History Military Police Corps (United States)

1 history

1.1 military police in revolutionary war
1.2 civil war
1.3 spanish–american war
1.4 world war i
1.5 world war ii
1.6 korean war , vietnam war
1.7 current role
1.8 women in military police corps

history

the military police corps 1 of youngest branches of united states army. officially established on 26 september 1941.

military police in revolutionary war

the military police corps traces lineage , history american revolution. general george washington requested staff position of provost marshal created deal disciplinary issues. in january 1776, william maroney appointed first provost marshal of continental army. provost marshals relied on soldiers temporarily drawn other units, , had difficulty enforcing discipline. on 20 may 1778, congress established provost corps, general washington referred marechaussee. name french: maréchaussée, old french mareschaucie, meaning marshalcy. captain bartholomew von heer, german-speaking officer pennsylvania, appointed first commander of marechaussee on 1 june 1778. under new organization, provost marshal responsible soldiers under custody , punishments, while marechaussee tasked enforcement of order within continental army. marechaussee corps formed exclusively police organization, , organized , equipped light dragoons, utilizing speed aid in troop movements , moving prisoners battlefield. marechaussee protected army s rear , flanks during troop movements, searched stragglers, guarded river crossings, , engaged in combat when needed, in battle of springfield. provost corps disbanded in november 1783.

civil war

in 1863, office of provost marshal general established , oversaw veterans reserve corps (vrc). in civil war, vrc maintained law , order @ garrison areas, while other provost guard units served on front lines. after war, office of provost marshal general discontinued union army disbanded.

spanish–american war

during moro rebellion following spanish–american war, united states founded philippine constabulary. training began in 1902, , brigadier general harry hill bandholtz appointed chief of constabulary in 1907.

world war i

the complexity of warfare during world war required corps of specially-trained soldiers handle massive numbers of prisoners of war , control movement of troops , supplies in zones of operation. military police training department established 9 september 1918 @ caserne changarnier in autun, france. following war, brigadier general harry hill bandholtz, had served provost marshal of american expeditionary forces, proposed establishment of permanent military police corps. although congress failed act upon recommendation, allowed permanent organization of army military police units in national defense act amendment of 1920.

in 1917, cpl charles w. baltimore, black mp soldier stationed @ camp logan in texas, inquired beating of black soldier houston police , himself beaten , arrested afterwards. racial tension followed led houston riot, killed 4 soldiers , sixteen civilians, , 60 black soldiers executed or sentenced life in prison.

the man standing on left side of picture, taken in post-wwii germany, west german policeman (at time when west germany s police force officially created), while other, standing on right side, lithuanian-german member of army military police.


world war ii

during world war ii, military police schools established @ camp gordon , fort benjamin harrison, , mps trained port security @ fort mchenry. military police soldiers moved traffic along burma road, supported amphibious operations on normandy beachheads, , managed enemy prisoners of war italy south pacific.

when red ball express (a supply route stemming normandy front lines) established in august 1944, mp performed route reconnaissance , security keep trucks , supplies flowing. 793rd military police battalion s (disbanded 2014) first mission in theater , commemorated in coat of arms , unit insignia; consists of field of green, yellow road, , 2 red disks symbolizing famed route.

thanks actions of first lieutenant john hyde , detachment of mp, corps heralded gallantry @ remagen, fighting force in numerous combat actions , peacekeepers @ war’s end. in 1944, army again saw need unit investigate crime involving soldiers in europe. united states army criminal investigation division established branch of provost marshal general’s office , has continued investigative activity since.

after war ended, cavalry units in germany utilized form united states constabulary, police-like patrol organization. disbanded in 1950s.

in 1949, newly formed defense department in process of reorganizing army , plans developed disband military police corps. when congress passed army reorganization act in may 1950, corps survived, remaining separate branch of army.

military police 18th military police brigade deploying iraq.


korean war , vietnam war

when north korea invaded south korea in june 1950, there mp units stationed in korea. 1 of 55th military police company, had been assigned camp ascom in december 1948. of military police units arrived during months of war came japan, serving occupation forces following world war ii. while majority of mp companies came outside korea, of battalions of korean war formed on peninsula

during korean war, military police kept supply routes open. subsequently, military police monitored exchange of prisoners , patrolled demilitarized zone. military police, adapting different style of warfare in vietnam, earned status combat support arm, partially result of combat success during tet offensive.

current role

during operation cause, operation desert shield , storm, military police provided area security, conducted battlefield circulation control, , exercised custody on thousands of prisoners. since 1991, military police have assisted interventions in somalia, haiti , bosnia. military police maintained order in war-torn kosovo, keeping peace in afghanistan. during 2003 invasion of iraq, mps used extensively maintain control on large numbers of detainees being held coalition forces, helping conduct raids, convoy security , regular patrols. mps main force responsible in rebuilding , training iraqi police. ever since invasion, military police have been 1 of heavily engaged military occupational specialty in iraqi theater. in united states, mps provided disaster relief , internal security, while still fulfilling fundamental function of maintaining discipline , security within army.

women in military police corps

bg colleen l. mcguire

women in women s army auxiliary corps assigned military police duties 1941. 1943, soldiers in women s army corps trained military police in order police female soldiers, although had jurisdiction on soldiers, including males. women have since served in military police corps, has given regiment distinction. (in 1953 film off limits, bob hope plays character joins military police can train women.) females officially accepted military police corps in 1975. women s auxiliary corps disbanded military police stood accept , train women alongside male counerparts. female mps have crossed many gender barriers in united states armed forces.

in 1983 invasion of grenada, 4 female mps 118th military police company (airborne) deployed grenada. conflicting views of women in combat caused them ordered united states, ordered grenada days later.
in 1989 united states invasion of panama, cpt linda bray led 988th military police company in assault against panamanian defense forces, , considered first woman lead u.s. troops in combat. cpt bray awarded commendation medal valor.
sgt leigh ann hester became first woman since world war ii receive silver star, actions in iraq on 20 march 2005.
tulsi gabbard became first female graduate alabama military academy ocs distinguished honor graduate in march 2007, , 1 of first women combat veterans serve in united states congress.
in 2010, brigadier general colleen l. mcguire became first woman hold office of provost marshal general of army.
in 2015, cpt kristen griest, military police commissioned officer, became 1 of first 2 women complete u.s. army ranger school.

women make 25% of mp corps. mixed-gender mp corps valued in wars in iraq , afghanistan, cultural taboos may prevent male soldiers interacting women.