Do military police have guns?
The short answer is yes, military police (MPs) stationed in bases worldwide and deployed in combat zones carry a range of pistols, rifles, and other firearms as standard gear. Firearms are crucial equipment enabling MPs to effectively enforce security and laws within military organizations.
As the dedicated law enforcement corps of the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, military police must safeguard personnel and property on installations, gather intel, handle detainees, and support combat troops abroad. Their multifaceted duties necessitate carrying defensive and tactical weapons to protect themselves and base occupants plus restrain perpetrators if threats emerge.
According to military experts, the "rules of engagement" outlined for military police units mean they are far more likely to need weapons for self-defense compared to typical domestic police forces. So carrying appropriate firearms and maintaining proficiency through recurrent training is an essential part of the job for MPs stationed worldwide.
Standard Issue US Military Police Firearms
The specific pistols, rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and other weapons carried by military police varies between military branches and tactical teams. But many core US MPs are issued the following firearms:
Pistols
| Branch | Standard Issue | Model | Caliber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | SIG Sauer M17/M18 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9mm |
| Marine Corps | Glock 19M | Semi-automatic pistol | 9mm |
| Navy | SIG Sauer P226 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9mm |
| Air Force | Beretta M9 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9mm |
The most common military police pistols as of 2023 are semi-automatic handguns from top manufacturers like SIG Sauer, Glock, and Beretta chambered for 9mm NATO rounds carried in standard 12+ round magazines. These full-sized combat pistols provide accurate firepower in close quarters common for MP units.
Rifles
| Branch | Standard Issue | Model | Caliber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | M4 Carbine | Semi-automatic carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Marine Corps | M16A4 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Navy | M4 Carbine | Semi-automatic carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Air Force | M4 Carbine | Semi-automatic carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO |
The M4 carbine and M16 assault rifle firing 5.56mm NATO ammunition are the most deployed long guns for safeguarding bases, conducing combat ops, and other risky MP assignments abroad.
Why Do Military Police Need Firearms?
Military police must be armed while:
- Manning gates and patrolling base perimeters against unauthorized access
- Responding to active shooter, terrorist, or sabotage threats within installations
- Guarding sensitive sites like nuclear silos, dams, or air traffic control towers
- Safely monitoring and transporting detainee populations in custody
- Escorting supply, materiel convoys through high risk areas
- Conducting personal security details for ranking officers
- Supporting combat troops via reconnaissance and counterinsurgency
- Maintaining order and safety in occupied territories during deployments
These examples highlight why MPs carrying appropriate weapons during law enforcement or security activities is standard protocol by military regulations. Firearms reinforce MPs capability to counter armed aggressors, safely quell riots, extract personnel from hot zones, and complete missions worldwide with minimized risk. Without firearms, military police would lack critical tools enabling them to fully execute their expansive duties.
Specialized MP Firearms and Tactical Gear
While typical base MPs carry pistols and carbines for general use, select units leverage customized weapons, optics, ammunition, body armor and support vehicles optimized for higher stakes assignments.
For example, the US Army‘s elite 911th Military Police company supporting European Command heads carries souped-up Humvees equipped with turrets plus increased stocks of:
- M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAWs)
- M240B Medium Machine Guns
- Barrett M107 .50 caliber rifles
- M320/M203 40mm Grenade Launchers
Outfitting MPs with heavier armaments like belt-fed machine guns, .50 sniper rifles, and mounted vehicle systems upgrades contingency response capabilities to counter well-armed enemy combatants if firefights erupt.
Similarly, the Marine Corps‘ Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Teams (FAST) Marines hold special antiterrorism duties including embassy reinforcement. Deploying globally on short notice, FAST teams utilize advanced weapons plus offenses tactics training to swiftly neutralize external threats against sensitive sites and personnel if local first responders are overwhelmed.
Takeaway: Firearms Critical Enabler Underpinning Military Police Effectiveness
Guns serve both defensive and offensive purposes for military law enforcement teams reacting to armed confrontations worldwide. MP duties ranging from guarding nuclear assets on home soil to waging counterinsurgency campaigns abroad means a lack of appropriate firearms would severely undermine force protection, unit mobility, and the ability to achieve mission objectives in dangerous developing situations.
So in scenarios where split second decisiveness directly impacts personal and base survival against aggressors, carrying firearms is absolutely vital. As the renowned military theorist Carl von Clausewitz once noted, "The best defense is a good offense." This adage highlights why military police continue relying on pistols, assault rifles, machine guns and other weapons as indispensable tools to confidently maintain security through deterrence or action against those threatening personnel or facilities under their watch.
