Feldjäger
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The Feldjäger are the military police of the German Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces. The term Feldjäger ("field rifleman", "field hunter" or "field ranger") has a long tradition and dates back to the mid-17th century. Their motto is Suum Cuique (Latin: "To each his own", derived from Cicero, De Finibus, Bonorum et Malorum, liber V, 67: "(...) ut fortitudo in laboribus periculisque cernatur, (...), iustitia in suo cuique tribuendo." - "so that fortitude may be seen in hardship and danger, (...) justice in attributing to each his own").
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[edit] Organisation
The Feldjäger corps serves all component forces of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) i.e., German Army, German Navy, Luftwaffe (Air Force), Zentraler Sanitätsdienst (Joint Medical Corps) and Streitkräftebasis (Joint Support Service), under the command of the Joint Support Command in Cologne which is the operational command of the Streitkräftebasis. The Feldjäger have eight battalions of military police. Two battalions are assigned to each of the four Military District Commands in Germany which are subordinate to the Joint Support Service.
[edit] Missions
The 30 Feldjäger MP Stations located throughout Germany work around the clock to perform the Feldjägers’ main mission which is to be a central point of contact for all soldiers who need assistance. There is a nationwide emergency phone number (01803-90 9999) so Bundeswehr soldiers can contact their nearest Feldjäger station at any time.
The Feldjäger also have four more missions: Maintaining military discipline and order, military traffic control, security operations and investigations.
[edit] Military discipline
To maintain military discipline, the Feldjäger perform regular patrols on-post and at places where Bundeswehr personnel congregate. They also patrol at large military events, conduct checks in military installations, support the military courts of justice, assist in collecting and returning stragglers and apprehended soldiers, and assist in collecting and transporting prisoners of war.
[edit] Controlling military traffic
When directing and controlling military traffic, Feldjäger work closely with the civilian police to improve traffic safety and protect soldiers. Feldjäger traffic missions therefore include route reconnaissance and marking of convoy routes, preparing reports on road accidents with Bundeswehr involvement, directing and controlling military traffic, escorting military oversize or hazardous material vehicles, assisting with the planning and supervision of military traffic, safety checks on military hazardous material vehicles, and setting up military traffic networks.
[edit] Security operations
Feldjäger security operations prevent crimes against the German Federal Armed Forces and prevent illegal disturbances of official Bundeswehr ceremonies. In addition, Feldjäger can be tasked to protect allied armed forces and provide personal security protection for high-risk Bundeswehr officials. They also secure the command posts of large units, escort VIPs, safeguard conferences and exhibitions, secure military property, assist commanders in physical security matters, and perform riot control missions.
[edit] Investigations and inquiries
Investigations and inquiries range from reporting serious accidents, analyzing matters of official interest, assisting in the investigation of military offenses, and searching for AWOLs. The Feldjäger corps also has military working dog (MWD) teams. The dogs are first trained to be patrol dogs and then as sniffer dogs at the Bundeswehr MWD school in Koblenz. Their teams assist in the search for explosives and drugs.
[edit] Overseas deployments
On overseas deployments, Feldjäger support the respective contingent by performing military police tasks. They are frequently employed in multinational military police units and not only monitor the behaviour of German soldiers in the area of operations, they also cooperate closely with local authorities, police, organizations, or the military police of other states under the Charter of the United Nations. House searches for illegal weapons and explosives are the day-to-day business in foreign deployments. One mission only performed overseas, for example, is the airport security and border clearance mission.
[edit] Training
To be able to conduct these varied and challenging missions, Feldjäger soldiers are sent to numerous training courses at the Feldjäger School in Sonthofen or to specialist courses with the civilian police. One course that all Feldjäger must complete is the proficiency test in English, which makes them excellent liaison officers when dealing with other MP forces.
[edit] Uniform
The Feldjäger, although a joint force, wear Army uniforms because they originated as an Army branch of service. They wear red berets with the Prussian Guard Star (Star of the Black Eagle Medal) as their branch of service emblem. The collar patches and shoulder straps are piped in orange which is the Feldjäger branch colour.
For routine patrol missions, the Feldjäger wear the normal camouflage uniform with "Schwarzzeug" (literally black stuff) meaning a black MP brassard, with the legend Feldjäger in smaller letters, as well as a black belt with black holster, black handcuff holder etc.. However for representative purposes, e.g. parades, ceremonies and the motorcycle escort for senior officers, Weisszeug is worn. This is the older leather "white stuff" worn before the Schwarzzeug, i.e., white belt, white gloves and a white holster worn on the left side of the belt in the tradition of sword carrying soldiers.
[edit] Jurisdiction
In Germany, the Feldjäger only have jurisdiction over soldiers, civil employees of the Federal Armed Forces and any civilian who enters a military compound and all civilians if this is a matter of security for the German federal army .
[edit] Feldgendarmerie
The Feldgendarmerie (roughly translating to "Field Police") were the military police units of the armies of the German Empire (including the Wehrmacht) from post-Napoleonic times to the conclusion of World War II.
[edit] See also
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