Indigenous Police Forces: A Critical Component to Successful Nation Building and Inescapable Responsibility for U.S. Marine Corps
Abstract
The Marine Corps has historically been involved in nation building efforts throughout the world because it can provide the necessary resilience and resources in hostile environments. The use of military services in nation building efforts, however, has been controversial. Controversy over whether service members possess the requisite skill set, knowledge, and expertise for training indigenous 'police forces, a stated objective in nation building, exists. Consequentially, Marines have been directly responsible for training indigenous police forces throughout history with little to no formal training or guidance. Marines have accomplished this mission due to their ability to adapt. The virtue of adaptability can no longer be the sole solution. With Marines' foreseeable involvement in training of indigenous police forces, the Marine Corps must a develop capabilities based solution it can use for future law enforcement related missions. This paper initially presents the argument for the military's role in nation building with emphasis on the lack of requisite skills its members possess. This paper then seeks to provide solutions to current gaps in doctrine and contracted solutions that will result in a capability the Marine Corps can utilize for future advisory/training missions. The Marine Corps must develop capabilities based solutions to adequately prepare its forces to be effective host nation trainers and advisors of indigenous police forces for current and future advising missions. Such solutions include. enhanced training for selected military police officers, modifying the current m11ltary police structure and mission statement, downsizing and/or removal of current contracted solutions, and using internal resources the Marine Corps already maintains which Includes reservists with policing backgrounds and irregular warfare skill sets possessed by active duty members.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 27, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA600842
Entities
People
- Kathryn I. Miller
Organizations
- Marine Corps University