MP, AP, SP, SF Designations

Given that the Air Force was derived from the Army Air Corps in 1947, our original "Top Cop" was designated as the "Air Provost Marshall" and we cops were initially still MPs. Then came "Air Police", "Security Police", and "Security Forces". The Strategic Air Command even had a designation of "Combat Defense Squadrons".

Milestones

• 1941 - Military Police Corps established


• 1943 - Air Provost Marshall position created


• 1947 - Military Police designation retained when USAF becomes separate branch


• 1948 - Air Police designation


• 1966 - Security Police designation


• 1997 - Security Forces designation

Badges and Arm bands


MP Brassard
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Brassard
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 42
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 52
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 48986
(photo courtesy of Ken Neal)


AP Badge 15302
(owned by Don Giesey, photo by Philip "J.P." Brown)

• Special thanks to Alan Hayes for permission to use the following three images of badges. They can be found at his Westover AFB Web Site

AP Badge
(photo used with permission from 814thcds.com - Alan Hayes)


AP Badge
(photo used with permission from 814thcds.com - Alan Hayes)


SP Badge
(photo used with permission from 814thcds.com - Alan Hayes)


SP Badge Scotchlite® decal
(scanned by Philip "J.P." Brown)

Combat Security Police and
"Operation Safeside"

During the Vietnam war, SPs initially provided local security at air bases, but as the war progressed, guerilla tactics led to the creation of Combat Security Police Squadrons via "Operation Safeside". Below is a link to the Safeside Association web site where details can be found:

Safeside Association Web Site