United States Army Military Police Corps

United States Army Military Police Corps
Unit name	Military Police Corps
Caption	Distinctive unit insignia of the Military Police Corps
Dates	26 September 1941 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Combat support
Role	Military police, detention operations, security operations
Size	~40,000 soldiers
Garrison	Fort Moore, Georgia
Garrison label	Home station
Motto	"Assist, Protect, Defend"
Colors	Green and Yellow
Battles	World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War
Current commander	Chief of the United States Army Military Police Corps
Current commander label	Chief

United States Army Military Police Corps. The Military Police Corps is a combat support branch of the United States Army responsible for policing, detention, and security operations. Established during World War II, its soldiers operate across the full spectrum of military operations, from garrison law enforcement to combat zones. The corps is headquartered at Fort Moore in Georgia and its members are identifiable by their distinctive military police insignia and motto, "Assist, Protect, Defend."

History

The lineage of military policing in the United States Army dates to the American Revolutionary War, but the corps was formally established as a permanent branch on 26 September 1941, just prior to the U.S. entry into World War II. Its role expanded significantly during World War II, managing prisoners of war and providing traffic control during major campaigns like the Normandy landings. Throughout the Cold War, MPs were integral in Germany and South Korea, and their missions evolved during the Vietnam War to include counterinsurgency and route security. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the corps played critical roles in the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), where duties expanded to include detention operations at facilities like Camp Bucca and training host-nation police forces.

Organization

The Military Police Corps is led by a Chief of the United States Army Military Police Corps, typically a major general. Its forces are organized under the United States Army Maneuver Support Center at Fort Moore. Operational units include the 18th Military Police Brigade and the 42nd Military Police Brigade, which provide command for battalions and companies distributed across the Regular Army, the Army National Guard, and the United States Army Reserve. Key institutional organizations include the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for felony-level investigations and the United States Army Corrections Command, which manages confinement facilities.

Functions and responsibilities

Primary functions encompass three core disciplines: police operations, detention operations, and security operations. Police operations include law enforcement on Army installations, criminal investigation support via CID, and crime prevention. Detention operations involve the humane care, custody, and control of detained persons, from brig confinement to internment in theater. Security operations focus on protecting critical assets, which can include area security, convoy security, and personal security details for key leaders. MPs also provide support to civilian law enforcement agencies under specific authorities.

Training

All military police soldiers complete initial military police training at the United States Army Military Police School (USAMPS) at Fort Moore. The training includes tactical combat skills, custody and control procedures, traffic management, and civil disturbance response. Advanced courses are offered for specialties like criminal investigation, corrections, and working dog handling. Officer training occurs through the Officer Candidate School, the United States Military Academy at West Point, or ROTC, followed by the Military Police Officer Basic Course.

Equipment and vehicles

MPs utilize a variety of specialized equipment. Standard small arms include the M4 carbine and the M17/M18 pistol. For mobility and protection, they employ the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle and the MRAP vehicle. In garrison, they use marked police cars, such as the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. Other critical equipment includes body armor, riot control gear, breaching tools, and military working dog teams for explosives detection and patrol.

Notable military police units

Notable active units include the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) which includes the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon, and the 18th Military Police Brigade, which has deployed extensively. The 42nd Military Police Brigade is a major Army National Guard component. Historic units include the 720th Military Police Battalion, renowned for its actions during the Vietnam War and the Battle of An Lộc, and the 400th Military Police Battalion, which operated the Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War.

Insignia and uniforms

The branch insignia is a pair of crossed flintlock pistols, adopted from the Provost Marshal General insignia. The branch colors are green and yellow. MPs wear the standard Army Combat Uniform, but are often identified in garrison by a distinctive black aggressor brassard or badge bearing "MP" and the Great Seal of the United States. CID special agents wear civilian clothes and a unique badge. The beret color for MP enlisted personnel is green, while officers may wear the beret of their assigned unit.