Military Police Celebrate Centenary in Afghanistan

Soldiers and officers from the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP) deployed to the Middle East region, gathered to celebrate the centenary of their Corps on April 3 at the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA).

The 15 military police participated in a parade and afterwards attended a barbecue and the cutting of a birthday cake.

Event organiser, Commmander of Task Group Afghanistan and RACMP Head of Corps Brig Cheryl Pearce said it was a great opportunity as Head of Corps to bring together all deployed military police members to commemorate such an event.

“In Australia I was planning the centenary parade, which was held in Canberra at the Australian War Memorial and then was provided the opportunity to deploy on operations,” Brig Pearce said.

“For me it was an honour to be the commander here and from a head of corps perspective I’ve certainly looked for ways to bring together the 14 other MPs working in different roles in the AO to celebrate our centenary.”

During the parade Brig Pearce said all members of the corps should feel proud to be a part of an organisation 100 years-old.

“All of you on parade are a representation of our corps today and why our capability remains operationally focussed,” she said.

“Since the formation of our corps in 1916, our officers and soldiers have served in distinction in all major wars and conflicts since world war one, to our present day operations in Afghanistan.”

Parade participant, Pte James Buggy is a community policeman at HKIA and has only been in the Army for four years.

He said it was a bonus being on his first operational deployment when his corps turned 100.

“It’s a bit surreal really, as I just wanted to deploy on operations and I didn’t mind when I did,” Pte Buggy said.

“When I got here I found out about the centenary and we missed out on the big celebrations in Canberra.

“I didn’t mind though, as I’d rather be doing my job in Afghanistan.”

The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police was previously known as the Australian Army Provost Corps. It was formed on April 3, 1916 and known then as the Anzac Provost Corps.