The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police is a small, highly trained and professional Corps providing command support and police support to the Army and the Australian Defence Force in peace, crisis and conflict on any operation, anywhere in the world.

Did you know?
The origin of the term troop has been lost in time but it is thought to have come originally from the French word troupe or trope, based on the Latin word troppus, a flock. Today troops are subordinate formations within artillery batteries and both engineer and armoured unit squadrons. The term troops is also used to describe the 'other ranks' (junior NCOs and private soldiers).

Military Police personnel provide commanders with an essential element of command and control through the application of the four main Military Police functions of Law Enforcement; Mobility and Manoeuvre Support; Security; and Internment and Detention operations. In short, your role is encapsulated in the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police motto - 'For the Troops and With the Troops'.

The Military Police law enforcement role is a critical component of the Military Justice System whose purpose is to maintain military effectiveness and to maintain the reputation of Army. This law enforcement function is provided in both Australia and overseas. In Australia, a specific Military Police Unit, the Domestic Policing Unit (DPU) operates within Army bases and is responsible for Garrison Policing and the conduct of Minor Criminal Investigations. The Military Police support their commanders by ensuring that the military adhere to defence and civilian laws, conventions, policies and directives.

While on operations the 1st Military Police Battalion provides law enforcement and administers applicable international civilian law. The Military Police may also be tasked to assist in the establishment, enhancement or re-establishment of civilian laws and/or judicial systems.

On the battlefield the Military Police provide commanders with an essential element of mobility and manoeuvre support, conducting route reconnaissance, route signing, controlling and monitoring traffic, enforcing traffic regulations and movement priority, controlling military stragglers and the movement of the civilian population. Military Police provide support to logistic operations and provide physical and personal security. Military Police are responsible for the internment and detention of captured persons including their collection, processing and registration in accordance with international, host nation, national and command conventions and requirements.

Military Police training involves the attainment of a variety of fundamental skills that are required to police the Army.

These skills include the following:

• law and related policies;
• service discipline;
• community based policing and investigation of military offences;
• people skills;
• gathering, collecting, recording and presenting of evidence;
• patrolling;
• search techniques;
• management of persons in custody;
• defensive tactics;
• emergency vehicle handling skills;
• police operational safety;
• employment of specialist policing equipment;
• riot control skills; and
• operational battlefield skills including:
  • route reconnaissance;
  • traffic control and maintenance; and
  • route security and effective military communication.

After completing initial training a qualified Military Policeman is on Pay Grade 3. After successful completion of the probationary period and the Service Police Investigator Course, a Military Policeman is on Pay Grade 4.

Military Police personnel receive their police training at the Defence Police Training Centre at Holsworthy, NSW. The Defence Police Training Centre will provide you with your service police training and education. The Army is a Registered Training Organisation and therefore the Defence Police Training Centre complies with the requirements of the Australian Quality Training Framework.

The training syllabus at the Defence Police Training Centre is developed in-house to meet service requirements, ensuring that you'll have a real edge in life and can be assured of success in whatever Military Police specialisation you may choose to develop. The syllabus also incorporates aspects of civilian policing, accrediting you with nationally recognised civilian and military qualifications.

You will undertake the following course:

Service Police Basic Course

Location: Holsworthy, NSW

Duration: 76 working days

• Australian Defence Force Investigator: Australian Defence Force Investigators are trained in serious, complex and sensitive investigations and forensic science procedures. They are involved in criminal intelligence, police operations including undercover operations. Many of these investigations are tried in the Australian Military Court. Investigators will work alongside the State Police and Australian Federal Police. Upon qualifying as an investigator individuals are posted to work within a Tri-Service unit known as the Australian Defence Force Investigation Service (ADFIS).
  
  
• Military Police Dog Handler: Military Police Dog Handlers are responsible for the training, husbandry and handling of Military Police Dogs that are used to detect human intrusion, track people, act as a deterrent in crowd control and apprehend personnel suspected of committing criminal offences.
  
  
• Close Personal Protection: Personal security is provided to high profile personnel or VIPs who are likely to be terrorist, criminal or military targets due to their grade, assignment, symbolic value, vulnerabilities and/or location. Close Personal Protection operatives are highly trained specialists in advanced weapons systems, close quarter fighting, driving, anti/counter surveillance, reconnaissance, as well as individual and team Close Personal Protection techniques.
  
  

Completion of Australian Year 10 education (or equivalent) with passes in English and Mathematics.

Military Police are initially employed in either the 1st Military Police Battalion or the Domestic Policing Unit. These two units operate throughout Australia; however, the major Military Police concentrations are Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Townsville and Sydney.

The specifications for the employment categories of the RACMP can be viewed the Manual of Army Employments (DefWeb only)

Defence Police Training Centre Web Site