highway traffic division (HTD). MP assets in the theater are routinely over committed. Only special
convoys are designated to receive an MP escort.
"Routine" convoys provide their own escort. The ability of the unit being escorted to provide its own
security is considered together with the tactical situation. The purpose of the convoy is of primary
importance in determining the amount and type of MP support, if any, a convoy receives.
Types of Support
Military police are committed in two ways to convoy security operations. That mission may be either
area or functionally oriented.
Area Oriented Support. In this type support, the MP unit is tasked to provide security for the movement
within a given area. In other words, as the convoy enters the designated area of operations, the MP
unit begins its security escort mission. When the convoy leaves that unit's area of operations, it passes
the mission to another MP element.
Functionally Oriented Support. In some cases, it may be more effective if the same MP element
provides the security escort throughout the movement. The same MP element would escort the convoy
from its start point to the release point regardless of the areas it passed through.
Convoy Control
In addition to the different types of support, there are two types of convoy control. These are
organizational and area control. These types of control are almost always used in combination.
Organizational Control. In this method of control, the convoy is under the authority of the unit
commander. It is the responsibility of the concerned unit commander to control its movement from
beginning to end. The unit commander ensures his personnel obey:
Rules of the road.
Traffic laws and regulations.
Speed limits.
Time and distance gaps.
Routing plans.
Schedules.
March discipline.
Area Control. Those measures taken by the appropriate HTD and enforced by the MP over the road
network are called area control. This includes the use of traffic control posts (TCPs) and highway
regulating points. Military police
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