Army Military Police (MOS 31B) provide protection to the people and property on Army installations.
These individuals enforce laws and regulations and perform basic police functions.
This entry-level position requires individuals to respond to emergencies in both on-base and in deployment scenarios.
Related Article – Complete list of Army MOS jobs
Education, Qualifications,Training and Duty Stations
MOS 31B requires a secret security clearance in order to qualify.
This generally means you must be a U.S. Citizen to meet this qualification.
A score of 91 on the Skilled Technical (ST) portion of the ASVAB test is required for this position.
Once the ASVAB score is met, all necessary security clearances are met and the physical and medical requirements are completed, recruits will attend One Station Unit Training.
This training combines both Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training into one 20 week instruction period.
Both classroom and on-the-job instruction will be used to complete training on police methods.
The skills learned in training will vary from basic warrior skills to law familiarization.
Skills that are helpful in the Army Military Police position include:
- Ability to make quick decisions
- Communication and ability to interact with people
- Being comfortable and remaining calm in heavy duress situations
- Interest in a job involving law enforcement
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Duty Stations
Those serving in the Army as an MOS 31B can expect to be potentially based at one of the following duty stations:
Inside the Continental US (CONUS)
- Ft. Belvoir, VA
- Ft. Benning, GA
- Ft. Bethesda, MD
- Ft. Bliss, TX
- Ft. Bragg, NC
- Ft. Campbell, KY
- Ft. Carson, CO
- Ft. Dix, CO
- Ft. Drum, NY
- Ft. Eustis, VA
- Ft. Gordon, GA
- Ft. Hood, TX
- Ft. Huachuca, AZ
- Ft. Irwin, CA
- Ft. Jackson, MS
- Ft. Knox, KY
- Ft. Lackland, TX
- Ft. Leavenworth, KS
- Ft. Lee, VA
- Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
- Ft. Lewis, WA
- Ft. McCoy, WI
- Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
- Ft. Meade, MD
- Ft. Miami, MIA
- Ft. Myer, VA
- Ft. Polk, LA
- Ft. Riley, KS
- Ft. Rucker, NY
- Ft. Sam Houston, TX
- Ft. Sill, OK
- Ft. Stewart, GA
- West Point, NY
Outside the Continental US (OCONUS)
- Ft. Richardson, AK
- Ft. Wainwright, AK
- Ft. Greely, AK
- Brussels, Belgium
- Daumerie, Belgium
- SHAPE, Belgium
- Garmisch, Germany
- Grafenwoehr, Germany
- Hohenfels, Germany
- Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Katterbach, Germany
- Kleber, Germany
- Landstuhl, Germany
- Kelley, Germany
- Panzer, Germany
- Pulaski, Germany
- Ramstein, Germany
- Rhine, Germany
- Smith, Germany
- Barton, Germany
- Wiesbaden, Germany
- Schofield, Hi
- Shafter, Hi
- Helemano, Hi
- Darby, Italy
- Naples, Italy
- Sigonella, Italy
- Vicenza, Italy
- Kyogamisaki, Japan
- Torii, Japan
- Zama, Japan
- Casey, South Korea
- Henry, South Korea
- Humphreys, South Korea
- Red Cloud, South Korea
- Walker, South Korea
- Yongsan, South Korea
What are the Job Duties of Army Military Police?
Army Military Police enforce military laws and regulations.
They complete law enforcement patrols and control traffic.
Their job duties involve preventing and responding to crime and emergency situations.
When a crime has occurred, the Military Police will conduct investigations and interview witnesses, victims, and suspects.
They will also process the crime scene and provide crime scene security.
This job function includes collecting evidence and reports.
Military police will make arrests and charge criminal suspects.
This position requires individuals to learn and be knowledgeable in both military and civil law and jurisdiction.
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Laws can change based on municipality and location, so it is important for Military Police to be aware of the laws in that area.
Also, laws change because they are updated or become out-dated, so constant training and law-information gathering is required.
Military Police are required to know the proper arresting procedures and restraining procedures for suspects.
Doing this the incorrect way could result in loss of evidence or inability to charge the suspect due to violation of certain rights.
These specialists will sometimes be tasked with crowd control.
In a deployed scenario, crowd control can be crucial and difficult because of language barriers and potential tension between the two sides.
Other job functions in deployed scenarios may include peace-keeping operations and disaster relief.
Army Military Police conduct maneuver and mobility support, internment resettlement operations, prisoner of war operations, civilian internee operations, and police intelligence operations.
They can provide area security and the security of Army resources.
The specialists are trained in both lethal and non-lethal scenarios.
They are also trained in conducting active and passive police intelligence collection.
In addition to policing duties, Military Police are tasked with security, corrections, and mobility job functions.
Corrections duties may include detention and transportation of subjects.
Related Article – Army Internment Resettlement Specialist (MOS 31E): Career Details
Military Police assist with supply route regulation, dislocated civilian control, force protection, and anti-terrorism functions.
Often times, Military Police will contribute and guide crime prevention programs with local entities such as schools.
Communication is important because this position requires communication with foreign Military, host-nation, or civilian law enforcement.
The Army video below provides more information about Army Military Police job functions.
What Does MOS 31B Pay?
Even though this position requires security clearances, it is considered an entry-level position.
Individuals who are recruited into the Army, with no prior military experience, generally earn the income of a lower rank based on the pay table below.
Opportunities for recruiting or in-demand position bonuses are sometimes available and can vary based on Army needs.
| Insignia | Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation | Minimum Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 +4 months | Private | PVT | $1,917.60 | |
 | E-2 | Private Second Class | PV2 | $2,149.20 |
 | E-3 | Private First Class | PFC | $2,259.90 |
 | E-4 | Specialist | SPC | $2,503.50 |
 | E-4 | Corporal | CPL | $2,503.50 |
 | E-5 | Sergeant | SGT | $2,730.30 |
 | E-6 | Staff Sergeant | SSG | $2,980.50 |
 | E-7 | Sergeant First Class | SFC | $3,445.80 |
 | E-8 | Master Sergeant | MSG | $4,957.20 |
 | E-8 | First Sergeant | 1SG | $4,957.20 |
 | E-9 | Sergeant Major | SGM | $6,055.50 |
 | E-9 | Command Sergeant Major | CSM | $6,055.50 |
 | E-9 | Sergeant Major of the Army | SMA | $6,055.50 |
Benefits
While initially looking at the base pay table above might give the indication that recruits in the Army make a very low wage, you have to factor in all of the benefits that the Army offers.
Recruits who live on-base have their housing and food paid for.
They also are provided with an annual clothing allowance for military clothing or civilian clothing if their job requires it.
The Army offers medical and dental at little to no cost.
They offer low-cost life insurance, paid sick time and 30 paid days of vacation a year.
There are opportunities to advance your education or gain certain credentials while in the Army.
These opportunities are generally most of the way or completely paid for using the many tuition assistance programs.
Special pay opportunities, such as deployment pay, are also available.
Related Article –National Guard Military Police (MOS 31b): Career Details
Job Reviews
This position requires individuals to work with a wide range of specialties and departments.
The duties are a mixture of civilian police and corrections.
Most individuals in this position note that the working days seem to be regular and allow for family time.
Positive reviews discuss the ability to work with other entities that you would not normally get to work with.
Negative reviews discuss the deployments.
A few reviews from Military Police Officers and what an average day for them was like, can be found below.
The video below also provides an inside look for what training and life are like as an Army Military Police officer.
Civilian Career Opportunities
MOS 31B will give Army soldiers the qualifications they need to enter into civilian federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
This position could be in a patrol position, investigative position, or in the corrections department.
While in the Army, MOS 31B specialist can use GI Bill funding towards certain certifications such as Certified Protection Professional and Certified Safety Professional that assists with Army promotion and additional civilian career opportunities.
MOS 31B also participates in the PAYS program, which is a recruitment opportunity that guarantees a job interview with a military-friendly employer after leaving the military.
A few organizations that currently support this program include LAPD, NY City Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department and more.
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Summary
Army Military Police (MOS 31B) are tasked with enforcing laws and regulations in situations all around the world.
Their job functions vary and can include duties such as patrolling, writing citations, and arresting suspects.
This entry-level position requires individuals to take the ASVAB test, pass security clearances and medical/physical examinations.
Recruits will not attend Basic Military Training, but will instead attend One Station Unit Training which combines Basic Military Training and Advanced Individual Training into one location.
This is an entry-level position that will follow the Army base pay table, and recruits will be offered Army benefits.
Previous Military Police like the position they are in and note the skills that they learn as being applicable to any future work.
Civilian career opportunities that are similar to this position include civilian police, security, and corrections positions.
Related Article – Air Force Ground Transportation (2T1X1): Career Details
References
Official Army MOS 31B Career Details site
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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General FAQ
What is the MOS for military police?
In the U.S. Army, the MOS (or military occupational specialty code) is 31B. The 31 series MOS includes law enforcement jobs, such as MPs, criminal investigators, internment specialists, and working dog handlers.
How long is AIT for Army military police?
Training for Army Military Police (MOS 31B) is a combination of Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and lasts for a total of 20 weeks. You will train at Fort Leonard Wood, in Missouri.
How do you become military police in the Army?
To qualify as an Army MP, you’ll need to be a U.S. citizen, obtain a Secret security clearance, and score a minimum of 91 on the Skilled Technical portion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
What police departments have programs to hire Army Military Police?
A few of the organizations that support the PAYS program is the LAPD, NYC Police Department, and Las Vegas Metro Police Department. These departments guarantee a job interview after you leave the service.
Is Army MP training hard?
Because Army Military Police have no transition between Basic Training and AIT, training to become an MP can seem longer than it might for other MOSs.
“MOS 31B will give Army soldiers the qualifications they need to enter into civilian federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.”
Does this mean if I am an MP in the military, when I leave the military, I am fully qualified to be a civilian police officer? This would be my goal, so, if I signed up ro enter as an MP, I could get my certifications as a civilian police officer upon discharge?
Nah you would still have to go through civilian police academy and get certified / sworn in. What I was trying to convey is that you’ll have the necessary experience / education to qualify for a job as a civilian police officer. Hope this clears things up.
Rob V.
OMK Owner / Founder