The Marine Corps began plans to hire approximately 1,200 Civilian Police Officers over the next four years in June to help ease the operational stress on the Corps’ military police and to enhance the Provost Marshals Office capabilities on its U.S. installations, according to a Marine Corps News Service article.

This isn’t, however, the first time the Marine Corps has hired Civilian Police Officers. In 2005, the Corps introduced Civilian Police forces at Blount Island Command in Jacksonville Fla., and on Marine Corps Logistics Bases in Barstow, Calif. and Albany, Ga. In the future, the term "boys in blue" won't just apply to police officers outside the gate, but to police on many Marine Corps installations, as well.