Military Provost Guard Service

Military Provost Guard Service

Cap Badge of the MPGS
Country  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Role Armed Guarding
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		 Her Majesty the Queen
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

The Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) is responsible for maintaining physical security at British Armed Forces locations throughout Great Britain. It is one of three constituent units of the Adjutant General's Corps Provost Branch (the other two parts being the Royal Military Police and the Military Provost Staff). The Provost branch is the responsibility of the Provost Marshal who is a Brigadier from the Royal Military Police. In Northern Ireland, security at Ministry of Defence establishments is provided by the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service in a similar manner to that of the MPGS in Great Britain.

The aim of the MPGS is to rationalise guarding arrangements at sites where service personnel normally live and work. The MPGS replaces previously civilian-held duties with armed soldiers. The MPGS works alongside the civilian unarmed Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS).

History

The MPGS was formed in the wake of structural changes of the Armed Forces and the increased threat of terrorism in 1999.[1]

Operational role

The MPGS's duties include:[2]

To join the MPGS, applicants must have served for at least three years in any arm or service, including the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, Territorial Army, and Royal Auxiliary Air Force. They must have completed that service within six years of application to the MPGS, unless they have relevant service in the Police or HM Prison Service since leaving the armed forces.[3]

To join, they have to re-enlist into the Regular British Army on a Military Local Service Engagement (MLSE). The MLSE is a form of engagement which is ideally suited to use by the MPGS. The MLSE is renewable on a three-yearly basis providing the soldier continues to meet the requirements and standards of the service, as well as there being a continued need for MPGS soldiers at that particular unit.[3]

There are 26 Police Constabularies that currently have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Military Provost Guard Service in respect of the legal authority for carrying firearms on UK roads.[4]

Uniform and equipment

Beret badge

MPGS soldiers are issued the same uniform and equipment as other arms and services in the British Army, albeit at a reduced scale due to their barracks-based role. Everyday working dress is the standard Personal Clothing System Combat Uniform (PCS CU) in Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP), beret with cap badge, belt (or stable belt) and combat boots. The shirt and jacket will have the MPGS tactical recognition flash (see top) on the right sleeve. If soldiers are carrying out security duties on roads or vehicle checks, they may also wear a high-visibility yellow jacket, normally with "SECURITY" or "MILITARY GUARD" printed on the front and back. The main firearm used by the MPGS is the SA80 L85A2 assault rifle; Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistols may also be used. All MPGS soldiers must pass a weapon handling test biannually to use firearms.[5]

Vehicles

The MPGS utilises Toyota 4x4 pickup vehicles in white or silver with "SERVICE SECURITY PATROL" or "ARMY SECURITY PATROL" on the bonnet, left side, right side and at the rear on top of a yellow fluorescent stripe. Some vehicles have an amber strobe beacon on the roof for increased visibility. In late 2013 the Ministry of Defence bought some new Ford Ranger pickups for use within the MPGS and other MOD departments.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "MoD Police and guarding". UK Parliament. 10 March 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Military Provost Guard Service". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Military Provost Guard Service at RAF Marham". RAF Marham website. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "DO Letterhead (Andover) Outside MOD" (PDF). Whatdotheyknow.com. 2010-11-17. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  5. ↑ "Military Provost Guard Service". Hansard. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Ford Ranger pick-up joins the military | Car News, Reviews & Buyers Guides". Perrys.co.uk. 2013-11-06. Retrieved 2016-09-27.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.