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The Military Police Corps is the law enforcement branch of the United States Armed Forces.

MPs are service members of the U.S. Army and United States Marine Corps. The U.S Navy and U.S. Coast Guard use the term Shore Patrol and Master at arms, while the U.S. Air Force uses the term Security Forces, or SFs to describe the Air Force Security Forces.

The Department of Defense use DOD Civilian Police. Each service also maintains uniformed civilian police officers. They are referred to as either DOD Force Protection (formerly known as Pentagon Police), DOD (Department of Defense) Police, DOD (Department of Defense) Guard, DA (Department of the Army) Police or DA Guard. The police officers' peacetime duties are the same as those of civilian police, namely to enforce the laws of the U.S. Military in the form of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and the regulations of their particular installation. The civilian guards' duties are normally restricted to protection of priority resources.

Contents 1 United States Army 1.1 Weapons 1.2 Uniforms 2 Military Police Investigations 3 Military Police units 4 See also 5 External link

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, MPs were used extensively to maintain control over the large numbers of detainees being held by coalition forces, as well as helping to conduct raids and regular patrols.

Some U.S. MP units, usually at the division or brigade level, are designated as combat, division MPs whose combat zone responsibilities include protection of vehicle routes, defile control, route reconnaissance and straggler control, the guidance or detention of soldiers who have become lost, separated from their units, or have fled the battlefield.

The United States Constitution requires a separate system of law and order which applies exclusively to the United States' armed service branches. (see UCMJ)

The standard weapons of the United States military police are the M9 9 mm magazine-fed semi-automatic pistol, the M4 Carbine, the M203 grenade launcher, and the 12 gauge shotgun.

Crew-served or vehicle based weapons include the M2 Browning .50 BMG Machine gun, the Mk 19 40 mm Grenade Launcher, the M240B Machine Gun, and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).

In the U.S. Army, military police are usually distinguished by a brassard worn on the left arm when on duty. With the advent of the new ACU's the brassard is being phased out and is being replaced with a simple patch to be worn on the left arm that simply reads MP. When wearing a Class A (suit) or B uniform they are authorized wear of combat boots instead of regulation low-cut shoes. However, unlike Airborne soldiers they may only wear these boots with Class A or B uniforms when performing law enforcement duties.

During the Second World War, the emblems used were a wide white band around the helmet or a white helmet liner or a white peaked cap, a white webbing Sam Browne belt, white gloves, and white gaiters, atop the standard olive drab uniform. From this clothing, the nickname they were given by the British civilians at the time was "snowdrops."

Military Police Investigations (MPI) Office is responsible for the investigation of all minor crimes, such as, Crimes Against Property under $1,000.00 and Crimes Against Persons except Murder and Rape, committed on the installation. The Military Police Investigations Office also assists the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in investigating felonies committed by Soldiers, Cadets, and Civilians. MPI Personnel are usually enlisted MP's who go through a special course. They work hand in hand with the USACIDC.

• Criminal Investigation Division
• 16th Military Police Brigade
• 18th Military Police Brigade
• 42nd Military Police Brigade
• 43rd Military Police Brigade
• 49th Military Police Brigade
• 89th Military Police Brigade
• 220th Military Police Company
• 372nd Military Police Company
• Air Force Security Forces
• Master-at-arms
• Shore patrol
• United States Constabulary (Obsolete Organization)

• Military law

• US MP School official site