MassCops - Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network, A Mass Police Web Portal

Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network

Massachusetts Police News, Information and Discussions on MassCops

Pages: 1

Main Page Officer - Military Police
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: tms1989

I am currently in the process of joining Army ROTC, and I was wondering what exactly an officer in the Military Police does?

Any information is appreciated

Posted by: USMCRoryT

Bust other military people!!!!! Nuff said.

Posted by: TacEntry

As a 2nd and 1st LT. in the Army MP's you will typically be a Platoon Leader being told exactly what to do and how to do it by your Platoon Sergeant, and you'll be accountable for all the Platoons Equipment and Actions. If you make it to Captain - they're typically detachment (45 personnel) or company level commanders (130 or so personnel) or Battle Captains in a Battalion HQ's (staff position). Major and above are considered "Field Grade" which means planning, making decisions by consulting with your NCO's, and other staff type positions.
MP also stands for "Multi-Purpose" and the MP mission ranges from a small part of it being Law Enforcement and Law & Order Operations which many think is all that MP's do but it is actually rare and is a pretty small part of the job. A bulk of MP duties are in the Combat Support Role. Combat Support MP's are heavily armed in three or four man teams to 1 vehicle with a crew served weapon (usually .50 Cal, 240B 7.62mm Machine Gun or MK-19 Grenade Machine Gun) with other team members carrying a SAW (5.56mm Light Machine Gun), M-4 Carbines & at least one Team member carrying an M-203 Grenade Launcher. All MP's in the Team carry a Berretta M-9 pistol. CS MP's conduct missions in Squad sizes or bigger, usually (3 vehicles in a squad). It is said that a squad of MP's are more heavily armed than a Platoon of Infantry (cuz they have trucks to carry all their shit) Combat Support missions include: Supply Route Reconnaisance & Patrol (Drive around till you get shot at), Rear Battle area security, Protective Services (catching bullets for VIP's), Refugee and Straggler collection and control, Convoy Security Escorts - the list goes on... MP's also are responsible for Military Corrections, and a host of physical security duties. Good Luck!

Posted by: USMCRoryT

TAC i love that you said the platoon SGT will tell you what to do! You obviously know.... haha i respect officers but when they come in as boots and try to run the show, i unleash my devils on them...

Posted by: Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

Posted by: USMCRoryT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

OOHRAH!!!!!!

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

However, if you're DOD, put a leash on those devil-dogs!

Posted by: tms1989

Do many Army posts still use MPs as Law Enforcement/ Force Protection?
How about the Marines?

Posted by: TacEntry

Most CONUS Army bases are 2 DOD for every 1 MP on the road. Some are 1- 1 some are 3-1, They still like to have some soldier MP's out and about - with the theory being that it's easier for joe the soldier to deal with another soldier rather than a uniformed civilian police officer. The DOD cops are good for continuity of services (not as transient as an MP soldier)Much also has to do with cost of course - it's cheaper to pay for a GS-5 or 6 civilian than even an E-3 troopie that you're paying for meals, housing, cost of living allowances etc. Since we've been at war, the Department Of Defense likes to have soldiers doing soldier stuff - like pulling triggers and searching for weapons caches in Iraq/Afghanistan etc- rather than playing cop back on the base in the US plowing the grunts wives while they're away. Most if not all Access Control/Entry Control Points are now contract Armed Security.

Posted by: tms1989

What would a second LT be doing as far as base LE/security?

Posted by: TacEntry

Quote:

Originally Posted by tms1989

What would a second LT be doing as far as base LE/security?

Not a whole lot really. Even if the LT is a platoon leader of an MP Plt. on an LE rotation he's mostly a go-between for the NCO's and unit command, officers don't hit the street and patrol - if thats what you're asking. Not until an MP officer hits 0-3/O-4 would they be assigned as a Duty or Law & Order Officer -who are basically around for their rank if another officer gets apprehended for something during a shift - so a lowly enlisted man isn't making the other offending officer cry too much, an MP officer can step in - but again, in those positions the officer mostly passes word to NCO's and the NCO's filter out the officer babble & lead the troops. Not until an officer is Field Grade (Major and up) does their role usually become significant in an MP LE, L&O operation/base Security & AntiTerrorism and thats usually for planning, funding, support & direction.

Bottom Line is: 2LT's gotta bust his cherry in the trenches, with good ol' combat support MP work.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

Wrong.

Posted by: id1811xecj

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Wrong.

When I saw that, I had to assume he was joking as it is no obviously not true. Subject to the UCMJ is subject to the UCMJ whether Coast Guard or Marine.

Posted by: redsox03

Quote:

Originally Posted by tms1989

What would a second LT be doing as far as base LE/security?

Nothing.
1. Push paperwork.
2. Act in charge while the NCOs do everything.
3. Polish butter bar in office with the AC blasting.

Posted by: billb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

It's Airforce not airfarce... and that is the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard...

As a MP in the Army or Marines or as Security Forces in the Airforce or Navy you have jurisdiction over all military members where ever they may be.

Ooorah and all that jarhead crap aside... that's just plain stupid.

Posted by: redpara

RedSox03-
Funny, I'm an MP (Major) who ran around in Baghdad and Mosul in 2004-2005; I and the officers who worked for me missed the part about about pushing paper, and "acting in charge" and I would have loved to have found a/c, I guess you knew officers who "knew their jobs huh"?

Posted by: redsox03

Quote:

Originally Posted by redpara

RedSox03-
Funny, I'm an MP (Major) who ran around in Baghdad and Mosul in 2004-2005; I and the officers who worked for me missed the part about about pushing paper, and "acting in charge" and I would have loved to have found a/c, I guess you knew officers who "knew their jobs huh"?

A Major saying that he wished he found a/c........Give me a break. Who are you kidding?

Posted by: redpara

Oh... alright I found it once but wasn't allowed to keep it very long the COL wanted it all for himself...RAT BASTARD!

A be-lated Welcome home to you!

Posted by: tms1989

Quote:

Originally Posted by redpara

So what does a second LT do as an Army MP??

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by tms1989

So what does a second LT do as an Army MP??

If he's smart, he stays out of the way and lets the platoon sergeant run things.

Posted by: redsox03

Quote:

Originally Posted by redpara

A be-lated Welcome home to you!

You too.

Posted by: Redleg13D

Quote:

Originally Posted by tms1989

What would a second LT be doing as far as base LE/security?

Keeping Captains, Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, etc. away from the soldiers and NCOs.... this is no different from any MOS in any service.

Posted by: HELPMe

I dont know for Army but Marines patrol Marine bases. No DOD usually. Other then normal police work on base its access control or its combat support. As a 2nd Lt you will answer to the provost marshal. Others have explained the position and its role. Its basically uniform across all branches the duties that are involved. HTH

Posted by: billb

In the Air Force it depends on the size of the base... which will in turn have an effect on the size of the squadron that provides Law Enforcement. Hanscom AFB is small... we have NO LTs assigned (a great thing). We have 1 Captain and 1 Major. E-6's run "Flight" (a section is called a flight and covers a shift at Hanscom). At a large base they may have E-7's run flight and a new LT may get assigned to Lead a flight working with an E-7 (the E-7 really runs it). LT's don't usually know very much until just before they make Captain...

Posted by: okie317

Yeah all the units I've been in Flight Sgt.'s were E-7's the only place I've seen Flight leaders (LT's) is overseas. Stateside there is usually only one LT in the unit and they are put in charge of training were the NCO's still do all the work.

Posted by: fightingsolveseverything

i'm going to reup and go to ocs once i get all cleared. combat arms, probably MP or Infantry. sounds like there's a lotta love for the officers out there. if you have any insight on mos or jobs please PM me if you have a minute. i like the combat arms section and would like to go to some schools once in..FSE

Posted by: billb

I honestly have no problem with officers... you just gotta realize that LTs are usually pretty young and immature... never mind they know shit about the military. Most of my experience with officers was in the Infantry though... we always had a platoon leader there (almost always).

Posted by: tms1989

I applied to the ROTC program, and got medically disqualified for not having good enough distant vision, so I sent in a request for a medical waiver 2 weeks ago, and haven't yet gotten a reply. Does anyone know when I'll hear back???

Posted by: HELPMe

get PRK laser eye surgery. In USMC you do not need a waiver for that type of surgery and it should correct your vision.

Posted by: tms1989

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELPMe

get PRK laser eye surgery. In USMC you do not need a waiver for that type of surgery and it should correct your vision.

The only thing standing between me and 20/20 vision is $3,000, plus its not guarenteed to work

Posted by: HELPMe

Quote:

Originally Posted by tms1989

The only thing standing between me and 20/20 vision is $3,000, plus its not guarenteed to work

Well, its worth a shot. 3 grand isnt that bad if you can finance it over 3 years with a personal loan. It would come out to 77 bucks a month with a low interest rate. Once I get my run time up, I will be heading to OCS probably next may at the latest. I have shitty vision too but I would wrather get the PRK then wear the BCG's!

Posted by: TheArmyisHere01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

well necassary not true because as an Mp on a base combined with Marines, Army, Air force and sometimes Navy they Mps have control over everyone they might not have a high jurisdiction but they do have it on marines

Posted by: AFCOP

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Always remember one thing though.....If you are Army,Navy,or Airfarceee, MP you have no jurisdiction over MARINES.

Someone should check the Manual for Courts Martial (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/law/mcm.pdf) provided to you free of charge in pdf format from the friendly folks at the Air University... to help you narow the search down and skip all those confusing big words it's Rule 302-Apprehension, as well as Section 802, Article 2-Persons Subject to this Chapter of the UCMJ...

Posted by: DoD102

Lt will always be the paper pusher. Maybe doing Ops stuff, but mostly admin. Everyone knows it's the NCO's that run the show. Regardless of what branch of service. Oh, BTW, MP's have jurisdiction over ANYONE who comes under the UCMJ. Even Marines. I believe it comes under Article 7.

How's the desert treating you AFCOP??? BE SAFE

Posted by: AFCOP

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoD102

How's the desert treating you AFCOP??? BE SAFE

It was good.... sooo good in fact I volunteered for another deployment this fall....which should be a little better since I'll be going as an NCO this time....

Posted by: billb

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFCOP

It was good.... sooo good in fact I volunteered for another deployment this fall....which should be a little better since I'll be going as an NCO this time....

Good news! Send me a PM with your unit info.

ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops

About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.

The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.

The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.

The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.

The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.

MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)

3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 49 50 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108