Police or Military Police?

Military police can no longer focus on performing law enforcement duties to the neglect of the battlefield mission of combat support. The Marine Corps needs military policemen to provide combat support to the warfighter. Since the inception of Military Occupational Specialty 5800 Military Police, the focus of effort has been on performing law enforcement duties at Marine Corps bases and installations. Unfortunately, sending the Fleet Marine Force FMF military police to perform strictly law enforcement duties on military bases has stripped them of their capability to perform their battlefield missions. The Marine Corps must restructure the 5800 career field to integrate the capabilities of military police into the battlespace functions of the MAGTF. Military police personnel must return to the FMF forces and be integrated into all training and exercises to develop their skills and enhance the capabilities available to the commander conducting military operations. The force structure of the military police field can change without increases in personnel or line numbers. A critical look at the missions and functions performed by law enforcement units within the field will increase manpower available for the MEF. Creating a planning cell for the MEF Provost Marshal will integrate the core missions of the military police with a unity of effort focused on supporting the battle and enhancing force protection.