Marines military police

[studentcj]

I was wondering if the Marines military police are just like the AF's security force and the Army MP's. Would I start off working the gate? What about the time spent on a naval ship. Will I get the chance to get deployed a lot or will I be stuck here on American soil. What are some good marine websites to go to beside just the recruiting and official sites. Any sites that can tell more about how basic is. I saw a show on the History channel about the Marine boot camp. I know that with the Marines even if you have a degree, you still don't get advanced rank like in the other branches. How are promotions? Are they harder to get? What is the enlistment period for the Marines MP? Any advice would be appreciated. Some of these questions I asked in another thread, but it turned into a "who's better Army or Marine" I really would like to get as much info without going to the recruiter first. Also, I heard their shooting standards are higher than the army. I know nothing for the most part about guns. Will this hurt me when it comes to the shooting range. I first I thought I had settled for the Army, but know I'm looking at the Marines, because I want the most challenging. I feel like it will get me even more mentally & physically prepared for when I try to get a job in civilian LE. I'd be ready for anything.(for the most part). Also what is a normal day for a Marine MP.

[allusivewolf]

Well I just got out of the Marines after about 7 years, My expierence has been infantry for the first 4 1/2 years and then my remainding years as an MP. I was able to Lateral over becuase I was already qualified with alot of the qualifications etc from infantry. However I did have to go to alot of schooling to get brought up on the laws etc, arrest procedures, and i have alot of civilian expiernence as well so it was fairly easy. When i started as an MP I was a Sgt at the time, so i was the most senor person on my shift even above the watch commander, but becuase i am not to proud of a person to take a step back and learn from others even at the entry level. Helped me out alot, i worked the gate, and alot of the junior marines worked the gate as well, it gets you familiar with talking to people and checking tags, DoD decals etc... and then i went to the road for awhile writing tickets, going to calls etc. Personally i love the road, then i went to patrol supervisor which was basically in charge of my shift and placing marines going making sure that marines have back up etc. and that everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing. then i went to watch commander, and that is everything that happens on that base i am responsible for, i reported to my platoon sgt, but it was more of an admin job, making sure reports were writen correctly etc... but i really loved the job, but you do have your down falls, like people who think they are above the law. like talking on a cell phone is illegal on our base, and i pulled over a women and wrote her a ticket, she was a three star, Lt. general. so i doubt it went anywheres, but you have people who say your a sgt and i am a colonel you cant do this or you cant give me a ticket, etc... but you get that anywheres. My big thing was when i was on duty i was just that on duty. I have no friends while i am on duty. but alot of what you do is a judgement call. you have to remember though you have alot of power and just dont let it go to your head, i have put people behind the desk, just becuase they were acting inapproprately towards people of higher rank etc... I really had alot of fun doing MP. got alot of expierence and learned alot.

As far as promotions, just kick butt, show your leaders that you want to be there and that you want to learn, and that you want to be the next rank, do all the schools that you can, and learn for older marines that have been there. dont go in there with a know it all attitude or you will be shot down really hard. trust me i know from expierence. but just show them that you are responsible and able to handle all areas of responsibility. show them that you have what it takes to be an effective leader. if you are a pfc start thinking and acting like a lcpl. if you are a lcpl start thinking and acting like a cpl and so on. you will do fine, just have to keep trying to improve.

I learned first how to shot a gun in the marines, they spend alot of time getting you used to fireing that M-16A2. You will leave the island being able to shot, actually the best shoters that i have ever seen were people who never ever shot or touched a rifle in thier lives. just forget everything that you have ever learned or thought about knowing about shooting and just do what they tell you to do , like for the first week you do nothing but sit in the postions and site in, take advantage of that time. it will pay off in the long run.

As far as the branch of service, Army or Marines. It is up to you what do you want to get out of the Army and what do you want to get out of the Marines. Weight the pros and cons, and make your decision. You will get good training in the marines, and you will get good training in the army, just depends on were you want to go. and what you want to do as far as service. My personal advise is write down a list of goals that you would like to accomplish. then talk to the Marine recruiter and see what he has to say, how the marines can help you reach those goals, now go talk to the army recruiter and see how the army can help you reach those goals. etc.... do your homework, research all about the military, marines and army. and see which one is right for you. remember what you want to get out of the armed forces is up to you, but no matter what branch you are going into you are still serving your country. anything else i can do to help you out, let me know feel free to pm me at any time. good luck to you

[EXCOP2000]

I was an 0331 (machinegunner) in the USMC, but when I was a short-timer and "non-deployable" I asked to be sent on a FAP(Fleet Assistance Program) to an MP unit because I wanted to go into civilian LE when I got out and thought it would look good on the resume. Believe it or not I got the gig and lucky for me Camp Lejuene was just starting up something called "gate platoon." Because I would just be doing front gate duty (checking DOD stickers, front gate security, checking DL's and registrations of visitors to the base etc...) I only needed a minimal amount of MP training before starting. I was an NCO and was actually in charge of a shift detail for the front gate (swing shift). Basically what I learned about USMC M.P.'s is that there are "base" MP's (which I was under) and then there are (or were, I got out in 1996) "fleet" MP's. Base MP's worked base security and patrol (road MP's) for CLNC or for whatever base they are stationed at. "Fleet" MP's were part of an FSSG (Fleet Service Support Group) and were "deployable" to places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, on ship etc.... What type of MP unit you are sent to after you finish your MP school probably depends on the needs of the USMC and where they need people, or maybe you go to a base unit first and learn the ropes and then go to an FSSG unit...I am not sure and cannot remember exactly...like I said my primary MOS was 03 Infantry. You can also go into specialized units like SRT (The USMC version of SWAT) or maybe become a K-9 handler or go into CID with some time (and rank) in. If I got any of this info wrong, please let a former USMC MP correct me...but I think I basically got it right from the little bit of info I actually provided. :D Good luck on getting the MP slot. :cool:

[EXCOP2000]

Holy Mackaral...I didn't even notice that was you studentcj posting this...I thought you had narrowed it down to the Army or AF??? LOL! Man, you amaze me with how much you change you mind, just on this board. I sometimes think you do it just to get under the skin of other posters here...you seem to have a split personality (several) when it comes to what you want to do after you finish college. You have mentioned the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines (both the enlisted and officer side...what no Coast Guard consideration? LOL), not to mention trying to go right into LE and which agency is the best there. Hey this is an open forum and you can ask all the questions you want I guess, but you have developed a reputation as someone who is indecisive and second guesses everything they consider or are going to do. In the field of LE or the military you cannot stand around and weigh every decision for weeks and months. It is your career and life, but to me you are showing something that sends up a red flag in my mind...who knows, like I said maybe you are doing it just as a "poster" identity. Anyway I hope things work out for you....whatever that will be?

[allusivewolf]

I really must have missed something?

[studentcj]

I was in no way trying to get under anybodies skin, if I did I apologize. To tell you the truth I've been made up my mind. I'm not somebody who is indecisive, but since I have the time to ask some questions I decided that I would. First, My decision was always to go to the army enlisted after college. I never had plans to go into the Navy, AF, or to become an officer. I was just asking questions about that just to clear up some things. The reason that the Marines came into the picture was because of a friend of mine who started talking about it and I became interested. I really was looking for something that would challenge me physically and mentally. I plan on 100% enlisting in the Army. Besides, I would rather get all the facts I could and then make a decision than to be one of those people that don't think all the way through and end up doing something that they regret. Some of the questions that I asked about LE were for others I know who didn't want to register just to ask a couple of questions. Believe me I'm not second guessing myself at all. Most of the things I ask on here I also ask of my parents or cousin who are in the military and a friend of my mom's who is a Captain for the Kansas City police dept. I like to see what others have to say. Well, I've done enough explaining. I'm through finally with this site. I've asked all the questions I need to ask.

Holy Mackaral...I didn't even notice that was you studentcj posting this...I thought you had narrowed it down to the Army or AF??? LOL! Man, you amaze me with how much you change you mind, just on this board. I sometimes think you do it just to get under the skin of other posters here...you seem to have a split personality (several) when it comes to what you want to do after you finish college. You have mentioned the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines (both the enlisted and officer side...what no Coast Guard consideration? LOL), not to mention trying to go right into LE and which agency is the best there. Hey this is an open forum and you can ask all the questions you want I guess, but you have developed a reputation as someone who is indecisive and second guesses everything they consider or are going to do. In the field of LE or the military you cannot stand around and weigh every decision for weeks and months. It is your career and life, but to me you are showing something that sends up a red flag in my mind...who knows, like I said maybe you are doing it just as a "poster" identity. Anyway I hope things work out for you....whatever that will be?

[EXCOP2000]

Fair enough student cj...you don't have to leave the board. I am just one person's opinion, but I know of at least one other poster who expressed similar thoughts on your seemingly endless stream of questions and assertions that you have decided X but then later consider Y. Maybe you should have stated earlier that you ask many questions for other friends considering LE or the military. It is not anger I am expressing towards you, it is more or less me scratching my head and laughing at some of your posts...I actually hope you stick around so we can find out what happens once you are in the army...I mean it man, stick around and tell us how you do in the future. Good luck...I mean it! :cool: