Posted on Dec 24, 2015
If you're working as an MP, and you fall under DES (DoD police), and they issue you a police badge, can you wear that on your uniform?
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Just questioning, I cannot find anything in the DPAM about it. It's an issued Department of the Army police badge that every person here recieves and DoD wears.
Posted in these groups: 
31B: Military Police
31B: Military Police
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 16
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I would have to say no. It's not an award or decoration. Your Crossed Pistols collar brass, Regimental Crest and unit crest identify you as an MP when you are not on duty.
There is an authorized Military Police badge which is carried by MPI investigators and a Special Agent badge carried by CID.
MPs during the 70's and early 80's MPs were issued serial numbered badges to wear on their uniforms while in garrison law enforcement, first individually to keep and then they started issuing them from the arms room when you signed out your weapon. but the brassard has always been the standard symbol of the MP. The Marine Corps MPs still wear a badge in garrison law enforcement, and on duty, but they alsogo back to the brassard outside of the garrison environment.
One of the big reasons that MPs are no longer issued badges is that many MPs would put them in their wallets to "flash the badge" and they were getting broken, lost and stolen. So the Army in it's wisdom stopped issuing them. Even back then when the badges were issued they were only worn on the uniform when you were actually performing law enforcement duties.
When you say you fall under DES I assume that you mean that DOD police run the day to day law enforcement operations on your installation and you are assigned to work out of their office. This does not make you a DoD cop and I don't know why they would issue you a badge.
Make no mistake. You are a US Army MP and soldier first, last, and always. You work with the DoD police not for them.
Here's a little history lesson for you.
Many years ago probably before you were born the DoD/DoA decided that MPs were needed more in foreign countries and needed to be freed up for combat/training. So they created the DoD Police to assume stateside garrison law enforcement duties in the absence of MPs. It was tested at Ft McClellan, AL (the former home of the MP School). They first had DoD cops assigned to work with the MPs primarily as gate guards until someone complained that the "beer bellied civilians" didn't look very sharp and were not properly saluting officers entering the post. :-) They created a Chief of Police office that was collocated with the PMO. MPs were put back on the gates and the DoD cops basically became security guards. Eventually DoD police assumed more and more of the law enforcement duties.
Then Desert Storm came along and we needed thousands of MPs in the sand box. Since then DoD cops have been the primary law enforcement stateside in garrison and MPs work with them under a Memorandum of Understanding between the DoA and DoD.
I know this was a long drawn out explanation of why you shouldn't be wearing a DoD badge but I know that so many MPs see wearing a badge as something that is cool. Be proud of the uniform you have. Those DoD cops don't do the same job that you do. If you want to be a civilian cop ETS and go to a police academy. Until then be the best MP you can be.
There is an authorized Military Police badge which is carried by MPI investigators and a Special Agent badge carried by CID.
MPs during the 70's and early 80's MPs were issued serial numbered badges to wear on their uniforms while in garrison law enforcement, first individually to keep and then they started issuing them from the arms room when you signed out your weapon. but the brassard has always been the standard symbol of the MP. The Marine Corps MPs still wear a badge in garrison law enforcement, and on duty, but they alsogo back to the brassard outside of the garrison environment.
One of the big reasons that MPs are no longer issued badges is that many MPs would put them in their wallets to "flash the badge" and they were getting broken, lost and stolen. So the Army in it's wisdom stopped issuing them. Even back then when the badges were issued they were only worn on the uniform when you were actually performing law enforcement duties.
When you say you fall under DES I assume that you mean that DOD police run the day to day law enforcement operations on your installation and you are assigned to work out of their office. This does not make you a DoD cop and I don't know why they would issue you a badge.
Make no mistake. You are a US Army MP and soldier first, last, and always. You work with the DoD police not for them.
Here's a little history lesson for you.
Many years ago probably before you were born the DoD/DoA decided that MPs were needed more in foreign countries and needed to be freed up for combat/training. So they created the DoD Police to assume stateside garrison law enforcement duties in the absence of MPs. It was tested at Ft McClellan, AL (the former home of the MP School). They first had DoD cops assigned to work with the MPs primarily as gate guards until someone complained that the "beer bellied civilians" didn't look very sharp and were not properly saluting officers entering the post. :-) They created a Chief of Police office that was collocated with the PMO. MPs were put back on the gates and the DoD cops basically became security guards. Eventually DoD police assumed more and more of the law enforcement duties.
Then Desert Storm came along and we needed thousands of MPs in the sand box. Since then DoD cops have been the primary law enforcement stateside in garrison and MPs work with them under a Memorandum of Understanding between the DoA and DoD.
I know this was a long drawn out explanation of why you shouldn't be wearing a DoD badge but I know that so many MPs see wearing a badge as something that is cool. Be proud of the uniform you have. Those DoD cops don't do the same job that you do. If you want to be a civilian cop ETS and go to a police academy. Until then be the best MP you can be.
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC Thurston, IAW AR 670-1 the badge is still authorized for wear on the dress uniform. Some installations will issue it for wear for L&O duties. For example at Fort Hood, for pay day activities, patrols wore Class B's on the road and were issued a badge which was worn on the uniform.
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SSG Ernest Gonzales
So 2 points here...when I was in at Ft Jackson and worked MPI, only one of the other investigators were a DOD investigator and trust me the SFC Thurston know his s*@t, he was one of my drill sergeants!!!
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SSG Bill Mc
When we were first issued the (DA) version of the MP Badge, only SSG's and above were issued them "full time." (I say "DA" version because for years, Ft. Myer, VA MP's wore Badges issued there.) SGT's and below only got them when they drew their sidearms at the Arms Room. I never heard of any MP's carrying them in civilian clothes - not even MPI back then as they had MPI Credentials at the post I was at ('74 thru '78).
The loss of a badge required a SIR (Serious Incident Report) to DA which was BAD mo-jo! We had on MP lose his badge, at a TCP point for a 2-way/2-lane road that was one-way inbound in the morning, and one-way outbound at 1600 or so. It was found months later in the gravel beside the intersection where the TCP MP stood.
At a reunion of our unit a few years back, a former MPI SSG who retired years later at the same base as the PM SGM, presented me with the badge I was originally issued. It's priceless to me except whoever had it next, SHINED it which I always hated.
In fatigues, MP's (Dog Handlers mostly) wore the MP Brassard. Road Duty MP's always wore TW's or Dress Greens depending on the season - MUCH MUCH sharper looking than today's "pajamas" as I call ACU's and the latest cammo uniforms on garrison duty!
The loss of a badge required a SIR (Serious Incident Report) to DA which was BAD mo-jo! We had on MP lose his badge, at a TCP point for a 2-way/2-lane road that was one-way inbound in the morning, and one-way outbound at 1600 or so. It was found months later in the gravel beside the intersection where the TCP MP stood.
At a reunion of our unit a few years back, a former MPI SSG who retired years later at the same base as the PM SGM, presented me with the badge I was originally issued. It's priceless to me except whoever had it next, SHINED it which I always hated.
In fatigues, MP's (Dog Handlers mostly) wore the MP Brassard. Road Duty MP's always wore TW's or Dress Greens depending on the season - MUCH MUCH sharper looking than today's "pajamas" as I call ACU's and the latest cammo uniforms on garrison duty!
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DA PAM 670-1 para 20-17b dated May 2017 page 300
b. Temporary badges. The following badges are authorized for temporary wear. Personnel will not wear these badges for official photographs or for promotion/selection boards. Upon termination of assignment to the command or federal agency that directs the wear of these badges, Soldiers will discontinue wearing these badges on the uniform.
(1) Unified Combatant Command ID badge. The order of precedence for this badge is after the Joint Chiefs of Staff identification badge.
(2)NationalDefenseUniversityIDbadge.TheorderofprecedenceforthisbadgeisaftertheUnifiedCombatantCom- mand identification badge.
(3) The MP ID badge (see fig 20–80). The order of precedence for this badge is after the National Defense University ID badge.
(4) Identification badges of the Office of the Secretary of a Federal Government Agency. These badges do not have an order of precedence in relation to other identification badges in this chapter.
Is there a 190 series regulation that covers this?
b. Temporary badges. The following badges are authorized for temporary wear. Personnel will not wear these badges for official photographs or for promotion/selection boards. Upon termination of assignment to the command or federal agency that directs the wear of these badges, Soldiers will discontinue wearing these badges on the uniform.
(1) Unified Combatant Command ID badge. The order of precedence for this badge is after the Joint Chiefs of Staff identification badge.
(2)NationalDefenseUniversityIDbadge.TheorderofprecedenceforthisbadgeisaftertheUnifiedCombatantCom- mand identification badge.
(3) The MP ID badge (see fig 20–80). The order of precedence for this badge is after the National Defense University ID badge.
(4) Identification badges of the Office of the Secretary of a Federal Government Agency. These badges do not have an order of precedence in relation to other identification badges in this chapter.
Is there a 190 series regulation that covers this?
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LTC Jason Mackay
18–17. Military police accessories
a. Type. The MP accessories are organizational issue items.
b. Description.
(1) Badge, MP.
(2) Belt, black, load bearing, approximately 2 to 3 inches wide, with buckle.
(3) Brassard, MP, or Criminal Investigation Division (CID), subdued, foliage green with black letters. (4) Carrier, club, or baton.
(5) Case, ammunition magazine, black.
(6) Case, first aid, black.
(7) Case, handcuffs, black.
(8) Case, oleoresin capsicum (OC), and/or pepper spray, black. (9) Club, policeman’s with leather thong.
(10) Baton, metal, collapsible, black (or other locally prescribed baton tool). (11) Gloves, white cotton.
(12) Flashlight.
(13) Carrier, ring, flashlight.
(14) Handcuffs, ratchet type, double lock (two-link maximum). (15) Helmet liner, MP (ceremonial only).
(16) Holster, pistol, black.
(17) Holster, Taser/stun gun, black.
(18) Lanyard, olive-drab, black or white.
(19) Whistle, patrolman, brass, black or olive-drab.
(20) Equipment, safety, as locally prescribed (for example, reflectorized vest or inclement weather).
(21) ACU patterned equipment is authorized for wear inside an Army corrections facility.
c. How worn. The articles listed in paragraph b, above, are authorized, but not mandated for wear with the Class A,
Class B, and utility uniforms by MP personnel while performing official MP law enforcement or corrections duties
a. Type. The MP accessories are organizational issue items.
b. Description.
(1) Badge, MP.
(2) Belt, black, load bearing, approximately 2 to 3 inches wide, with buckle.
(3) Brassard, MP, or Criminal Investigation Division (CID), subdued, foliage green with black letters. (4) Carrier, club, or baton.
(5) Case, ammunition magazine, black.
(6) Case, first aid, black.
(7) Case, handcuffs, black.
(8) Case, oleoresin capsicum (OC), and/or pepper spray, black. (9) Club, policeman’s with leather thong.
(10) Baton, metal, collapsible, black (or other locally prescribed baton tool). (11) Gloves, white cotton.
(12) Flashlight.
(13) Carrier, ring, flashlight.
(14) Handcuffs, ratchet type, double lock (two-link maximum). (15) Helmet liner, MP (ceremonial only).
(16) Holster, pistol, black.
(17) Holster, Taser/stun gun, black.
(18) Lanyard, olive-drab, black or white.
(19) Whistle, patrolman, brass, black or olive-drab.
(20) Equipment, safety, as locally prescribed (for example, reflectorized vest or inclement weather).
(21) ACU patterned equipment is authorized for wear inside an Army corrections facility.
c. How worn. The articles listed in paragraph b, above, are authorized, but not mandated for wear with the Class A,
Class B, and utility uniforms by MP personnel while performing official MP law enforcement or corrections duties
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CPT Patrick Wade
I have seen a photo on an MP assigned to the MP Co attached to the Old Guard. He is on horse back as part of a funeral procession. He is wearing an MP badge.
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Not on your BDU/ACU or Multicam but it is ok on your class A's but it is at the discretion of your command! Hope that helps
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SSG (Join to see)
Great answer... The MP brassard or now the hook and loop with the MP is your "badge" while on duty as a Military Police officer.
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