Expert: Rod Powers - 5/7/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i am currently in the navy and part of my security force abaord my ship and i somewhat enjoy the job somewhat except for being on the a ship and in the navy, i'm looking into other branches of service because i'v been informed by other Master-At-Arms that the navy's security force is the least amount of training. . My question is which branch of the military has the best trained security force and best C schools available because that is what i'm interested in mainly, i just dont feel the navy trains you enough in the job gives you only the bear minimum. thanks for your help!
ANSWER: Hi Ronald,

I'm not sure how to respond, because the term "security forces" mean different things in different services.

What do you mean by "security forces?" Do you mean, SWAT-type training, do you mean law enforcement training? Do you mean security (guard) type training, do you mean quick reaction forces?

For example, in the Marine Corps, "Security Forces" in the Marine Corps are primarily quick-reaction teams, made up primarily from those in the infantry fields. In the Navy, security forces are specialized teams made up primarily from MAs. In the Air Force, "Security Forces" is the actual name of the Military Police job (in other words, all Air Force "cops" are referred to as "Security Forces").

So, what exactly are you looking for?

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well i ment which branch is the best i know they have competitions against each other, my guess would be the marines,airforce,army,navy  in that type of order.. what from you know would be the best branch to join for that type of job as either MP for the marines,army, MA for navy, or Security force for airforce .. i'm looking for something serius about there training and not so laid back..
ANSWER: Hi Ronald,

It depends on what you're looking for?

The Army and Marine Corps both have extensive programs for MPs. Both services offer more training and experience in the "law enforcement" portion of the job, but both services have the bad habit of using MPs outside of their normal duty functions in combat zones (such as using them to supplement infantry duties).

Now, the Air Force, on the other hand, *generally* restricts law enforcement duties to E-4s and above, with more than four years of service. First termers in the Air Force are generally assigned to perform security (guard) duty, although there are opportunities for special duties, such as "Pheonix Raven" (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforce/l/blraven.htm), or "Fly Away Security Teams" (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforce/a/affast.htm).

However, the active duty Air Force accepts very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very few prior-service enlistees (the Air Force is projected to "downsize" by about 40,000 troops before 2011, so they are not allowing very many prior service applicants to apply).

Realistically, your choices as a prior-service applicant, discharged from the Navy are going to be limited to the Army or the Marine Corps. In my estimentation, both services are about the same when it comes to training or advanced school opportunities for Military Police.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you very much, i was doing some research and came to the same conclusion about army and marines being my options i already know about airforce only accepting tottal of 40 prior service and its during a certain month of the year..

do you know out of the marines and army for MP which get the most hand to hand combat?
and who gets more MP or Infantry??
infantry goes through same school as MP except MP go through addional schools to learn the rate? your very helpful thank you very much..

and also im confused.. the Army is telling me i can use blue to green to switch 18months into the navy but the navy is telling me i have to (well i'v been told 2things by the navy) 1. i have to serve 3years in the navy first   2. that i have to finish all my time in the navy.
could you clearify this for me? because i was planing on putting the blue to green form through my command anyways but worried they will just try to sit on it, its not unushual for this command.. thanks alot again for the help!

Answer
Hi Ronald,

<sigh> I hate it when I'm asked what is the "best." There is no "best." They are "different," which doesn't make one branch any "better" than the other. What is "best" to you, may not be "best" for me.

Neither Marine MPs, nor Army MPs, go through much hand-to-hand combat training as part of their MP jobs. However, Marines (regardless of job) go through hand-to-hand combat training in basic, and there is a continuing Marine Corps "martial arts" training program (for all Marines, regardless of MOS), throughout their career (including a belt system, etc.). For details, see MCO (Marine Corps Order) 1500.5A at: http://www.usmc.mil/directiv.nsf/0/a78deffe637d16dc852569770049c6f4/$FILE/MCO%20.

Just for info, if you plan to change branches, it would be best to learn the terminology (otherwise, the drill instructors and drill sergeants will eat you for lunch). The Navy has "rates" (jobs). The Coast Guard has "rates." The Marines and Army have "MOS" (Military Occupation Specialties). Goof up in Army or Marine Corps training and call your job a "rate," then....well, you'll find out just how many pushups you are able to do <grin>.

If you elect to join the Marine Corps, as a prior service enlistee, you'll first have to complete your Navy enlistment, get out, then apply to join the Marine Corps. You will be required to attend the complete Marine Corps Basic Training Program (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/a/marinebasic.htm), for 12 weeks. After that, you'll go through Marine Corps Combat Training (MCT) for 22 days. Chances are, your Navy MA A-School will be allowed to use you to by-pass Marine Corps MP MOS (job) Training. Any differences in the job, you'll learn on-the-job at your first Marine Corps MP assignment.

If you elect the Army, you can join, either by completing your Navy enlistment, then applying to join the Army as prior service, or you can *possibly* "transfer" to the Army before your Navy enlistment is over, through the "Blue to Green" Program.

In either case, you won't have to attend the normal 9-week Army basic training. Instead, you'll attend the Army's (farely) new "Warrior Transition Course," (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/warriortransit.htm), which is designed for former members of other services, joining the Army through the "Blue to Green" program, or for prior service enlistees, who have been out for less than three years.

Like the Marine Corps, because you've already been through Navy A-School for MA, you probably won't attend Army AIT (job school) for MPs. Instead, you'll learn about the differences through on-the-job training at your first duty station.

Now, to address your confusion about "Blue to Green." It's the Army's policy to accept "Blue to Green" applicants from the Navy or Air Force after they have a minimum of 18 months active duty. But, that's the Army's policy -- it simply means they will accept any such applicants.

An intregal part of the program, however, is that your current service (Navy or Air Force) have to agree to release you. They set their own policies as to when agree to release personnel for "Blue to Green." This often depends on the manning level of the job in the "losing service" (Air Force or Navy). In some cases, if the job is overmanned, they may agree to release a person for "Blue to Green after 18 months of service. In other cases, they may agree to release personnel after 24 months of service. In other cases, it may be 36 months of service. In some cases, they may not agree to release them, at all.

Both the Navy and the Air Force are significantly decreasing in size over the next several years (between now and 2011). And, the Army and Marine Corps are increasing in size. But, both the Navy and Air Force, while decreasing in size, are not going to allow folks serving in "shortage" jobs to separate any earlier than necessary. Such programs are restricted to those in over-manned jobs.

However, the last Navy CREO Message (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/a/creolist.htm) shows MA as being currently manned at "desirable" levels, for E-4s and E-5s, and "overmanned" in the paygrade of E-6, so possibly it won't be a factor.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com