what is kp in the army

In the army, KP stands for "kitchen police" or "kitchen patrol". It is a duty assigned to junior enlisted personnel to work under the kitchen staff. KP duties can include any tedious chores in the military mess at an installation or in the field, such as food preparation, dishwashing, pot scrubbing, sweeping, and mopping floors. The term "KP" has been used in the United States since as early as 1918. In the British Forces, the equivalent punishment is known as Jankers. KP is usually assigned out of necessity, not for punishment, although a service member can be "put on KP" for some minor infraction committed while on duty, in uniform, or on a military installation, something that would not require an Article 15 or non-judicial punishment hearing.