Police, Military

Military police have a challenging position within the armed forces. On the one hand, they must provide law enforcement duties at army posts and air force, marine, and naval bases and stations, which, in part, resemble those performed by civilian police. These duties include combating crime by service personnel and, in some circumstances, by civilians, whether they are U.S. citizens or foreign nationals; maintaining discipline among members of the armed services; providing security for military installations; and administering military confinement facilities. This entry discusses the history, roles, and organizations of military police in the U.S. armed forces.