What are your views concerning civilian security guards when entering military bases?

Having spent my first 5 years enlisted as an MP I will first acknowledge my bias. My preference will always be to have a Soldier at the gate and if possible he/she will be an MP. That belief carries forward to other areas as well though. We see many TDA unit with civilians serving in primary staff positions and many other areas on post are now filled by civilians that not too long ago were filled by a Soldier. I understood the fiscal reasoning overall in the long term but being a Soldier will always be different than having been a Soldier when caring for Soldiers. This will not always be the case and many vets or even some who never served do a terrific job and have great passion and care/concern for taking care of Soldiers. Something we said when I was an MP was "Of the Troops and for the Troops" and being cared for and protected by fellow currently serving Soldiers has it's attraction to me. Again I am biased and that is my personal preference and it's not because civilians are incapable or lacking.

I feel that trained MP's should be used for what they have been trained for! If in a Garrison environment then Base Security including manning the Gates......If in a Field environment then Troop Security, Combat Patrols, Route Recon, etc...

In my experience they are either friendly and upbeat or disgruntled jerks.