Guardians of the Community: Modernize the Military Police Regiment

*This article was edited with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Final review and editing were conducted by authorized DoW personnel to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance with DoW policies and guidance.

*The contents of this article do not represent the official views of, nor are they endorsed by, the U.S. Army, the Department of War, or the U.S. government.


Published 1/16/2026
By First Sergeant Michael G. Spearman

 

As guardians of the community, the Military Police Regiment must embrace modernization and ensure its continued relevance in future operations. They will face significant challenges in meeting modernization demands, particularly when adapting to state-of-the-art technologies and practices already in use across civilian law enforcement. This article identifies key areas for adapting training, technology, and community relations within the "Assist, Protect, Defend” framework. It also discusses some of the challenges in gaining and utilizing resources to aid the regiment and the current stagnation of modern policing techniques in the regiment. It advocates for upfront funding toward innovative practices, such as implementing body-worn cameras and automated license plate readers and using virtual-reality training systems to mend and evolve policing in the regiment. The results suggest that improving operational readiness and community trust is critical for the Military Police Regiment to accomplish its mission. This is followed by practical recommendations that would enable strategic investment in technology and training to position the Military Police Regiment as a leader in military policing and community safety.

The Military Police Regiment is a versatile and resilient general-purpose corps. It consists of dedicated Soldiers and leaders who emulate the standard of excellence. As law-enforcement operations continue to evolve in our domestic and foreign areas of responsibility, the Military Police Regiment must be able to adapt its technology, training, and equipment to reflect those advancements seen in civilian law-enforcement agencies. Focusing on these principles through the "Assist, Protect, Defend" lens keeps the Military Police Regiment at the forefront of military policing, strengthening community assurance and deterrence to prevent, deter, and respond to incidents committed on or near our military communities.

The last three decades have seen profound technological changes directly affecting law enforcement and military activity. Today, civilian police agencies can access body-worn cameras (BWCs), predictive analytics, and virtual-reality training to improve their professionalism and effectiveness. However, the changes in the Military Police Regiment have been relatively stagnant in implementing some of these modern resources, which may have effects on the readiness of the regiment in both the near and far term. Aside from some updates, many tactics and tools are old-fashioned compared to civilian law-enforcement counterparts. Through the framework of "Assist, Protect, Defend," the Military Police Regiment must embrace and use technology, enhance training standards, and improve community relations and, in doing so, remain effective and continue to be professionals in our military profession.

One of the challenges that the Military Police Regiment faces in modernizing the regiment is funding and owning solely law-enforcement roles. To add more protective measures to prevent and address crime, funding needs to exist to upgrade patrol cars and everyday tools used while on duty. Without continued financial investment, modernization is done as a reaction to a crisis instead of a proactive approach. A 2023 article published in the Military Police magazine by the U.S. Army Military Police School states that the core disciplines and mission set of the Military Police Corps have remained essentially unchanged since the Military Police Corps became a unified branch, creating inefficiencies in garrison environments.¹

Second, rapid changes in technology in law enforcement are also a pressing need of the Military Police Regiment. According to the U.S. Army War College, balancing support for force readiness and integrating new technologies is a dilemma.² Without adopting AI-driven surveillance and predictive analytics, military police and their area of expertise risk falling behind civilian law-enforcement agencies and enemies who know how to use more sophisticated tools. Modernization is necessary for military efficacy, and with stated military ambitions on the table, the trend is toward technology playing a more significant role in future-based security operations.³

The Military Police Regiment employs the "Assist" principle, which acknowledges the importance of assisting Soldiers, families, units, and the joint military community. Modernization efforts include using advanced technology for improved operational proficiency in this domain. Several tools enhance military police effectiveness including BWCs, automated license plate readers (ALPRs), and multi-interactive learning objective (MILO) systems. BWCs increase transparency, help with accountability, and serve as important evidence for investigations. However, using BWCs on federal installations raises unanswered questions about operational security, mainly when recording sensitive or classified information. Despite these challenges, BWCs are still an asset to enhancing professionalism and accountability. ALPRs identify and track stolen or potentially suspicious vehicles entering military installations, thus enhancing security and helping speed up military police interactions during traffic stops. The initial investment required to equip each military police patrol car with this technology is approximately $10,000 per unit.⁴ MILO training simulators provide military police interactive opportunities to practice and evaluate critical skills, including de-escalation techniques, active shooter response, and domestic-violence interventions. As a low-tech, yet effective, solution, embedding MILO systems in every provost marshal office will ensure consistent, high-level training across the force, strengthening competence and enhancing their ability to serve and protect military communities.

Protection is the core warfighting function and the top priority during operations in garrison environments. The regiment must be able to protect its communities and infrastructures; if it could not, it would be ineffective. The protection function is embodied in the daily law- enforcement operations of military police, including incident response and the maintenance of order across military installations. Modernization efforts must focus specifically on force protection, innovation, and crisis-response modernization.

Integrating unmanned aerial systems for surveillance and implementing biometric systems at access control points (ACPs) are innovative protection measures that would improve the overall ability to protect installations. These two resources serve the dual purpose of acting as a deterrent while enabling police communities to foster safety and security. In addition, modernizing protection capabilities will be significantly enhanced through greater cooperation and collaboration with local civilian police. Rapid relationship formations are the currency of trust and the bedrock of securing communities. Since military police units often serve as venues for Soldier-Family Readiness Group meetings, it is reasonable to ask why they are not also utilized as venues for civilian law-enforcement meetings and events.

To execute this role effectively, the Military Police Regiment must remain innovative and forward-looking, integrating new technology, training, and equipment. Military police are not only charged with assisting Soldiers across the Army, but as defenders, every Service member must master the role. The regiment must be a prepared force, capable of repelling criminal activity and safeguarding its readiness. Two critical areas for improvement are information sharing and joint operations with civilian law-enforcement agencies. Continued preparation to defend communities against crime and other threats depends on consistent collaboration and information sharing with all law-enforcement counterparts.

To enable these modernization goals, the Military Police Regiment should update regulations and doctrine to integrate cutting-edge technology and new policing methods. Important focus areas include strategically investing to give military police access to cutting-edge tools and training programs that improve operational efficiency. Adopting a mindset of respect and responsibility and re-evaluating lessons learned will set a path toward preventing reactive approaches to modernization and empower the Military Police Regiment to continue the mission of "Defending" the communities across the Army. Adopting reforms within the Military Police Regiment—along with leveraging facilities and technology, implementing modern training and policies, and embracing a human-centric approach—will establish the foundation for effectively employing emerging technologies and significantly improving systems.

Incorporating these initiatives into professional practice enhances the operational effectiveness of military police, reflects the professionalism of law enforcement and community safety agencies, and deepens community trust in the "Assist, Protect, Defend" ethos.⁵With continued investment in modern equipment, doctrine, and training, the Military Police Regiment will sustain and advance its tradition of excellence in delivering military policing across the Army.

Assist, Protect, Defend.