Branching MP information

Dckc88

Dckc88

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Dec 10, 2015
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My DD is just finishing Advanced Camp and is trying to decide which branches to list when she returns to campus. Her branch orientation day was cut short due to inclement weather, so she did not get to go to the MP briefing. Just wondering if anyone here has either branched MP or has a son or daughter who has. She is trying to separate the “soldiers don’t like MP’s” from the actual work and career opportunities. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
If your DD goal is eventually to have a civilian police career, there are the following options to advance this:

1. Have a parent or other relative be on the police force DD wants to join. Nepotism works!
2. Have a four year college degree in criminal justice. With strong GPA.
3. Have military experience as an MP.
4. All of the above.
 
I am not a MP Soldier. However, I have served with and among them for years.

As an MP LT, she will have the opportunity to lead a platoon of about 40 Soldiers. While not deployed, she will plan and lead training for the MP competencies which include area security operations, and perhaps prisoner of war operations among others...most centered on security operations. They operate armored HMMWVs, and have an enormous amount of firepower in each squad. They are disciplined and tough.

When assigned to Law Enforcement duties...her role may be more limited than she might think. Most of these tasks are led and executed by Soldiers and their NCOs. She will still find opportunities to lead during these times.

Later in her career, she may be able to expand her leadership in Army CID.

Most MP officers I know are competent and professional...

MPs are enforcing standards on behalf of our Installation Commanders...some don't like it when caught violating said standards and give MPs a bad rep...IMO.
 
Great insight! Exactly what I was looking for! BTW she isn’t necessarily looking for a civilian law enforcement career, simply looking for branch she could have some career growth and take her towards CA or CID down the road, or grow within that branch. She is also interested in Armor and the logistic branches, so kind of all over the place! She is trying to narrow it down. Previously was interested in MI but after the brief has decided to go a different direction and is intrigued by MP but needs more info. Every officer she has asked at camp gives her a sour face, so the inside scoop is what she is needing!
 
I'm no expert, but I've learned enough to know that being an MP doesn't necessarily make one a better candidate for law enforcement or intelligence or the like down the road, any more than being a veteran of another branch. It's the actual leadership and management experience of being a commissioned officer that matters most.

In my corporate life, working at mid- and high-level tiers, I knew former armor, infantry, aviation, intelligence, acquisition, artillery, submarine and surface officers who did exceedingly well in marketing, finance, operations, sales and so forth. No one did anything directly related to their former military job.
 
I would DEFINATELY say.....talk to Officers in the Branch your daughter is considering. I cannot emphasis this enough, get info from people in the position your daughter wants. before Branching there! FYI, to become a GS 1811-xx (Federal Special Agent/Criminal Investigator), what you need is a Bachelors degree in anything, but law or criminal justice is preferred. You used to have take a TEA (Treasure Enforcement Agent) Test but I don't know what you need now, but the degree, and any type of "contact" at the "Office" you want to go to helps. Talk to both Military Police and Adjutant General Corps before deciding. Both those paths can lead to JAG or civilian 1811 Law Enforcement careers.

Anyone here, including myself is probably not up to current standards or job descriptions/duties.....Ask, ASK, ASK!!! Just remember, much of anything you learn undergrad will likely be outdated after your obligated service time, so Branching correctly is essential.
 
She really isn’t worried about what it leads to or does not, but was wondering if someone on the forum or their family member has some insight to learn more about it since she wasn’t able to go to the briefing and doesn’t know anyone who has branched MP. I know the assumption is always that MP is chosen because of a desire for a civilian law enforcement career, that isn’t the motivation. Her attitude is she will figure that all later, just looking for a great place to start her career with the Army.

A little background. She was a nursing cadet who changed to communications after her sophomore year. She has a lot of interests, the branches that most interest her are Armor, any of the logistic branches, and MP. She also missed the AG briefing as well which was one she wanted to learn more about. It is unfortunate that the branch orientation day was cut short due to weather. It is such an important day at camp for kids to learn about branches and get to listen to and talk to officers that have done the job. She is worried to proceed without learning more since didn’t like her top two choices after the briefings (MI and Signal).

At the end of the day it will be the need of the Army, however she just wants to be sure of her top choices just in case that works out.
 
Dckc88 said:
She really isn’t worried about what it leads to or does not, but was wondering if someone on the forum or their family member has some insight to learn more about it since she wasn’t able to go to the briefing and doesn’t know anyone who has branched MP. I know the assumption is always that MP is chosen because of a desire for a civilian law enforcement career, that isn’t the motivation. Her attitude is she will figure that all later, just looking for a great place to start her career with the Army.

A little background. She was a nursing cadet who changed to communications after her sophomore year. She has a lot of interests, the branches that most interest her are Armor, any of the logistic branches, and MP. She also missed the AG briefing as well which was one she wanted to learn more about. It is unfortunate that the branch orientation day was cut short due to weather. It is such an important day at camp for kids to learn about branches and get to listen to and talk to officers that have done the job. She is worried to proceed without learning more since didn’t like her top two choices after the briefings (MI and Signal).

At the end of the day it will be the need of the Army, however she just wants to be sure of her top choices just in case that works out.
Click to expand...

If you'd like...send me a PM and I will work to put your daughter in touch with a currently serving MP Officer.
 
In my experience most federal law enforcement agencies do not count MP as law enforcement experience. Some smaller departments will use it as experience. Civilian law enforcement will likely want.... associates or BA in criminal justice. All will want you certified with the State peace officers association and may or may not pay for the certification.
 
Day-Tripper said:
If your DD goal is eventually to have a civilian police career, there are the following options to advance this:

1. Have a parent or other relative be on the police force DD wants to join. Nepotism works!
2. Have a four year college degree in criminal justice. With strong GPA.
3. Have military experience as an MP.
4. All of the above.
Click to expand...

In the bigger cities of SoCal nowadays (including the 2nd largest city in CA where I retired from), things that make your application pop:
1. Have a 4 year degree in anything
2. Speak Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog or even Somali but nothing trumps Spanish
3. Being ANYTHING other than a straight, white male
4. Military experience, especially in a leadership role

Dckc88...FWIW, we were talking to an AD MP with about 15 years of service (not an officer) at the Portland airport one time and he loved his job. He told us that the Army was looking to use the MP's more in the field and he said as such, the best part was they were usually in vehicles while the Infantry was on foot. For that reason alone, he said going MP was a batter route than Infantry for him :)
 
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