to the principles which made my country free. I will
trust in my God and in the United States of America.
REVIEW 1 QUESTIONS
Q1. List the three sources that contain the basic
disciplinary laws for the U.S. Navy.
a.
b.
c.
Q2. What is one of the most important characteristics
of a good Sailor?
Q3. For you to succeed in your work in the Navy, you
should possess what quality?
Q4. Why was the Code of Conduct established?
Q5. What total number of articles are there in the
Code of Conduct?
Q6. When questioned under article V, what is the
only information you are allowed to give?
MILITARY POLICE
Learning Objectives: When you finish this chapter,
you will be able to—
Recognize the authority of the military
police/shore patrol.
Identify the functions of the military
police/shore patrol.
All branches of the armed forces assign personnel
to duties as military police. In the Air Force, they are
called security police; in the Army and Marine Corps,
they are called military police (MP); and in the Navy,
they are called shore patrol (SP). The shore patrol
consists of officers and petty officers assigned to assist
military personnel ashore. They are identified by
armbands bearing the letters SP.
In areas where units of different armed services are
located, the military police may be combined to form
one unit instead of a separate unit for each service. This
single unit is known as an Armed Forces Police
Detachment (AFPD), and all members are identified by
brassards (armbands) with the letters AFPD. The
primary duties of AFPD are to assist military personnel
ashore, maintain good order and discipline among
military personnel, and report conditions or practices
that appear prejudicial to the welfare of military
personnel. They have authority to stop, question,
apprehend, or take into custody any member of the
armed forces.
When asked to do so by the military police, you
must show your ID card, leave authorization, and the
like. You must obey any orders given you by the military
police.
Some reminders are listed here for you to observe in
any dealings with the military police or shore patrol.
(For the remainder of our discussion, patrol is used to
include all armed forces police.)
1. Obey the orders of the patrol.
2. Don’t become argumentative if the patrol is
questioning you. The patrol will rightfully
question you if you are out of uniform, appear
drunk, or act in a suspicious manner.
3. Never interfere with the members of the patrol
in the performance of their duty. If you are in a
place where a fight has begun or is about to
develop and the patrol orders you to leave, do so
without protest.
Don’t feel that the patrol is trying to harass you.
You won’t have to prove who you are or verify that
2-3
Student Notes:
