Do you feel that Military Police on your installation are Professional, Well Trained and Community Oriented?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 18:35:05 -0500

I am just curious because now that some installations have gone away from DA Police and Military Police are actually back in control of their installations, how do you feel about Military Police?

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 8 at 2014 9:27 PM

SFC James Baber — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 21:27:09 -0500

From an old school MP to the new breed, this is what you were trained for in the real world of military duties. Now as far as how competent and capable do I feel they are is a different story, I know the MPs at my final duty station had a lot of bad habits that I attempted to correct before I left, but I met with lots of roadblocks, by that I mean they had learned bad habits from the DACP officers who most were just collecting a paycheck and weren't really overly concerned about LE and community service for the installation, I worked for the installation BDE command and used to be the liaison between the CG and the training BDE, part of my duties were to screen and process the community complaints about the force and most of what I came across was the complaints of the liaise faire attitude of the DACP and it was rolling into the E5 on down road MPs as well.

The roadblocks I was dealing with was we were without a military PM for about 2 1/2 years after the last one had PCS'd, they made the civilian deputy the acting PM and created a rank that had never existed before, most of the civilian deputy's are CPTs, but this one was made a MAJ to fill the slot, well he had received 2 DUIs while in the job over the 7 years he was there, and had his connections throughout the system and was good at padding his statistics, so he made himself look invaluable so his indiscretions were overlooked, and also anyone who has dealt with the system long enough knows once a GS has been in the system long enough, they practically have to kill someone to get them fired from their jobs. He was always telling his staff to ignore my directives and OPORDs being sent down and that I didn't know how to conduct real LE operations since I hadn't been in the "saddle" for about 6 years, so that created the environment that was not conducive between the PMO and the BDE elements.

If your younger MPs are being taught some of the same bad habits that I saw on a regular basis, you will have your work cut out for you, but as an NCO, you should have your basic schooling skills to fall back on and also utilize much of your combat mental skills to also help with as well.

I truly believe we need to turn the installation back over to true military control again as it was before 9/11 and the implementation of the DACP that had the "I can do what I want mentality," as they knew their jobs were pretty secure during the dual wars. Now that we are pretty much back to full garrison duties, they can either take over the gate duties or keep on going out the gate as far as I am concerned. Just my two cents though.

And yes, I have a very low opinion of the DACP for good reasons of what I have seen over the last decade.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Feb 8 at 2014 9:45 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 21:45:03 -0500

At Fort Riley the MPs were always very professional and polite to me. Other than this one loser pervert MP, I feel really confident in their ability to handle military installations without civilian help.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 6:10 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 06:10:35 -0500

I don't know of anyone I know having any issues with Army MP's, but I know quite a few that have had issues with the AF's Security Forces. One of the better ones was when an A1C (E-3) stopped an Army SGT for speeding. The A1C told him that he could either he could get a ticket, or that he could get out and do push-ups. I'm not even kidding. He told the A1C that he'd gladly take the ticket and immediately took it to the CoC. I admire his restraint.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 6:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 06:13:54 -0500

I'm programmed not to like MPs, but most if the ones I've encountered are pretty squared away and professional

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 10:19 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 10:19:09 -0500

SSG,

The big question is what type of training are you and your Soldiers getting to help fill in this gap and how long is it taking? I do know this SSG, Bliss has training that some installations will not get due to “Civilians” still being in control of the MP’s. And this needs to be changed. TASER, Monadnock ASP, the MPH-900 ALPR, patrols carrying long guns due to “Active Shooters”, responding to the latter “training” and with Fort’s Bliss, Hood, Leavenworth and Bragg (correct me if I‘m wrong on the last please), some of these are already in place. With the interaction of how the MP’s act with others, SSG Wood’s I’m sorry to say this, but the last few times I have been on Fort Riley, the MP’s have been MIA. But I do know this, my son is an MP here at Riley (from Fort Bliss, and yes SSG L, he has asked me WTFO is going on here) and he’s been asked by fellow NCO’s to “Slow down and not be so aggressive”. He does his job and will write a citation when he sees a violation. The Soldiers here are not being trained like they should be nor are they taking it seriously. Why, the Civilians that are still in control at the top that DON’T want ant change and think Civilian Police need to be in charge all the time. My response, that’s the wrong answer.

Response by MSG David Kalb made Feb 11 at 2014 8:13 PM

MSG David Kalb — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 20:13:05 -0500

Don't have MP's at Aberdeen; they were replaced by civilian type police and guards. If you happen to show them that you are prior military or retired you get the 'treatment.'

'Treatment' as in additional searches and rude remarks as: "We have to take extra caution with you retirees, as you are more likely to be a home grown terrorist or unstable and a danger to the locals." 3/4 of the command structure is civilian, including all fire, police, guards and even the base commanders exo. 90% have never served in uniform.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 5:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 17:29:36 -0400

As an MP I've gotten along with most of the DACP I have worked with or worked for. I've found some believe they are better then the MPs that work with them. And I have seen some abuse their position over some junior MPs. Biggest problem between MPs and DACPs is its two different departments with two different sets of standards trying to work together on a daily basis. Whats good for a DACP is not good for the MP on the same shift. (of course with good reason because you can't allow the same leeway with a PFC as you would with a DACP with 10 years or LE experience) Its like having your local Police department working hand in hand with the state police, conflicts always happen.

Response by SPC Sven Pacot made Apr 5 at 2014 12:57 AM

SPC Sven Pacot — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 00:57:50 -0400

When I was in the Service I was stationed at Fort Drum, NY home of the 10 Mountain Division, Light Infantry. While the Military Police we professional and for the most part community oriented, they were far from professional most of the time. This ties directly into the fact that they receive no real police training. Given that, if Military Police were given actual police courses at Military standards and required the same procedures as the civilian counterparts, they would be a much bigger asset. Until this is met I feel it would be wiser to retain the DA Police and provide legitimate training. I believe this should be all MOS training fields, because if you don't get taught how can you really be held accountable for not knowing? Slow training down and instruct the Joes how to do their job so we are more efficient. It is a waste of money not to.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2014 3:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 15:53:18 -0400

No MPs at the Detroit Arsenal.

Maybe I should volunteer to work a shift?

Response by SPC Marcus Bernardy made Feb 25 at 2015 7:45 AM

SPC Marcus Bernardy — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 07:45:06 -0500

I was an MP at Bragg for a little under 5 years. It was about 85% MP on the road. DACP's filled only a few command and specialty positions (Traffic unit, etc.) Even the specialty divisions were shared by MP's.

No problems at Bragg...you can always use more training in any job or area. I will say this however, MP's are squared away in certain areas (professionalism) and lacking in others (pursuit driving). I am currently a Sheriffs Deputy on a fairly large department (serving ~800,000 residents).

There are a few cops I work with that I wish I could trade out with a E-4 or E-5 Bragg MP.

Not to mention the Army got along with straight MP's from the 50's to the 90's just fine.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 7:05 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 07:05:06 -0400

We are professional at all times while on duty because we are expected to be above reproach. Our duty schedule severlely limits the amout of training we can do. When you work 43 hours in 3 days, you dont have time to do training after work. Also, working long hours reduces our morale and reduces the likelyhood that we will want to volunteer in the community. That is why MPs, at least in the Air Force, volunteer less often, than other career fields.