 Between 1951 and 1956 Scheibe served in various leadership capacities with the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (literally "" People's Police in barracks""), a different (and in the end larger) quasi-military police service which would in retrospect become recognised as the precursor of the East German National People's Army.Promotions

The National People's Army (NVA / "Nationale Volksarmee ") was founded in 1956.Herbert Scheibe took a job with the Ministry of National Defence (MfNV) as Chief of Military Reconnaissance.