Posted on Mar 5, 2018
Daniel Collett
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Hey guys. I asked a question about being a welder in the army not to long ago and I'm considering another option as a MP. Can anyone tell me what it's like and what some of the duties are after deployed? Also after reading some about it how, in some cases, often are you put in "the shit"? Or if any. Thanks.
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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MP life varies from service to service. In the Active Army force, MPs are usually on a rotation where one element on a base will be performing law enforcement and another will be doing combat training and field exercises.

If you get deployed you could perform basic law enforcement duties, act as security guards, act as a highway patrol, train the local police forces, or do personal security details for high ranking officers and dignitaries.

They also have SRT units that function similar to civilian SWAT teams. There's also CID which is the NCIS of the Army and MPI (military police investigator). Then there's also the option of being a K9 handler or the equivalent of a corrections officer.

If you went with the Army Guard, your deployed functions would be the same as the Active units, but when you're home you run a very high likelihood of being activated at the state level. When I was an MP in the MAARNG, we got activated for every major weather event (hurricanes, blizzards, tornados, etc). We also got activated to assist the State Police with security at large events like the Boston Marathon and the 4th of July Celebration. They also assisted BPD, MSP and the FBI after the Boston Marathon bombing.

SMSgt Thor Merich wasn't kidding when he said it means multi-purpose. MPs perform a very wide variety of functions in the Army.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
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As with many things in the military the short answer is “it depends.”

Being “in the shit” depends on where you are stationed as an MP and your assignment. While most think the MP means Military Police it actually means multi-purpose. The Army has used MP’s for a variety of jobs over the last 70 years. In Vietnam, MP’s where in the heart of the battle during Tet. They also were often used as door gunners on helicopters.

Some MP’s work law enforcement do a similar job as civilian cops and others guard stuff. Now it’s very important stuff like Nukes and such but it’s still a completely different job then law enforcement.
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As an MP, I always say it stands for Multi-Purpose, haha!! The nice thing is that it is different than civilian police but you are held to a higher standard and also, most other soldiers dislike you, lol! Being deployed can be very different, I was on a PSD team but my company was doing MP operations and we did lose one soldier. There are so many different facets of being an MP! I would never want to do anything else! Worst PRT is getting OC and tased so you can carry them, haha!!
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I liked "misused people"
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1SG Infantryman
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Nothing like policing in the real world
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SPC Frank Beachel
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I agree, however it will definitely train you to be able to handle the transition to civilian law enforcement. Though Military Police is a very unique experience with multiple types of responsibilities but today's Law Enforcement Officers have are NOT JUST COPS ANYMORE BUT they are expected to be social workers and get villafied for being Cops and just doing their job.
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