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AGC JOURNAL 2016

Provost Marshal (Army)

By Brigadier DS Neal, Provost Marshal (Army) and Commander 1st Military Police Brigade

totally different in character, but having within the 1st Military Police Brigade, and
worked for him in Headquarters Provost the changes the Royal Military Police and
Marshal (Army) for over two years, I have Military Provost Staff will be making over
been intrinsically involved in the way that the coming years will be developmental
he has established the 1st Military Police rather than fundamental. We are in the
Brigade, set out his priorities and run the business of making good better.
business.

Visits
High Regard
Over these last few months, I have also
I have now spent these first few months visited all of the Regiments within the 1st
as Provost Marshal (Army) proactively Military Police Brigade, either in barracks
engaging with the senior leadership of the or on exercise. What I have seen has been
Army and Defence, in order to place what universally encouraging. I am constantly
the Royal Military Police and the Military delighted to encounter young men and
Provost Staff men and women do in the women who are enthusiastic, intelligent
minds of those who employ us, and make and robust - eager for the next challenge.
key resourcing decisions about our future. We are in a period of relative stability in
I can report that from Ministers and senior the operational realm, but this does not
civil servants, through to the Vice Chief mean that we are moping around the
of the General Staff, Chief of the General United Kingdom. At the time of writing
These are my first set of AGC Staff and members of the Executive we have 86 Royal Military Police and
Journal notes as Provost Committee of the Army Board, the Royal Military Provost Staff personnel committed
overseas to exercise and operations. We
Military Police and Military Provost Staff
Marshal (Army) and I am are held in exceptionally high regard. should never forget that, as whilst it may
privileged to write them. The ultimate sacrifice that has been made appear that little is happening, we have
Likewise, I am also privileged by our people over the last ten years of young men and women facing danger
campaigning is understood and treasured,
from Kabul to Nanyuki and Bogota to
to now command Officers and and we are getting alongside the Army’s Suffield, as well as the everyday challenges
Soldiers from five out of the changes in order that it understands the of policing the Firm Base.
value that we add and our relevance
six cap-badges that form the across the spectrum of operations. Those
Adjutant General’s Corps. of us whose formative years were shaped Sport
by Iraq and Afghanistan will ensure that
we capture both the good and the bad I have always been keen on sport and
High Tempo from those conflicts and ensure that we I have been thoroughly impressed and
use our knowledge and experience to pleased to see how much is going on
At the time of writing, I have been Provost shape the young Royal Military Police and around the Royal Military Police, Military
Marshal (Army) and Commander of Military Provost Staff men and women Provost Staff, Adjutant General’s Corps
the 1st Military Police Brigade for three for the next conflict. In order to support and wider Armed Forces. I truly believe
months. As ever, it has been high tempo, this I have issued direction to the 1st that sport is a hugely important part of
but I have been exceptionally fortunate Military Police Brigade and I have set out Army life, especially team sport, and my
to have taken over as Provost Marshal my four priorities: Operations, Technical direction to my Commanding Officers is to
(Army) from Brigadier Bill Warren MBE – Competency, Leadership and Ensuring the make their personnel available (whether
a hugely talented and honourable man. Royal Military Police and Military Provost that is for Wednesday afternoon sport
I have known Brigadier Bill for over 20 Staff Remain Relevant – all underpinned at Unit level, through to Representative
years and I am lucky to count him as a by a Soldier First mind-set. However, none sport). I have watched at first hand some
friend as well as my predecessor. For those of this is a significant change in direction; really good football at the Service Police
of you that may know us both, we are this is all evolution rather than revolution Six-a-Side Competition at the Defence

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