Motto of the United States Air Force Security Forces
Most people are familiar with the title Military Police as used by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. Fewer, however, are acquainted with their military police counterparts in the U.S. Air Force (Security Forces), the U.S. Navy (Master-at-Arms) or the U.S. Coast Guard (Port Securitymen). The purpose of this site is to provide information on the military police units from all branches of the armed forces: USA, USAF, USMC, USN, and the USCG.
U.S. Army Military Police
The Army provost corps dates back to the American War of Independence, but it was not until 1941 that the Military Police Corps became a permanent branch of the U.S. Army. Military Police soldiers enforce military orders and regulations on U.S. Army posts. Military police duties include crime prevention, physical security, military working dogs (MWD), corrections, counter-terrorism, and criminal investigation. During wartime, MPs are tasked with supporting front line troops by providing battlefield circuluation and control, area security, and the guarding of enemy prisoners of war. During the Vietnam War, the Military Police Corps was redesigned as a combat support arm and branch of the U.S. Army in 1968.
U.S. Air Force Security Forces
With the separation of the Air Force from the Army in 1947, the new military police of the United States Air Force were called Air Police (effective January 1948). Air Police were responsible for providing both security and law enforcement functions on U.S. air bases and installations. In January 1967, the title Air Police was changed to Security Police. The name change to Security Police was considered more descriptive of its two main missions of security and police protection. Then, in 1971, the Security Police career field was divided into Security Specialists and Law Enforcement Specialists. On July 1, 1997 Security Police units were officially redesignated Security Forces units, reflecting the new emphasis on their mission of force protection. Current SF duties include installation security, nuclear and conventional weapons security, resources security, air base defense, and military working dogs (MWD) programs. Security Force units are authorized to use force, up to and including deadly force, in peforming its mission. SFs continue to provide military police functions and when performing this mission, law enforcement specialists are called Security Police.
U.S. Marine Corps Military Police
Marine MPs are responsible for law enforcement, battlefield circulation and control, area security, and enemy prisoner of war operations. These missions are comparable to the four basic missions of the Army military police. Marines receive their police training at the United States Army Military Police School.
U.S. Navy Master-at Arms/Security Force
The military police of the U.S. Navy falls under the Master-at-Arms rating. This rating is open to sailors with the Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4) grade. The Navy is the only branch of the armed forces that does not allow E-3 and below to go into the security/police field. The Master-at-Arms rating can be traced back to the Union Navy during the Civil War. However, it was a collateral duty until 1973, when it became an official rating. MAs perform law enforcement duties, physical security, and also serve as handlers in the military working dogs (MWD) program. The Master-at-Arms is a sea-intensive rating was a large number of afloat billets. U.S. Navy Law Enforcement Specialists (LEs) perform police duties on naval installations. Shore Patrol is a collateral rating with SPs selected from a ship's company to aid civil police in maintaining order among sailors while the ship is in port.
U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Specialists
The Coast Guard is the only branch of the armed forces that does not have an active duty military police. Port Security Specialists (PSs), a resevist rating, are responsible for providing port safety and security. They conduct vessel boardings, enforce navigation safety laws, conduct harbour patrols, and provide protective security to vessels and waterfront facilities.
U.S. Armed Forces Police
Armed Forces Police function in large cities where two or more armed services are located. U.S. Armed Forces Police work closely with local civilian police.
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Careers in Federal and Military Law Enforcement
