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2. ORGANIZATION IN PEACE. In peace, military
police are organized into a. Platoons, companies, and
battalions as part of tactical units according to Tables
of Organization.
b. Special units for oversea departments and other
commands in conformity with special Tables of
Organization.
c. Detachments at posts and stations as authorized.
3. ORGANIZATION IN WAR. a. In war, the added and varied
duties of military police and the expansion of
territorial authority by the military forces require an
enlarged military police system.
b. In war, military police units are organized as part of
all divisions and higher units. They are prescribed for
major territorial organizations in mobilization plans. To
meet changing situations, adjustments in strength and
composition of military police units are made by the War
Department for the zone of the interior and by the
theater commander for the theater of operations.
c. The battalion is usually the largest unit.
d. Special type units organized in war may include
prisoner-of-war escort companies, traffic control units,
and criminal investigation companies or detachments.
4. STAFF REPRESENTATIVE. a. Purpose (1) A staff officer,
provost marshal, is designated in larger headquarters to
assist the commander in the supervision and operation of
police matters. Assistant provost marshals and personnel
for the conduct of his office are provided as required.
(2) In peace, provost marshals are usually provided only
on the staffs of commanders of units having military
police units. In time of emergency or war, the increased
scope of the duties of military police requires the
detail of provost marshals (provost marshals general) in
all the higher echelons of command, including the War
Department.
b. Provost Marshal General. War Department. A provost
marshal general may be appointed in the War Department
for an emergency for the period preceding mobilization or
on mobilization. The position of the provost marshal
general of the War Department is analogous in most
respects to that of a chief of arm or service. His duties
are prescribed by the Secretary of War.
c. Provost Marshal General, General Headquarters or
Theater of Operations. A provost marshal general is a
member of the special staff of general headquarters. If
more than one theater of operations is prescribed, a
provost marshal general is designated for each theater
headquarters. His duties are prescribed by the commanding
general.
d. Provost Marshals. (1) Territorial commands. Provost
marshals are designated for smaller territorial commands
as required, both in peace and war. In a national
emergency or war, provost marshals are appointed on the
special staffs of commanders of the' large territorial
subdivisions of the zone of the interior. In the theater
of operations, a provost marshal is required on the staff
of the commander of the communications zone, and also of
its major parts if subdivided. (2) Tactical commands.
Provost marshals are prescribed in Tables of Organization
as members of the commander's special staff in the
tactical units from the division to the field army. In
certain units the offices of provost marshal and of
headquarters commandant are combined. (3) Staff and
command, functions. (a) A provost marshal is a member of
the commander's special staff, and as such exercises no
command functions. However, when the commander of a
military police unit of a command is appointed provost
marshal, he has both command and staff duties. (b) Unless
specific authority is granted, a provost marshal does not
issue orders to provost marshals of subordinate units.
Direct contacts on technical matters and interchange of
information between provost marshals of higher and lower
headquarters conform to the procedure prescribed for all
special staff officers. |
