police provide an important function in the full spectrum of Army operations as a member of the Maneuver, Fires, and Effects division. The Military Police Corps provides expertise in police, detainment and stability operations in order to enhance security and enable mobility. The Army's Military Police can be utilized in direct combat and during peacetime.
The Military Police tasks can separated into three disciplines and one integrated function:
The Military Police Corps has six career paths within the Army, one for commissioned officers, one for warrant officers, and four for enlisted soldiers: Currently 31 series, formerly the 95 series.
The Military Police Corps is one of the youngest branches of the United States Army. It was officially established on 26 September 1941.
The Military Police Corps traces its lineage and history back to the American Revolution. General George Washington requested that the staff position of Provost Marshal be created to deal with disciplinary issues. In January 1776, William Maroney was appointed as the first Provost Marshal of the Continental Army. The Provost Marshals relied on soldiers temporarily drawn from other units, and had difficulty enforcing discipline. On 20 May 1778, Congress established the Provost Corps, which General Washington referred to as the "Marechaussee." This name was from the French: "maréchaussée," from the Old French "mareschaucie," meaning "the marshalcy." Captain Bartholomew von Heer, a German-speaking officer from Pennsylvania, was appointed as the first commander of the Marechaussee on 1 June 1778. Under the new organization, the Provost Marshal was responsible for soldiers under custody and for punishments, while the Marechaussee was tasked with the enforcement of order within the Continental Army. The Marechaussee Corps would be formed exclusively as a police organization, and was organized and equipped as light dragoons, utilizing their speed to aid in troop movements and moving prisoners from the battlefield. The Marechaussee protected the Army's rear and flanks during troop movements, searched for stragglers, guarded river crossings, and engaged in combat when needed, as in the Battle of Springfield. The Provost Corps was disbanded in November 1783.
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Wikipedia