Miscellaneous

This page features some items that I thought might be of interest to you.

History of the Military Police Badge

The development of the Military Police badge began in 1972 when the Provost Marshal General's office began considering proposed designs. The initial design incorporated the symbols of the 15th and 18th MP Brigades, the only two active brigades at the time. This was changed and the resulting badge was approved on 16 January 1975. The badge is sliver plated with an oxidized satin finish and has three distinct components:
1. Shield - represents defense and the traditional police authority
2. Eagle - perched on top of the shield represents alertness and vigilance
3. Armament Crest - placed in the center replicates the crest of the official Department of the Army seal

History of the Criminal Investigation Command

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command was organized as a major command of the Army to provide investigative services to all levels of the Army. Using modern investigative techniques, equipment and systems, USACIDC concerns itself with every level of the Army throughout the world in which criminal activity can or has occurred. Unrestricted, CID searches out the full facts of a situation, organizes the facts into a logical summary of investigative data, and presents this data to the responsible command or a United States attorney as appropriate. The responsible command or the U.S. attorney then determines what action will be taken. Ultimately, the commander of USACIDC answers only to the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Secretary of the Army.

In 1775, the "regular" soldiers of the Continental Army received extensive training based upon the Prussian manual of arms. This training was designed to instill military discipline in the "Continentals" who would then be augmented by volunteer and militia units. The result would be a fighting unit which would instantly obey commanders during the heat of battle. This training would also help reinforce the maintenance of discipline within the ranks during periods when combat was not imminent. Failure to maintain discipline during bivouac and battle could destroy the Army and, with it, the new nation.

The emphasis on enforcing discipline within the Army continued until 1863, when the emphasis shifted to enforcement of a new law passed during the nation's Civil War.

As the Civil War dragged on and casualty lists proliferated, Congress passed the Enrollment Act which was designed to provide conscripts for the Union Army. It was the first draft law and was highly unpopular. Because riots often erupted in protest of the new draft law, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton felt that a police force was needed to enforce the new and unpopular law. In March 1863, the Provost Marshal General's Bureau was established to administer and enforce the draft law and to arrest deserters.

During the war, investigations of criminal acts within the Army, such as payroll thefts or murders, were conducted by private agencies such as the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Ultimately, Major Alan Pinkerton was commissioned by MG George McClellan to create the first criminal investigation division.

After the Civil War, the Provost Marshal General's Bureau remained largely unchanged until the American Expeditionary Forces entered France during World War I in 1917. As the number of American soldiers in France increased, so too did the need for additional police services. In October 1917, the Military Police Corps was established; from this corps, today's Military Police Corps evolved. Although this new corps functioned well in its role as uniformed policemen during World War I, crime rates mounted and a legitimate need for a detective element became apparent.

In November 1918, Gen. John Pershing directed the Provost Marshal General of his American Expeditionary Forces entered France during World War I in 1917. As the number of American soldiers in France increased, so too did the need for additional police services. In October 1917, the Military Police Corps was established; from this corps, today's Military Police Corps evolved. Although this new corps functioned well in its role as uniformed policemen during World War I, crime rates mounted and a legitimate need for a detective element became apparent.

In November 1918, Gen. John Pershing directed the Provost Marshal General of his American Expeditionary Forces to organize a criminal investigation division within the Military Police Corps for the purpose of detecting and preventing crimes within the territory occupied by the American Expeditionary Forces. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was headed by a division chief who served as the CID advisor to the Provost Marshal General on all matters (administrative and technical) pertinent to criminal investigation. Operational control of CID, however, remained with individual provost marshals. There was no central control of investigative efforts within CID and the individual investigators were hampered by a lack of investigative training and experience. Investigators consisted of personnel selected from military police units within each command.

Crimes committed by American soldiers and crimes committed by other nationals against the Allies were reported through channels similar to those of a civilian police force. CID personnel acted as detectives as they investigated crimes or suspected crimes.

CID effectiveness, although hampered by some shortcomings, produced favorable results in the recovery of stolen government and personal property. However, the absence of central direction and control, and the lack of investigative training and experience among personnel, kept CID from achieving its full capability.

Between World Wars I and II, the Army was reduced to a small peacetime organization where there was little need of a criminal investigative element.

The American entry into World War II in December 1941 changed the Army almost overnight from a small peacetime organization of professionals into a force of millions. Because the Army was a community within itself, and this community had grown so rapidly, there was again a need for some type of law enforcement system.

In early 1942, investigations of crimes committed by military personnel were considered to be a "command function" to be conducted by local military police personnel. The delegation of criminal investigations to a command function meant that each commander was responsible for seeing that crime committed within the commander's realm of responsibility was investigated. The Office of The Provost Marshal General felt that the agents in the Investigations Department were not trained for criminal investigations per se, nor did it anticipate their being used in that capacity. The only investigations being conducted at this time were "loyalty" investigations into the backgrounds of persons hired for employment in defense related industries.

As the Army expanded, so too did the crime rate. Criminal investigations failed to keep abreast of the expanding crime rate. Commanders did not have the personnel or the funds to conduct adequate investigations. In December 1943, The Provost Marshal General was charged with providing staff supervision over all criminal investigations.

The Criminal Investigation Division of The Provost Marshal General's Office was established in January 1944. The Provost Marshal General rendered staff supervision over criminal investigation activities, coordinated investigations between commands, dictated plans and policies and set standards for investigators.

Following World War II, the CID was centralized at the theater Army level. Control of criminal investigation personnel was decentralized to area commands during the 1950s and then down to the installation level during the early 1960s. While The Provost Marshal General still had overall supervision of criminal investigation activities, the operations were conducted at the local level.

A Department of Defense study in 1964 called "Project Security Shield" made clear that complete centralization of the Army's criminal investigative effort was needed in order to produce a more efficient and responsive worldwide capability.

In 1965, the Army took the first step towards centralizing command and control of CID elements. Elements were organized into CID groups corresponding to the Army areas in the United States. The following year, the concept was introduced to units in Europe and the Far East.

This group arrangement did not totally solve identified problems and in September 1969, at the direction of the Army Chief of Staff, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Agency was established under the direction of The Provost Marshal General. The agency was to supervise all CID operations and to provide guidance to CID elements around the world.

However, the agency did not have command authority. It was only chartered to provide direction to the criminal investigation effort.

In March 1971, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird directed the Secretary of the Army to form a CID command with command and control authority over all Army-wide CID assets.

On September 17, 1971, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command was established as a major Army command. The CID Command was vested with command and control of all Army criminal investigation activities and resources worldwide. Granting major command status to the CID facilitated CID communications with all levels of the military and civilian governments while providing a centralized controlling authority over the Army's investigative resources and activities. The Commander of CID is directly responsible to the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Secretary of the Army. The organization of the CID command brought to an end the 50-year-old problem of how to administer the CID.

CID has the authority to investigate felony crime affecting the Army anytime, anyplace in the world.

During its history, CID has undergone considerable change, both in organization and its approach to the problem of detecting and preventing crime. Throughout the changes, however, run the threads of common purpose and principle that link yesterday's years of success by individual CID special agents investigating crime within the Army and today's agents. As the Army's responsibilities have grown and changed, CID has responded to every change by continuing to provide the timely, second-to-none investigative service that has become its trademark.

Regardless of the type of crimes investigated by CID, be it counter-narcotic, procurement fraud, property crimes or crimes of violence, CID's performance has invariably been at or above the standards of its nationwide law enforcement agency peers.

Today, the Criminal Investigation Command headquarters is located at Fort Belvoir, Va. Its position in the Army organization and its location at the seat of national government ensures the CID has a positive direction and remains responsive to the Army's needs. It is an organization that has successfully lived up to its motto:

"Do What Has To Be Done"

Murphy's Law for Military Police

Your brassard and your badge won't stop bullets.
If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.
Don't look conspicuous - it antagonizes officers.
When in doubt, empty your shotgun.
Never share a patrol car with anyone braver than you.
Not wearing body armor attracts bullets and knives.
If your response goes well, you're at the wrong barracks.
Your Patrol Supervisor will show up when you're doing something really stupid.
The time it takes to respond to an emergency is inversely proportional to the importance of the call.
The warrant you don't read is the one you'll serve at the wrong quarters.
No matter how you write it, the Desk Sergeant will want it changed.
If you charge in all alone, you'll be shot by your own officers.
The diversion you're ignoring is the actual crime.
The important things are always simple.
The simple things are always hard.
The easy ways are always blocked.
The short cuts are always under construction by the post engineers.
Anything you do can get you in trouble - including doing nothing.
When you've secured a crime scene, don't forget to tell the brass.
Using the siren and light to clear traffic - attracts traffic.
It only becomes a riot right after you show up.
If you take out the newest patrol car, you'll have an accident.
No street-wise unit ever passed inspection.
No inspection-ready unit ever makes it on the streets.
The thing you really need, will be left back at the MP Station.
Radios will fail as soon as you need back-up desperately.
Flashlight batteries always die out, just when you really need light.
Military working dogs attack anything that moves - including you.
The helicopter will always be low on fuel, as soon as you need it.
You'll find the suspect you want, when you're off-duty and unarmed.
If you respond to more than your fair share of calls, you'll have more than your fair share of calls to respond to.
The suspect will escape, just before you set up a good perimeter.
The dependent who screams loudly when you don't show up quickly, also screams loudly when you do.
The weight of the dead body you'll have to carry is proportional to the amount of stairs you'll have to climb.
Fatalities always occur at the end of shift - or when it rains and snows.
Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
Contrary to popular belief - general officers don't get tickets.
You won't get called to a court martial - unless it's your day off.
Take off your hat and the MP Duty Officer shows up.
Empty guns - aren't.
Your two minute "back-up" is always actually ten minutes away.
The alley you sprint down, is the wrong alley.
Tasting suspected drugs works - but only on TV or in the movies.
Suspects always hide in the last place you look.
Better to be judged by twelve, than carried by six.
Professional criminals are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.
Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof - then blame a Private.
Don't stand, if you can sit - don't sit, if you can lay down - if you can lay down, you might as well take a nap.
Contrary to popular belief, O.C. *IS* an area effect weapon.

Military Police Creed

I am a soldier and proud member of the United States Army Military Police Corps. I am Of the Troops and For the Troops. I believe there is no higher calling than to Assist, Protect, and Defend my fellow soldiers, their families, and the basic ideals of our Constitution that guarantee our freedoms and our American way of life. I am always ready to help individual soldiers retain or regain their dignity. I assist commanders in performing their missions, safeguarding their commands, and maintaining discipline, law, and order. I am proud of the Military Police Corps and full understand the awesome responsibility given to all military police soldiers. At the same time, I am humble because I know that I am a servant of my country and my Army. To perform my duties properly, my honesty, integrity, and courage must be balanced by competence, alertness, and courtesy. I know I am constantly in the public eye and my behavior sets the standards of excellence of my fellow soldiers. To my unit, my commander, and myself I promise sustained, just and honorable support. To my country, the Army, and my Regiment, I promise the skills of my training, my physical ability, my mental initiative, and my moral courage, for I am a solider in the MILITARY POLICE CORPS.

Airborne Creed

I volunteered as a parachutist, fully realizing the hazard of my chosen service and by my thoughts and actions will always uphold the prestige, honor and high esprit-de-corps of parachute troops.

I realize that a parachutist is not merely a soldier who arrives by parachute to fight, but is an elite shock trooper and that his country expects him to march farther and faster, to fight harder, and to be be more self-reliant than any other soldier. Parachutists of all allied armies belong to this great brotherhood.

I shall never fail my fellow comrades by shirking any duty or training, but will always keep myself mentally and physically fit and shoulder my full share of the task, whatever it my be.

I shall always accord my superiors fullest loyalty and I will always bear in mind the sacred trust I have in the lives of the men I will accompany into battle.

I shall show other soldiers by my military courtesy, neatness of dress and care of my weapons and equipment that I am a picked and well trained soldier.

I shall endeavor always to reflect the high standards of training and morale of parachute troops.

I shall respect the abilities of my enemies, I will fight fairly and with all my might, surrender is not in my creed.

I shall display a high degree of initiative and will fight on to my objective and mission, though I be the lone survivor.

I shall prove my ability as a fighting man against the enemy on the field of battle, not by quarreling with my comrades in arms or by bragging about my deeds.

I shall always realize that battles are won by an army fighting as a team, that I fight first and blaze the path into battle for others to follow and to carry the battle on.

I belong to the finest unit in the world. By my actions and deeds alone, I speak for my fighting ability. I will strive to uphold the honor and prestige of my outfit, making my country proud of me and of the unit to which I belong.

The RIGGERS Pledge

I will keep constatnly in mind that until men grow wings thier parachutes must be dependable.

I will pack every parachute as though I were going to jump with it myself and will stand ready to jump with any parachute which I have certified as properly inspected and packed.

I will remember that the other man's life is as dear to him as mine is to me.

I will never resort to guessing, as I know that chance is a fool's god and that I, as a rigger, cannot depend on it.

I will never pass over any defect, nor neglect any repair, no matter how small, as I know that omissions and mistakes in the rigging of a parachute may cost a life.

I will keep all parachute equipment entrusted to my care in the best possible condition, remembering always that the little things left undone cause major troubles.

I will never sign my name to a parachute inspection or packing certificate unless I have personally performed or directly supervised every step and am entirely satisfied with all the work.

I will never let the idea that a piece of work is "good enough" make me a potential murderer though a careless mistake or oversight, for I know that there can be no compromise with perfection.

I will keep always a wholehearted respect for my vocation, regarding it as a high profession rather than a day-to-day task, and will keep in mind constantly my grave responsibility.

I will be sure - ALWAYS.

Airborne Toast

I have ridden the skies in great machines, hooked up and jumped with the best of men.
I have fought long and hard, and when I felt I had no energy left, I have been fired by the fear that if I stopped fighting, my comrades would die.
And when I was in danger, enemy all around, I heard the thunder from my left and my right, as my life was defended. I have never been alone.
I live, jump, fight and battle to victory with the greatest assemblage of men on earth.
Gentlemen, to the BROTHERHOOD of the AIRBORNE.
To the AIRBORNE !