Why are MP's disliked by the other MOS'?

Question

I was wondering why people in the military are not fans of the MP's (besides handing out speeding tickets on base) I have talked to a few of my buddies in the Navy, Army, and Marines, and they all had unpleasant words to describe their MP equivalents. They said they were rent a cops, but I have heard that MP's are bada**. In Vietnam they used to be the guy on the back of the jeep firing the machine gun into bushes to clear them so that the infantry could advance. I am really interested in becoming an MP (I have no record, arrest, or anything) So if you can answer the above question and would like to provide a website or ANY info I would REALLY appreciate it. Thank you.

Answer 1

Eh I totally disagree with the first answer.



I don't like the MP's because they hide behind their badges. I am an NCO been to Iraq 3 times and been in the USMC for 5 years.



When I see a "Jacked Up" MP. And I correct them it's like they look at me with that glazed look in their eye. Like the lights are on but no ones home. And they they are wearing their badge on their chest in the middle of the PX. They just gaff you off like you don't matter to them. And most the time they are BOOTS, E2 E3 E4.



They think they are all high and mighty.

Answer 2

First off, the Infantry have their own machine guns. The last thing they need is some MP on a Jeep spraying randomly where they are trying to maneuver.



Aside from being jerks on post and spending combat tours giving tickets, they do other annoying things.



Some of them try to get away with wearing the MP velco patch like it is a skill tab even when not performing MP duties.



You will probably hear an MP say "We were used as Infantry in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive" or something to that effect. Everybody was used as Infantry during the Tet Offensive. People who ever say something to the effect of "We are like Infantry, except..." or "We do Infantry stuff and..." are almost always regarded as universally annoying.



The MP Corp also attracts a lot of really loud mouth butch female soldiers because it is the closest thing they can get to Infantry (i.e. MP gun truck crews = fire teams) and they love telling you how they are oppressed.



Don't get me wrong, there are tons of cool, competent MPs out there... it's just there are a large enough vocal minority of guys who think they are some kind of elite strike force that it annoys a lot of people.

Answer 3

Not everyone dislikes Mps. Mps are made out to be a stereotypee, just like in high school. People either hate them, or love them. A lot of people also dont know exactly what they do. But like one of the other posts said, there are a lot of things Mps do that others dont know about. Not all Mps are d***heads. It just really depends on who the person is, and who lets the authority get to their head.

My husband is currently at Basic at Fort Leonard Wood, MO to become an MP. He is a very sweet guy, and he personally, hates cops. Why did he decide to become an MP? Because he wants to make a difference, and feel like he is helping other people when they need it. Mps dont just drive around in their cars. They patrol the bases, do security in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also investigate any crimes that happen on post. A lot of people dont like them because, yes they hand out tickets, but if the people who got the tickets were following the rules, then they wouldnt get a ticket. It all just really depends on how you look at it. If you want to be an MP, go for it. Its a great job, and has a lot of benefits. Dont worry about what other people think, do what you want to do. And thank you for wanting to join the Military, and serve your country.

Answer 4

Well I think its the same thing why people dont usually like cops. I've had a few encounters with MPs and majority of them where d***heads, rude, and thought they were the s**t... so when people have unpleasant encounters like that they automatically give all MPs or Cops a bad rep. Honestly if its something you'd like to pursue as a profession ... people would respect Cops/MPs much better if they didnt come off like they owned the road, could do whatever they want and were rude to people who were merely going over the speed limit... Attitude is everything

Answer 5

well the people think that they don't really do anything but ride in their cars while the other MOS's have to go out and do the "hard work". My husband is a combat engineer and he says that he is going to change his MOS to become an MP.

Here is some info that i found about MP's also...

The Army has its own law enforcement and security specialists to handle crimes committed on Army property or that involve Army personnel or their families. Military Police protect lives and property on Army installations by enforcing military laws and regulations, as well as controlling traffic, preventing crime, and responding to emergencies.



Military Police are responsible for providing support to the battlefield by conducting Area Security, Internment/Resettlement, Maneuver and Mobility Support, Law & Order, and Police Intelligence Operations. Some of your duties as a member of the Military Police Corps Regiment may include:



Law enforcement patrolling by car, boat, bicycle, and on foot

Interview witnesses, victims and suspects in the course of investigating crimes

Crime scene security and processing

Evidence and fingerprint collection

Arrest and charge criminal suspects

Military Police working dog handler

Testify in court

Enforce traffic regulations and guarding entrances to military facilities

and MP school is like 23 weeks long. that is basic and AIT together you will go to Fort Leonard Wood,MO because that is the Home of MP's. Hope this Helped you.

Answer 6

I understand that MPs have a job to do, but as whole, the ones that want to become MPs usually have something up their butt that makes them want to automatically have superiority over other people. What that means is that they were pr!cks before they became MPs and usually only those kind of people want to become MPs.



That's usually the reason that many civilian law enforcement agencies don't want to hire ex-MPs.



As far as your Vietnam story, I call "Bullsh!t".



While deployed in Kosovo and doing joint ops with a Russian Airborne unit, we interdicted guerrillas trying to bypass a checkpoint we were doing with the Russians. We called back to the base where there was a detention center to let the MPs know that we had prisoners to be taken to the center and be questioned. Since this was the first time we had this situation, we were surprised when the MPs finally arrived four hours later and informed us that THEY weren't going to transport the prisoners, that they were only there to escort US taking the prisoners to the detention center.



So we had to call back to our base, wake up another Scout section (by this time it was night), have them get up, dressed, load up their vehicles, and come to our location to get the prisoners, and then take them to the detention center. By the time the other section was done, they had to come back and relieve us since it was their turn to do operations. That was just the beginning of our dislike for the MPs.



The only time we saw MPs were on patrol in the cities or towns. We never saw them on the borders where much of the fighting was taking place.



The only time we really saw MPs was when a busload of Serbs was hit by a IED and several Serbs were killed and wounded. All the Serbs towns and villages in the area erupted in riot, with them blocking major roads preventing movement by NATO forces. For days, the MPs were trying to deal with the situation, with our Recon platoon having to sit in Humvees in full riot gear just in case the MPs needed us. Finally after several days of the MPs not being able to handle a situation where a Serb town was blocking the route between the two big bases in Kosovo, our Task Force commander turned us loose on the rioters and we, NOT THE MPs, ended the riot.



And that's just two situations.



The person who said that MPs get in a lot of trouble for drug use, DUIs, etc was correct. Then there's situations where MPs fail to do their basic jobs, such as an incident where a person was trying to use a fake ID to get on post who was serched and then later killed themselves with a handgun that the MPs failed to find, while in custody.



I realize that there's a need for MPs/SPs, but they're not all that by any means.

Answer 7

I don't hate MPs. I think they tend to be more lenient than regular police officer or the civilians ones we have on base now.



There have been two instances where I was picked up on base as lower enlisted for being drunk and stupid. Both times the MPs just dropped me off at the Barracks and made sure a buddy ensured I chilled for the rest of the night. One of those times I was only 17.



Of course you have your bad apples out there, but what MOS doesn't?

Answer 8

The biggest reason is because MPs, the very people who should be guarding against crime, are the ones commiting it. Same with DUIs. They have more than other units. The MOS accepts people with low scores and that contributes to it along with the fact that it is so boring. Try guarding something for 12 hours straight. You can't read a magazine, or listen to music, you just guard. I would go insane.

Answer 9

You ask why they are disliked by others....well in my experience you give some really young kid a gun and permission to basically do whatever they want to, speeding tickets, random searches, I have met good MPs but a lot of them are on a power trip and are just young punks.