Military Police Corps (Israel)
The Military police of the Israel Defense Forces (Hebrew: חיל המשטרה הצבאית, Heyl HaMishtara HaTzvait) is the Israeli military police. The military police serves the Manpower Directorate (Agaf Koah Adam) in the IDF, although it falls under a different command during an emergency situation (generally war).
The military police has attracted a negative image over the years due to it being responsible for putting many Israeli soldiers in jail for various misconduts, but this image is recovering, especially as of 2004 when the police started to check Palestinians at checkpoints (a position most Israelis consider vital for the state's security). The military police is also known for having one of the strictest levels of discipline in the IDF.
In the Israel Defense Forces, it is responsible for the following:
- Enforcing the discipline and proper image of Israeli soldiers
- Guarding Israeli military prisons
- Guarding Israeli prisons with Palestinian prisoners
- Checking Palestinians for weapons and explosives at checkpoints
- This responsibility was passed to the military police in 2004, before which it was taken up by other corps.
Training
In the Israeli Military police, recruits must complete the Extended Rifleman 02 basic training, which is 6 weeks long, making it the second easiest basic training in the IDF. It is however the most difficult basic training that is considered non-combat.
All military police recruits are trained in a base called Bahad 13 (Bsis Hadrakha 13), which is part of the larger Area 21 (a.k.a. Mota Gur Base). At the end of the training, recruits swear themselves in at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, which is considered extremely prestigious in the IDF. Those who finish basic training must take a course in order to be able to take up their respective positions, which usually takes place in Bahad 13 as well.
Insignia
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The Israeli Military police wears a blue beret and its symbol is a flame. The shoulder insignia varies based on the soldier's position, although it is always on a blue and red background.
Most military policemen also wear a blue and red lace on their shoulder, although some wear a green lace (indicates a commander).
Basic training
Recruits in the military police, as all IDF recruits, wear shoulder tags to indicate their platoon. There are two companies in each round of recruits - a male company (Pashatz - Plugat Shotrim Tzvai'im) and a female company (Plugat Shotrot). The males wear single-colored bands (red, yellow, green, black or blue), while the females wear dual-colored bands (e.g. red and white).
The male company's symbol is a dragon, while that of the female company is a panther's head.
As of 2006, the male and female recruits will form just one company, which will have a different name and symbol.
Units
The military police has a multitude of units, which carry out the responsibilities highlighted above.
- Law enforcement (Shitur) - responsible for enforcing the discipline and proper image of soldiers, as well as doing road patrols to stop military vehicles that drive irresponsibly. Soldiers in this unit often wear a police hat instead of the standard blue beret.
- Jail instructors (Madrikhei Kluim or Madakim) - a unit of jailors in Israeli military prisons, they are responsible for instructing prisoners, making sure they don't escapte, and rehabilitating as many as possible. Soldiers in this unit wear a green lace, as they are considered IDF commanders.
- Political jailors (Metaplei Atzurei HaShetahim or M. Atzhashim) - a unit of jailors who monitor Israeli jails with Palestinian prisoners. They are mostly responsible for making sure that the prisoners do not escape.
- Koah 100 - a combat unit responsible for suppressing uprisings by both Israeli and Palestinian prisoners. The unit consists of less than 100 soldiers and is used rarely.
- Investigation (Mishtara Tzvait Hokeret or Metzah) - a unit responsible for investigating military crimes and interrogating criminals, it is considered the most prestigious in the military police.
- Me'avhenim Bithoni'im (AKA Ma'ab or Ma'avarim) - a unit founded in 2004, it checks Palestinians at Israeli military checkpoints. It is currently expanding rapidly, with a new training base being built especially for it. It is considered a combat support unit with medium risk.
Leadership
The Israeli Military police is headed by a Brigadier-General called Kamtzar (Ktzin Mishtara Tzvait Rashi), lit. Head Military Police Officer. The Kamtzar and most of the other military police leadership operate in the Mekamtzar (Head Military Police Officer Headquarters).
The current Kamtzar is Brig. Gen. Roni Beni.