The Military Police [MP] Superthread

[pbi]

As a Land Force asset the buck stops at the CLS shop as it is the Land Force which mandates unit training through the assignment of tasks and then provides the funds to train to those tasks

But unless I'm greatly mistaken, didn't the branch set the CTS/CTP for the Res MOC? Or was that left to the Army to do?

Anyway, I wonder if maybe our Res MPs should go the way of the MPs in the US Army, with a much greater emphasis on the force protection role for most MPs, and the reservation of criminal investigations to more highly trained personnel such as CID. The MPs here in Afgh are heavily into convoy escort and force protection, which are skills that Res MPs can be taught much more easily than trying to make them into fully fledged policemen.

Cheers

 

[garb811]

But unless I'm greatly mistaken, didn't the branch set the CTS/CTP for the Res MOC? Or was that left to the Army to do?

Having not been in on the process by which these decisions were made, I can't comment with 100% certitude, however it has always been my understanding that the loss of the Police Ops role and training was a result of the Army as opposed to the Branch and I formed this opinion due to briefings and various conversations with those â Å“in the knowâ ?.   Thinking on this further, however, it is also possible that Police Ops topics were removed from the Militia MP CTS because of the inability of the Militia MP to comply with the requirements set down by the CFPM to be appointed â Å“Military Policeâ ? and their insistence that the QL3 be of a length which could be completed in a summer.   I guess in that sense it would technically be the Branch removing the function as opposed to the Army but unfortunately the end result is the same.

Your idea about convoy escorts and enhance Force Protection Ops is a good one and I personally have pushed for movement towards this but unfortunately my experience has shown this isn't something the MP world is all that interested in either in the Militia or in the Reg Force at this point in time.   If the decision was made to go this route there would be some challenges to overcome, not the least of which would be wrestling the convoy escort task away from Recce Sqns, prying the Militia MPs out of their nice Milverados which are totally unsuited for a task of this type and answering question of what their task(s) would be during domestic Ops, but this is definately an area to look at IMHO.

An officer commented that Reseve MP were going to provide Crim Int to Commanders in the field

Would the answer be, "How do you get civilian police agencies to stop sharing Crim Int with MPs?", Alex?

 

[S McKee]

Would the answer be, "How do you get civilian police agencies to stop sharing Crim Int with MPs?", Alex?

I'm afraid that's not the issue my friend. MP, reserve or reg, will always be privy to crim int whether it's open source or from other agencies,  it's what happens to that information once it has been received, who analysis's that information and how it's related to the chain of command.

 

[garb811]

I thought one of the Reserve MPs would have picked this one up so sorry for the late reply:

Yes, you can be a Military Police Officer in the Reserves and yes you can join directly.   Unfortunately I am unaware of the specifics on this so you could try the Recruiting Center but in my mind the best bet is to call Edmonton Garrison at 973-4011 and ask for the 15 MP Company Orderly Room.   This will get you a clerk who may be able to answer some of your questions and s/he will be able to hook you up with a Res MPO should you want to speak with one for specifics.   I would also suggest that if you're truely interested you arrange a visit on a parade night so you can see it first hand and speak to a variety of people.

You could also try a PM to Poppa.   He's in a different MP Company and may not know all of the details specific to 15 MP Coy but he is switched on about the Res MP world.

 

[SKAPMAN811]

To anyone interested 14 MP PL located in Calgary is now recruiting for as many as 30 new members. This is a Reserve Platoon. You must be a Canadian Citizen, No criminal record, and must be 16 with Grade 10. Anyone interested please send an E-mail to skappak.td@forces.gc.ca

 

[sigpig]

Am I the only one wondering how a reserve MP pl is going to train, gainfully employ and pay 30 new people? Have things changed that much since the pl used to occupy the office at Mewata Armoury back in the late 80's?

Given the Militias almost perpetual need for soldiers on the pointy end, who justified recruiting numbers like that? I know what am mp pl does in theory, but what will a large res mp pl do on a regular basis? Please help me understand the logic in this.

 

[SKAPMAN811]

We are now located in ASU Calgary, As the world changes there are more need for MP's even Reserves, We are no longer part of  41 Bgd which controls all the other reservists of Calgary. We have real time operations which require real time MP's for these operations. No longer the little hole in Mewata Armouries.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Am I the only one wondering how a reserve MP pl is going to train, gainfully employ and pay 30 new people? Have things changed that much since the pl used to occupy the office at Mewata Armoury back in the late 80's?

Given the Militias almost perpetual need for soldiers on the pointy end, who justified recruiting numbers like that? I know what am mp pl does in theory, but what will a large res mp pl do on a regular basis? Please help me understand the logic in this.

Numbers are up for combat arms units too, if I understand correctly - we've been told our infantry unit in Calgary is allowed more infantrymen, and for the first time in many years, 7 paid positions for the pipe band.  **shrugs**  Don't knock a good thing, I guess. 

Good luck to the MPs with their recruiting - ExoMac, is your head chicken, beef or pork?

 

[Lawrence]

Call 972-4011 ext 2178 and ask to speak with Corporal Lawrence or 2LT Cryer.  They are the recruiting contact for 15 MP Coy in Edmonton.

 

[WATCHDOG-81]

Do you mean an NCO MP or an officer in charge of MPs?? If you mean an officer in charge of MPs then yes, it is theoretically possible to join the reserves as an MPO, but I would imagine the opportunities are fairly limited.   Check with the local service battalion - which I think is 15 Service in Edmonton - not sure if they have MPs there or not. As for university courses I don't think there is a specific degree requirement but obviously something like criminology or justice studies (whatever that means these days) would make you a more competitive candidate especially in the regs (if that's where you want to go).   The RESO program no longer exists. Try ROTP as an alternative. And ps - there is very limited recruitment for MPOs in the regs - see the estimable Kincanuck's posts in the recruiting section for more detail, good luck, mdh

Oh and by the way there is no real difference   between an Air Force MPO and an Army one - they are now considered "purple trades" in that once you are qualified in the MOC you can be assigned to any element, army, navy or air force.

Although I am unfamiliar with the current degree requirements for Reserve MPO, for the Regular Force, a degree in law, criminology, justice studies, or a related field is required as MPO are now considered a specialist officer occupation.   Additionally, although the MPO classification is a "purple trade", there are implications with respect to the uniform one wears.   There has been a tendancy as of late to place army MPO in army units after completing advanced army-centric training, eg. ATOC and LFSC.  Similarly, Airforce and Navy MPO tend to follow similar career paths in respect to element affiliation.   Although it is possible as an MPO to be posted to any of the three elements, you will not see an MPO with a naval uniform as CO of an MP Platoon.

 

[sigpig]

We are now located in ASU Calgary, As the world changes there are more need for MP's even Reserves, We are no longer part of  41 Bgd which controls all the other reservists of Calgary. We have real time operations which require real time MP's for these operations. No longer the little hole in Mewata Armouries.

The MP pl is no longer part of 33 Svc Bn or the bde? Who do they report to, ASU? Do they do field taskings anymore? IE route marking, traffic control, guarding prisoners, etc? Is Roy Boehli still around anywhere?

 

[Eowyn]

Is Roy Boehli still around anywhere?

He is the CO of 14 Svc Bn.

 

[m_a_c]

Good Day,

We have been told that 2 Military Police Company is to continue recruiting until each platoon reaches 53 personel.   We have 3 Platoons, London(31 Platoon), Toronto(32 Platoon), and Ottawa(33 Platoon).

m_a_c

 

[SKAPMAN811]

We are currently trying to fil 65 positions for one platoon.

 

[sigpig]

He is the CO of 14 Svc Bn.

Really?!?!  Can you pm me an email address or something? Tell him it's Dale from the recruiting office in Mewata.

I am really surprised by what you guys are saying about recruiting numbers. Good for you....

 

[MILPO]

Is it fairly common practice for civi police officers to remain or join the reserves as an MP while currently serving with a muni. police service?  My reason for asking is that I spoke with a few reserve officers while gasing up my patrol car the other night and one had mentioned he was currently a police officer with the municipality, on top of being a reserve MP.  Would this not be seen as a conflict of interest or is it an acceptable practice?

Also, off topic, but I had noticed other peoples opinions in other forums not so much on here, on using Reg. force MP's as a stepping stone to a civi. police service.  I just wanted to say that MP should be seen as a career on it's own and not a stepping stone.  I'm a lifer if i get in and hope to see the attitudes towards the profession change and that new members entering the CFMP respect the profession for what it is...especially how the 'meathead' mentality and image is slowly going the way of the buffalo.

 

[canadianblue]

Is it fairly common practice for civi police officers to remain or join the reserves as an MP while currently serving with a muni. police service?   My reason for asking is that I spoke with a few reserve officers while gasing up my patrol car the other night and one had mentioned he was currently a police officer with the municipality, on top of being a reserve MP.   Would this not be seen as a conflict of interest or is it an acceptable practice?

Also, off topic, but I had noticed other peoples opinions in other forums not so much on here, on using Reg. force MP's as a stepping stone to a civi. police service.   I just wanted to say that MP should be seen as a career on it's own and not a stepping stone.   I'm a lifer if i get in and hope to see the attitudes towards the profession change and that new members entering the CFMP respect the profession for what it is...especially how the 'meathead' mentality and image is slowly going the way of the buffalo.

I was talking to a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and I told that member that I was applying to the military police. His response was, why in the heck would you ever want to get into that! The reasoning was that in his experience the reserve MP's only set up signs around base, and all the fulltime MP's ever did was "dick around in their patrol cars and set up speed traps all day". I think that perhaps the attitude of the entire Canadian Forces has to change towards the military police. I've been on blueline.ca and from what I've heard MP's are the same as any other civilian police service, the only difference is that MP's serve the military community. Right now I'm conflicted between what career path I want to take in the Canadian Forces, right now I'm applying to the reserve MPs, however I am also really interested in the infantry. I guess I'll wait and see what the MP's have to offer, as well as the infantry then make my decision from their.

I'm hoping that the reserves will give me the skills needed, and alot more experience needed if I ever wanted to go in for the military police, and pass the MPAC. Plus even if I decided not to go into the regular force I believe that the reserves will provide some really good experience.

 

[MILPO]

I was talking to a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and I told that member that I was applying to the military police. His response was, why in the heck would you ever want to get into that! The reasoning was that in his experience the reserve MP's only set up signs around base, and all the fulltime MP's ever did was "dick around in their patrol cars and set up speed traps all day".

...And responding to calls of service and generally keeping you and your family and base safe while you're on deployment!   It's the same job as a civi police officer, except with more responsibilities.

 

[MILPO]

I've been on blueline.ca and from what I've heard MP's are the same as any other civilian police service, the only difference is that MP's serve the military community.

I've been on that site too and it seems it's like pulling teeth to have a civi. officer admit the above. You'll see some people constantly asking about it and saying that they want to use MP as a stepping stone..ridiculous...sure, some have their reasons, but show some loyalty and integrity towards the profession. (that's my mini-rant for the day!)

I feel the MP's have more of a challenge policing their communities.  To some extent, they deal with highly trained combat personnel on some bases, others take care of the general policing duties to reg. or res. members and their families.  The training is equivalent to the RCMP and on the same level.  So it would seem these negative opinions tend to come from people who are uneducated on what the actual roles and function of an MP are.

 

[canadianblue]

Thats my feeling too. I myself have three top choices for the police services I would like to join, OPP, RCMP, and Military Police. Now I've heard alot of people say the military police is a stepping stone to a civilian service, but I think that the Military Police should be a career in itself. Their are plenty of oppurtunities for advancement in the Canadian Forces Military Police as well.