The Military Police Brigade is a special battalion of a relatively small number of soldiers tasked with keeping order within the inner section of the walls. They patrol the rich areas of Paradis Island, protecting the king and maintaining the law within the nobility.

The Military Police Brigade does not have direct contact with the Titans, so instead of swords, they use guns for the purpose of containing the criminals in the town. Their corrupted nature and the fact that they haven’t been in a real fight with the Titans make them the laziest, most egocentric, and most unlikable battalion of all.

The Military Police Brigade's Role in Attack on Titan

This unit is responsible for keeping the inhabitants of the walls safe and creating a peaceful and lawful environment. However, to be a part of the Military Police Brigade, every trainee needs to prove themselves as a skilled and brave warrior who will effectively serve and protect His Majesty while running his errands - both clean and dirty.

Considered the “most powerful organization” on Paradis Island, the Military Police Brigade has a special role in the series that gives them an advantage over the other battalions and great control over the town residents. By using their power of collecting taxes and control over the people’s lands, this unit often exploits the ones hierarchically below them for their own benefit.

Additionally, the Military Police Brigade monitors the work of both the Scouts and the Garrison Regiment, either by helping or ordering them. This brigade’s ideals are often not in line with those of the other battalions’ and if need be, they occasionally arrest some of their members - just like they did with Eren.

After Eren unveiled his Attack Titan powers, the Military Police saw him as a threat to both their safety and status in society. They felt that their influence within the walls would be diminished by the magnitude of Eren’s powers, and many of these soldiers wanted the boy dead. However, after an intense court session, Eren was freed.

How is the Military Police Brigade Organized?

Military Police numbers a total of two thousand finely picked soldiers. Every year, the best ten Training Corp trainees are selected and offered a chance to join this organization. By incorporating these politics, the king and the noble families ensure that only the most talented individuals are a part of the battalion that looks after the royal needs.

The Military Police Brigade collaborates with the Garrison Regiment by borrowing around three thousand soldiers as an assistance. Then, to cover as much ground effectively as possible, their soldiers are divided among the most important districts, with smaller groups of two hundred patrolling each one.

Branches of the Military Police Brigade

There is a sub-group of this battalion called the Interior Police and their existence and role are just as their name suggests - a secret. The Interior Police consists of a few people doing the king’s dirty jobs, such as eliminating and torturing people who are a threat to his not-so-noble ways of ruling. They aren’t controlled by other brigades, nor do they answer to some higher power other than the king. Simply put, the Interior Police is an organization above every other on Paradis Island.

The Interior Police’s activities don’t end here as there is another military group working under their wing - the Anti-Personnel Control Squad. This squad is characterized by the use of ODM Gear and guns with the sole purpose of working against the Survey Corps and attaining the powers of the Founding Titan.

The Anti-Personnel Control Squad was led by Kenny Ackerman, a skilled warrior who faced the Scouts in the third season of Attack on Titan. In this battle, Levi Ackerman, along with his fellow squadmates, managed to best Kenny and his soldiers, eliminating nearly all of them in the process.

Notable Members of the Military Police Brigade

The Military Police Brigade by itself is not a big part of the whole story of Attack on Titan. If we take the Anti-Personel Control Squad’s involvement into the third season of the series, this brigade is the one with the least screen time out of the three. That being said, there are a few important members of the Military Police Brigade who had a big influence on the plot and need mentioning.

Annie Leonheart

Annie, with her female Titan powers, is one of the main characters of the first season of Attack on Titan. Upon her evaluations in the Training Corps, she showed remarkable results and in turn, was invited to join the Military Police Brigade - a role she accepted to gain a comfortable stay during her span of infiltrating Paradis Island.

While serving in this unit, Annie became aware of its corruption and made efforts to uncover more about it. Despite this, she remained loyal to her homeland and committed to her mission – the infiltration of the walls and the capture of Eren Yeager.

Unfortunately for the Marleyans, Annie failed to accomplish her goals and was captured by the Scouts. After revealing her true nature, she was discharged from the Military Police Brigade and was kept as a prisoner for the next three seasons. In the fourth season, however, she regained freedom and joined the Eldian’s side, helping the Scout Regiment stop both Eren and the Jeagerists.

Kenny Ackerman

Until the third season of Attack on Titan, there was no mention of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad or its members. However, the beginning of the third season unveiled the character of Kenny Ackerman, whose storyline played a pivotal role in unraveling many of the mysteries within Attack on Titan.

Kenny Ackerman was an outlaw who lived in the underground city and briefly took care of raising Levi. Upon leaving this city, Kenny sought (unsuccessful) revenge against Uri Reiss due to the long-standing persecution of the Ackermans. After his failed attempt, he was recruited into Eldia's secret military, where he remained a close friend to the king for a long period of time.

Shortly after the fall of Wall Maria, Kenny joined the Anti-Personnel Control Squad, setting out on a mission to obtain the Founding Titan and acquire the power once held by his old friend, Uri. Unfortunately, this mission failed as the Scouts intercepted him, leading to his demise from wounds sustained during their battle.

Hitch Dreyse

Hitch is a recruit of the 104th Cadet Corps who willingly joined the Military Police Brigade to avoid all the hard work associated with the other units. Despite her lazy and uninterested behavior, Hitch proved herself to be a great soldier and friend, risking her safety to help her fellow squadmates.

Using their position in the Military Police Brigade, Hitch and her friend Marlo helped the Scout Regiment overthrow the government and bring internal peace within the Walls. After Historia Reiss became queen thanks to their aid, Hitch refused to join Marlo in the Scout Regiment and continued to do her duties in the inner parts of the walls - one of which was guarding Annie.

She later helped Annie escape captivity and acclimate to the new and changed world. After Annie joined the Eldian forces, Hitch took the side of the Jeagerists. This way, both characters took a different path in attaining the same goal - world peace and the extermination of the Titans.

Final Thoughts on The Military Police Brigade

The Military Police Brigade in Attack on Titan serves as a symbol of corruption and power and mirrors some of the real-world problems by doing so. Some of their most notable members like Annie Leonhart and Hitch Dreyse contradict this unit's ideals, adding complexity to the story with their actions.

On the other hand, Kenny Ackerman, along with the Interior Police and the Anti-Personnel Control Squad further carry the ill intentions of the Military Police Brigade. They are the main reason for the inner chaos on Paradis Island, enhancing the tension within and around the walls.

While they are not the central focus of the series, the Military Police Brigade highlights the morally gray areas and political complexities, exposing the darker side of the society inside the walls. In a dark world where staying alive is one of the most difficult things to do, some of its members reveal the tough choices, betrayals, and challenges some people face to ensure a more peaceful life.

And that’s for the ones who choose this profession to live safely within the walls because of fear of the Titans. However, the other soldiers who represent the corrupt military and intentionally work to disrupt the peace are simply evil.