This page was prepared by SSG Ho Yong Lee, a Korean-speaking U.S. Army recruiter, as an informational guide for the 31B Military Police.
Hello,
My name is SSG Lee Ho Yong, a U.S. Army Korean-speaking recruiter currently serving at the Fairfax Recruiting Center in Virginia.
This guide provides an overview of the 31B Military Police Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
A 31B Military Police Soldier helps protect people and property on Army installations by enforcing military laws and regulations, controlling traffic, preventing crime, and responding to emergencies.
Military Police Soldiers may also perform force protection, area security, police intelligence, investigations support, corrections, and detention operations.
This page covers:
Job responsibilities
Training
Green Card eligibility
ASVAB requirements
Army career opportunities
Civilian certifications and career pathways
This page is designed to help you understand the MOS more clearly before starting the enlistment process.
Actual eligibility may depend on your personal immigration status, ASVAB score, security clearance requirements, current Army regulations, and MOS availability at the time of enlistment.
Consultations are free, and you are welcome to ask questions just to understand your current options.
Real recruiter. Real answers.
A father of four and an immigrant myself, I provide honest guidance based on real recruiting experience.
A 31B Military Police Soldier is an enlisted Soldier who performs law enforcement, security, and force protection missions within the U.S. Army.
Military Police help protect personnel and property, enforce military laws and regulations, conduct patrol operations, control traffic, prevent crime, and respond to emergencies.
Depending on the assignment and mission, 31B Soldiers may also participate in area security, police intelligence operations, investigations support, detention, and corrections operations.
For this reason, 31B is much more than a traditional patrol position. Military Police Soldiers can perform a variety of law enforcement and security missions in both installation and operational environments.
Assignments vary depending on unit type and mission.
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The video below may help you better understand the responsibilities and working environment of this Army career. The video creator and publishing channel may vary by content.
Protecting Army personnel and property
Conducting law enforcement and patrol operations
Enforcing military laws and regulations
Controlling traffic and responding to accidents
Preventing and responding to criminal activity
Responding to emergencies
Conducting force protection operations
Supporting area security operations
Assisting with investigations
Supporting police intelligence operations
Performing detention and corrections duties
Actual duties and work environments may vary depending on the type of unit, assignment, training level, and deployment status.
Unlike many Army MOSs that complete Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training separately, 31B Military Police Soldiers complete One Station Unit Training (OSUT).
20 weeks of One Station Unit Training (OSUT)
OSUT combines basic Soldier training with specialized Military Police instruction.
During training, Soldiers may learn:
Law Enforcement Procedures
Patrol Operations
Traffic Control
Crime Prevention
Security Operations
Force Protection
Detention & Corrections
Investigation Procedures
Police Intelligence Operations
Emergency Response
Training content and length may change depending on Army policy.
The 31B Military Police MOS currently requires U.S. citizenship.
However, actual eligibility may depend on:
βͺ Current Army regulations
βͺ MOS availability at the time of contract
βͺ Individual immigration status
βͺ Additional qualification requirements
Some MOSs may require U.S. citizenship due to security clearance requirements. For this reason, it is best to confirm your eligibility through a recruiter before making a decision.
Your ASVAB score can be an important factor when applying for 31B Military Police.
The commonly referenced requirement is:
Skilled Technical (ST) - 91 or higher
Line scores can affect MOS eligibility, and required scores may change depending on current Army policy.
If you have questions about the ASVAB or PiCAT, separate guidance is available.
The 31B MOS provides opportunities to develop experience in law enforcement, security operations, leadership, and organizational management.
As Soldiers gain experience and rank, they may advance into leadership positions such as:
Team Leader
Squad Leader
Military Police NCO
Operations NCO
Platoon Sergeant
Professional development opportunities may also include:
Professional Military Education (PME)
Army Schools
Tuition Assistance (TA)
Credentialing Assistance (CA)
Leadership development programs
These opportunities can help Soldiers strengthen their law enforcement knowledge, security experience, leadership abilities, decision-making skills, and organizational management experience.
One of the most common questions about 31B is whether Military Police experience can help with a civilian law enforcement career.
The 31B MOS provides experience in areas such as:
Law Enforcement
Security Operations
Patrol Operations
Emergency Response
Crime Prevention
Force Protection
Report Writing
Leadership & Team Management
Eligible Soldiers may also use Army education and credentialing programs, including Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) and Army COOL, to pursue credentials related to their military or civilian career goals.
Experience gained as a Military Police Soldier may be useful when pursuing careers in:
Local Law Enforcement
State Law Enforcement
Federal Law Enforcement
Security Operations
Corporate Security
Corrections
Federal Government
Defense Contractors
Emergency Management
Serving as a 31B does not automatically qualify a Soldier to become a civilian police officer or federal law enforcement officer.
Civilian law enforcement agencies establish their own hiring standards and may require separate background investigations, physical fitness testing, examinations, training, and police academy completion.
However, the experience gained as a Military Police Soldier can provide a valuable foundation for individuals interested in law enforcement, security, and public safety careers.
The 31B Military Police MOS can be an excellent choice for individuals interested in law enforcement, security, and public safety.
This MOS offers opportunities to:
Gain law enforcement and security experience
Develop decision-making and problem-solving skills
Build leadership and communication skills
Gain force protection and emergency response experience
Work in a variety of operational environments
Pursue civilian education and credentials through Army programs
Build experience applicable to civilian public safety careers
For individuals interested in law enforcement, federal service, security, corrections, or other public safety careers, 31B can provide valuable military experience and professional development.
No.
Some duties are similar, including patrol operations, law enforcement, traffic control, crime prevention, and emergency response.
However, Army Military Police also perform military-specific missions such as force protection, area security, detention, and other operational security missions.
No.
Military Police experience may be valuable when pursuing a civilian law enforcement career, but every law enforcement agency establishes its own hiring and training requirements.
Applicants may still need to complete background investigations, physical fitness requirements, examinations, police academy training, and other agency-specific requirements.
Current Army information lists U.S. citizenship as a requirement for 31B.
Permanent residents may have access to additional MOS options after obtaining U.S. citizenship, depending on their qualifications and current Army requirements.
31B Soldiers complete One Station Unit Training (OSUT).
Current Army information lists approximately 20 weeks of OSUT, combining basic Soldier training with specialized Military Police instruction.
No.
The law enforcement, security, emergency response, report writing, leadership, and organizational experience gained as a 31B may also be useful in careers involving:
Federal Government
Corporate Security
Corrections
Emergency Management
Defense Contracting
Public Safety
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Real recruiter. Real answers.
SSG Lee Ho Yong
U.S. Army Recruiter
π± Phone/Text: 703-594-6878
π§ E-mail 1: β hoyong.lee4.mil@army.mil
π§ E-mail 2 β sgt.hoyong.lee@gmail.com
π Google Search:
βSSG Lee Ho Yongβ
I currently serve at the Fairfax Recruiting Center in Virginia, where I assist applicants in the Northern Virginia area.
Because many parts of the U.S. Army enlistment process can be coordinated through online consultation, I also assist applicants from other states across the United States, not only those living in Virginia.
Note: Actual MEPS processing and shipping procedures are generally handled based on the applicantβs residential area.