Military Police Badge

[OLOPEZ1]

Why we (MP) can't used the Badge in our uniforms like the others branches of the armed forces?

[axox181]

We as MP's are authorized to wear the badge on a uniform, however only for special events as directed by the commander. I spent 4 years attached to the Old Guard and there were numerous times I wore a badge, either for ceromonies or the times we worked the road in blues. So it can be done, just not all the time. Anyway would you really want that gay badge on you all the time?

[OLOPEZ1]

ok but i mean in the ACU like the Security Forces in the Air force and military police in the NAVY and Marines

[axox181]

Well the problem lies in the fact that you have a brassard, at least when you are working that shows your authority to regulate the laws and rules of the post. When you are no longer on duty you remove the brassard thus removing your authority. Same general rule for civilian police too, except they are still granted police authority. So why everyone else does it, I don't know but I think it is retarted. Also the badge is not an authorized decoration for wear in the only feasible spot. So to change all that they would have to make the MP badge on the same level as the recruiter or drill sgt. badge. Odds of this happening ZERO.

[ChiefAD]

We use to wear the badges on the BDUs back in the day but soldiers lost them, were stolen or misused that is why the Brassard is sufficient enough. Only MPI on duty is allowed to clip them on to their uniforms.

Marines have the brassard and badge but....

You dont need a badge to effectively do your job.

from a former 101st Airborne Division Military Policeman

[NeWSoldiEr08]

i respect all MOS's in all branches...but i got a question. why are some MPs jerks to people? who abide by UCMJ and civilian laws that is

[axox181]

That is a fair question and I will attempt to answer it honestly with no bias. Here goes, you know how in your MOS there are those guys that are just assholes and think they are better than everyone else? Yeah we have those guys too, they were probably bullied as children or something. Well take those guys off the street, give them law enforcment power and what do you get. You get a guy who is so caught up in the false sense of power he feels that he tries to just act tough to everyone.

Of course there are good ones too, I look at myself as a good MP. I do my job and ensure at the end of the night I go home in one piece and with a clear head. My general rule is to be polite to everyone, however I have no problem f****ing you up if I have to. It's sometimes just a part of the job.

As far as advice for dealing with the assholes, my best advice would be don't put yourself in a situation where you have to deal with them and don't give them the upper hand. This means don't beat your wife, break traffic laws and just keep your nose clean. That should keep the MP's off of you.

BTW if you somehow confuse MP's and the DA cops on post I have no help for you. Most DACP I have worked with are all assholes, it must be a job requirment.

[SPCDavisb]

Do MP's have any authority off post, and if so what authority do they have to enforce civilian laws?

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

Do MP's have any authority off post, and if so what authority do they have to enforce civilian laws?

no authority off-post. If a soldier is involved in a felony off-post, the case might be under both jurisdiction of local authorities and CID but CID wont lead in the matter.

[CplH5811]

no authority off-post. If a soldier is involved in a felony off-post, the case might be under both jurisdiction of local authorities and CID but CID wont lead in the matter.

I understand that this is aimed more towards Army MP's but, it depends on where you're at. In the states, it is that way but, OCONUS, it depends on the SOFA agreement. For instance, I'm in Okinawa, Japan and we're authorized to pull people over off-base and there are certain other instances where we have primary jurisdiction. But, over-all, you are correct OIF.

[mp090807]

MP do have authority off post, it just depends on where and the circumstances of the installations property. There are three types of jurisdiction in relationship to our military.
1. Exclusive Federal (in the U.S. or territories)- UCMJ, United States Code, and State or local laws may be enforced exclusively by the U.S. military.
2. Concurrent Jurisdiction- This often pertains to areas surrounding posts such as major highways, waterparks, training lands, and other parts of property. Both military and civilian agencies may enforce law there.
3. state jurisdiction- this means that the state has not granted the approval of enforcement of federal law by the military.
Some posts have one or all of these at various places. This is why most post commanders decide the leave the non exclusive federal land alone and let the local police enforce it just because legalities can be confusing.

[mp090807]

Also,.....the comment about SOFA is correct. For example in Germany MP must travel off and on post bouncing around various pieces of U.S. property. During this time they may encounter an offender that is American or related to the military. They have full authority to initiate police activity if it's warranted. The only catch is that they have to let the desk contact the local polizei just to make sure they don't want a crack at the violation either. Odds are, they polizei are happy letting the Americans police up their own. Another form of enforcement that occurs is courteosy patrols. An example of this is where known areas that soldiers and family members frequent IE night clubs etc. are patrolled by the MP for violators. This also re-enforces the concept that soldiers are to be doing the right thing. It's all based on the SOFA. Certain agreements like this do happen in the U.S. In these circumstances due to the Posse Commitatus Act, soldiers in law enforcement roles, must take a secondary role when responding. This means that the lead agency is NOT the military. For example: A post commander deems a certain club off limits and produced a written order for soldiers not to attend or be on the property. So, to enforce this they send out MP investigators to the establishment to find violators. The MP investigators often accompany the local Tobacco and Alcohol agents who have the jurisdiction. Once violators approach and are identified, they are often cuffed, escorted to the back where a bus and a couple marked MP cars await. Once the bus is full, they are taken and processed. This really gets the post commanders intent across very quickly. This is just an example, and a legal one.

[Sarah.LostinNY]

That is a fair question and I will attempt to answer it honestly with no bias. Here goes, you know how in your MOS there are those guys that are just assholes and think they are better than everyone else? Yeah we have those guys too, they were probably bullied as children or something. Well take those guys off the street, give them law enforcment power and what do you get. You get a guy who is so caught up in the false sense of power he feels that he tries to just act tough to everyone.

Of course there are good ones too, I look at myself as a good MP. I do my job and ensure at the end of the night I go home in one piece and with a clear head. My general rule is to be polite to everyone, however I have no problem f****ing you up if I have to. It's sometimes just a part of the job.

As far as advice for dealing with the assholes, my best advice would be don't put yourself in a situation where you have to deal with them and don't give them the upper hand. This means don't beat your wife, break traffic laws and just keep your nose clean. That should keep the MP's off of you.

BTW if you somehow confuse MP's and the DA cops on post I have no help for you. Most DACP I have worked with are all assholes, it must be a job requirment.

I have never been on a base and NOT had issues with MPs. I may not be military but i have a good MP story.
I was visting a base where my boyfriend was waiting to be shipped out about three days later. They were allowed passes during a certian time so friends/family/girlfriends could take them off post before they deployed. I got to the gates and the MPs took my license and made me sit in the parking lot, oh they gave me the option of going to the police station on base too. Forcing me to call my boyfriend, and being deployed he didn't have a car, nor could he have a car, to walk all the way across base to 'prove' that i was with him, flash his id and then and only then could I get my license back and drive onto base to go pick up a couple other firends to go out for dinner. Gah I hate being harrassed. And after all that the kid dumped me as he was leaving for the airport. lol

[Silver Fox]

no authority off-post. If a soldier is involved in a felony off-post, the case might be under both jurisdiction of local authorities and CID but CID wont lead in the matter.

That depends on where you're at CONUS too. There's stretches of highway by some bases where military has shared jurisdiction and some where they have exclusive jurisdiction.

[TJMAC77SP]

For the sake of splitting some hairs.


MP do have authority off post, it just depends on where and the circumstances of the installations property. There are three types of jurisdiction in relationship to our military.
1. Exclusive Federal (in the U.S. or territories)- UCMJ, United States Code, and State or local laws may be enforced exclusively by the U.S. military. True


2. Concurrent Jurisdiction- This often pertains to areas surrounding posts such as major highways, waterparks, training lands, and other parts of property. Both military and civilian agencies may enforce law there.
True but only for federally owned lands. For example, many posts have civilian roads and highways running through them. The land is still federally owned but state and/or local AND military law enforcement have jurisdiction.


3. state jurisdiction- this means that the state has not granted the approval of enforcement of federal law by the military.
Would only apply to non-federal land and then military would be limited in its enforcement.

[Silver Fox]

In some cases the military has law enforcement in regard to property owner rights, or in some cases crimes committed in a government building gives military le jurisdiction, but if it's outside the building they have no authority.

[USMC5811]

All Ncos enforce the rules and regulations of the UCMJ on and off post....Ncos can detain any persons except officers unless they are bringing discredit upon the service of as directed by another officer....Badge is just like a duty belt let's persons identify who you are just like a duty belt.....

[scn.newman]

Marines in the 5811 field often work with local law enforcement. While "ON DUTY" an MP has the legal authority to arrest a service member if a crime is committed. An MP can only arrest a civilian under the auspice of citizens arrest OFF BASE. Basically by being a service member, you are subject to local laws and the UCMJ, the MP is an enforcer of the UCMJ regardless of where you are.
Likewise, I have arrested civilians "On-Base...while On-Duty." Generally these people are detained and released at the gate to local authority. I had a civilian in the back of my car and detained for a DUI. It is "understood" that an MP must be in the accompany of civilian police officer when off base to do this, exceptions exist. An MP that is TAD or active CID can arrest under Federal Authority. Generally, MP's will not investigate or arrest without local cooperation. I was a base MP, we often did "ride-a-longs" with local PD.
It is a common misunderstanding that MP's do not have authority "Off Base" ... say Oceanside outside Camp Pendleton. To take a drunk and disorderly Marine or Sailor into custody - they can. But... only MP's ON DUTY. If someone claims to be an MP and try to bother you, tell them to piss off.
Like many MP's and former MP's, I received permission to carry my badge concealed in my wallet, but it is HIGHLY recommended that you never pull it out "OFF DUTY," it is only used to identify yourself as Military Law Enforcement. I still have mine, but generally you don't get to keep it. Look at it this way, MP's jobs are to enforce the UCMJ, base rules, etc., when an MP abuses that authority, you are likely to get a desk job the rest of your career.
We don't wear them on service uniforms because it's only while "On Duty" that you are considered an MP. I only displayed mine while guarding the gate, patrolling, or on assignment. Because your authority is only while "On-Duty" you don't wear it in Utilities or Charlies going to the PX. Some...but not all MP's are assholes. because their "authority is greater than any rank." Remember, the MP enforces the UCMJ regardless of rank. As an E3 I pulled over at Lt.Col and gave him a speeding ticket, but I called my Staff Sergeant to the call as a witness because I was a nervous E3. It also covered my ass.
I had permission to also carry a weapon on or off base, but this was only on special duty recovering lost assets this included hunting down UA Marines. But generally, your authority is only while you are "On-Duty."

[scn.newman]

Great Point...I patrolled from 52 area to Oceanside on I-5, the road to Fallbrook and some areas of Marine concentration in Oceanside...apartment complexes etc.

[scn.newman]

If you had walked to the gate supervisor or guard shack during daylight hours, he just wanted to see proof of Driver License, registration and insurance...if you were not allowed in at this point he was being a jerk. But 99% of yes sir/no sir guests are allowed entry without issue. I have let surfers into Camp Pendleton that gave such information with strict instruction not not veer off coarse. You must not have been a yes/no sir guest? Or they were being jerks.

[JD2780]

i respect all MOS's in all branches...but i got a question. why are some MPs jerks to people? who abide by UCMJ and civilian laws that is


Its the MPs in every service. Also look at what people think of civilian cops. They always think they're assholes.

There are plenty of good ones but people dont remember the good stuff.

[Creaminess]

Why we (MP) can't used the Badge in our uniforms like the others branches of the armed forces?

That hurt my head just reading that. I would love to see MP reports you have written to see if they're as incoherent as what you wrote above.

Who cares if an MP is wearing a badge in uniform? Don't you guys already have enough donut powder on your uniforms to identify you as MPs?