Crime is an unfortunate reality in all parts of the world, and military bases are no exception. When military personnel are involved in crimes or when emergencies occur, the National Guard military police respond. These guard members have job duties similar to civilian police officers. Unlike police officers, however, National Guard members typically serve part-time and do not receive a full-time salary unless they are called to active duty.
Job Description
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Within the National Guard, military police have the responsibility of enforcing the law and investigating crimes committed by guard members. In addition to law enforcement duties, the military police also respond to security and emergency issues on military bases.
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Common job activities for National Guard military police personnel are similar to civilian police duties. Conducting patrols on foot and in vehicles as well as conducting investigative interviews are common tasks. However, military police members can also be deployed to combat zones. When deployed, they are responsible for providing security and protecting officers for all military units, not just the National Guard.
Training Requirements
In order to serve in the military police, members of the National Guard must first complete ten weeks of basic combat training. During this time, members practice basic soldiering and combat skills such as navigation and team movement. Following basic combat training, personnel selected for the military police must also complete a minimum of eights weeks of advanced individual training, with a focus on practicing police and investigative tactics.
Common skills that are taught during National Guard military police training include military and civilian laws, accident and crime investigation and evidence collection. The use of firearms and physical force to retrain or arrest suspects is also covered. Military police training is intense, and members are required to be physically fit and stay calm in stressful situations.
Enlisted Pay
In the National Guard, military police members can be either enlisted or officers. Enlisted members are typically younger and perform many of the daily hands-on duties of military police work. All members of the National Guard are required to serve two days a month on drill duty. During this time, an enlisted member with the rank of private is paid $219. A higher-ranking solider with the rank of sergeant is paid between $279 and $395, depending on seniority. A sergeant major, the highest-ranking enlisted rank in the National Guard, is paid between $618 and $595 for these two days of duty.
Every year, National Guard military police members must attend two weeks of specialized training. For these two weeks, a private is paid $766. A sergeant is paid between $974 and $1,382, while a sergeant major is paid between $2,161 and $3,356.
When military police are called to active duty, they are paid at the same rate as other members of the Army. For a private, this rate is $1,645 a month. A sergeant on active duty is paid between $2,091 and $2,965 depending on seniority. A sergeant major is paid between $4,635 and $7,196 per month on active duty.
Officer Pay
National Guard military police officers are required to have college degrees, and work as supervisors and administrators. During the required two days per month of drill, a second lieutenant is paid between $371 and $579, depending on the number of years in the guard. A major, who typically has several years of experience, is paid between $563 and $939 for drill, while a higher-ranking colonel is paid between $782 and $1,385.
During the two weeks of annual training, a second lieutenant in the military police is paid between $1,298 and $2,028. A major is paid between $1,969 and $3,288, while a colonel is paid in the range of $2,737 to $4,898.
If called to serve as military police on active duty, a second lieutenant is paid between $2,783 and $4,349 per month. A major is paid in the range of $4,222 and $7,049, while a colonel is paid between $5,870 and $10,391 per month on active duty.