Readers Respond: Do You Have Experience in MOS 31--Field Military Police?

Responses: 51

By Rod Powers, About.com Guide

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31 E

not here for grammer. I was active duty and was the first class they converted to the 31E. I also went through the 31B training. As far as a job for the military i loved it. I have also worked for the federal prisons system (BOP) and the USMS. If you plan on doing law enforcement for the government do NOT be a 31E. I repeat do not be a 31E. Law Enforcement I mean by carrying a gun all the time. Promotion and working with good people 31E. I said good people not always the best in shape. You will work different shifts, weekends and i hope you are consistent and fair. If you plan to go to work in corrections after the military this is a great experience. If not go 31B. Like I said I had a great time with the job. If you are a weak mentaly I do not suggest this job, some days you will take a beaten. Not physically but mentally. Dont ever forget its your life and you can do what you want, I mean if you do become 31E you can win WARFIGHTER. TRUST ME
—Guest you only live once.

Think about it...

Being a prior 95C/31E, you are pretty much a prison guard. You can easily do this in the civilian sector and get a lot more money for doing the same thing. If you want to be a corrections officer then you just need to weigh the context and money aspects. If you want to be paid less to watch the military's f-ups or get urine and feces thrown at you by those who have previously been shooting at your comrades then the 31E track is clearly for you.
—Guest Guest Guester

Enjoyed MP Corps

I was a 95B/95BV5/95Dfor those who do not recognize the numbers, I was and MP, MPI, and CID special agent. I get a chuckle when I read the description for an enlisted special agent when it states "assists" in investigations. I beg to differ. I conducted a great number of investigations which ranged from larcenies, to homocides. I was the lead investigator and do not remember assisting any warrant officer on those cases. I was in the MPs from 1976 to 1989 when the Army decided my knee was too messed up to keep me in. During those years I was a Security MP, Straf MP (LE Patrol Duty), MP Investigator, Drug Team Investigator, CID Special Agent, and finished my active duty career as an Insturctor and Ft. McClellan, AL. I will admit there were some aspects of the job I did not like very much, but on the whole I have to say I thourghly enjoyed my time in the MPs and did not want to get out when I was discharged. No doors were magically opened in civilian LE, but my time didn't hurt me any.
—Guest Ronbo544

i like it alot

well nowadays being an MP we do way more things like provide security escort convoys that type of stuff well at least when i deployed to iraq. yeah we do work long hours but even in civilian L.E you work long hours i just feel its the military. we all knew what we was getting into. the training to me was very helpful and very challenging but its worth it...at least i can speak for things now ive been in since 09` have deployments under my belt the DOD are having "MP`s" phased and having dod l.e. taking over.but i love what i do we are not military police we are called multi-purpose for a reason because thats what we are trained to do it.MP's is what you make of it....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Guest cpl. palm

Former 31E

I served in Nam 68-70 and was a 31E on a UH6 called "Susan" and later "Casper"...we worked on "relocating" VC officers to Cambodia. We provided air transport and security for an officer and up to five of his family members. We also gave them $25K cold cash...US greenbacks to help them "relocate". I have no proof of this because... of course we all know we were never in Cambodia in 68-70. I flew with Ackeron's Rangers. I was also qualified 25C and 95E I did my MOS at Ft. Gordon, GA and Ft. Carson Colorado. I have checked recently and wouldn't you know..."my records were "lost" in a fire years ago. Oh well...who cares.
—Guest Sgt. Ron

31E

I am looking for more feedback from 31E's. I am Currently an Air Traffic Controller 15Q and it SUCKS!!!!!!!! I was wanting to become A 31B but WOW! there are A LOT of bad things being said about that MOS. If there are any other 31E's out there that have anything to say about the MOS 31E it would be greatly appreciated! I look forward to hearing from you!
—Guest Looking for new MOS

Is 31B for you

If you were bullied in school, or if you were a bully in school, you will enjoy this MOS. You will get to be a bully.
—HMPVM

lol

i see all these responses reguarding the mp corps and they are all butt hurt. talking about training not tranfering over. i have been working as a 31C/31E for the last 7 1/2 years now(2004-2011). and let me tell you, i have several places that want my experience. for starters yes, if you want to arrest people and be out in a squad car with flashing lights and a gun this isnt the mp job you want. im a prison guard plain and simple. however, when i seperate in late november i will be going home to a correctional officer job paying between 75-100,000 a year. and i only made it to E-4. so basically each persons perspective is obviously gonna be different. i love my job and enjoyed my time.
—Guest cagekicker84

depends on what you did in the MP Corp

I was in from 1989-1993, I was B787 and went to Germany for my first tour. I thought Id be doing road work there, but I was wrong.I ended up in the 59th ORD and did tower rat duty, which i thought was the best duty ever. I got to be part of 2 big missions to take special weapons out of Germany. I PCSed to Ft Lewis and was in a straff unit, I was short so didnt get to go to Panama, but its alright. Just know what you are getting into. Research and talk to MPs or prior service MPs. Listen to good and bad and decide.
—Guest armymp11b

Continued

All civilian law angencies care about is if you can pass the civil service exam so you'll be competing with guys who have a degree in Liberal Arts and quite frankly the department doesn't care how you two are different, whoever scores higher gets the job. So why join if it's so lackluster? Why stay and become a CPT or SFC? Because MP is a very fun job, although youll hate some of things you do, the things you miss because of it, and the things you wish you could have done, it's a good career choice. It really helps understand the core values of the Army (integrity could use some work) however it's a fun job. It really depends on what you're looking for. People who want Law Enforcemt should go to the JAGs or work up to CID, if it's respect and notoriety you want go be an Information guy, there's a job where your gaining all sorts of appreciation with hardly any combat scuffles. But the true grunts and versatile soldier MP is the way to the best Combat force that's not an Arms division
—Guest CPTBroyals

Reality Check

I have served with the ARNG MP corps for seventeen years now and in all my service I have found this job like any other job. This is only a "dream job" for few after you've spent your contract enlisted. However it does have it's merits. Yes, you probably won't be guarding security gates and will most likely get attached to an Infantry Battalion and be an actual combatant. Let me set things straight here: first, Police For ea of any kind are corrupt to some extent. Trust me, I work with he DPD and their are some things that go down that make my jaw drop. If your concerned ahout being Cop Hero let me pull the carpet out right now, you won't. You'll do your job, get half a** appreciation and called to stay in to do work that shouldnt be yours to do. When not training police forces in other countries who don't like you; you'll be escorting Generals and other HPT's and Officers who view you like a cab driver or bus driver. Civilian Law angencies really don't care if you're an MP;
—Guest CPTBroyals

Dont Do it

Being a 31B is a fun job if you like ot work long hourrs, not get time to spend with your family and like being punished for others mistakes. I currently have 40 months in the MP corp and have deployed to Iraq. I was stationed at Ft Stewart where the mp's are more currupt then then soldiers are. I am now stationed in Korea where I do not do any MP work at all and the MP's are still currupt. Stay away from this MOS as 90% of the training will not transfer over to a civillian job.
—Guest guest

current 31B

I am a current 31B. I love the opportunities I have recieved. What other job in the world would pay you to do the training that we have the opportunity to participate in. Don't get me wrong it is hard work, long hours and very little positive acknowledgement, but if you joined to get patted on the back you picked the wrong career path. There are going to be days that you hate the job and others where you love it, thats life. But as far as I am concerned the best decision in my life next to God and family was joinin the military.
—Guest levitical

MM

Actually, I have a couple of questions regarding the Army Reserves Military Police. If I understand correctly someone who joins the Reserves will do basic and then go to an AIT school for MP training. Do reservists get paid more to be in the Milllitary Police, and other than one weekend a month basic skills training and a yearly trip to Death Valley is there additional training to keep the MP skills honed?
—Guest MM