The 'Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command' (
abbreviation: SAFMPC;
Chinese: 新加坡武装部队宪兵司令部), previously the ''Singapore Armed Forces Provost Unit'' until
1 September 2006 [1], is the
military police unit of the
Singapore Armed Forces, performing policing duties to uphold standards of discipline amongst members of the SAF. Its responsibilities include security of key
military establishments, the guarding of the
Ministry of Defence, ceremonial sentries at the
Istana, forming the ceremonial guards for visits by VVIPs to the country and other national events, the maintenance of discipline through enforcement and the operation of the
SAF Detention Barracks, and search and rescue operations, amongst others.
History
Formed on
1 September 1966 at the old
Beach Road Camp, the SAF Provost Company initially consisted of one company of military policemen and was part of the Manpower Division, although it came under the command of HQ 1
SIB. In the same year, the School of Provost and the first detention cells were in operation at Beach Road Camp. With the implementation of
National Service a year later in
1967, the unit grew exponentially in membership, before the entire unit moved to the
Hill Street Camp in 1970. The
Singapore Armed Forces Dog Company and Operations Company were established there.
In February
1971, the three companies were merged officially to form the Singapore Armed Forces Provost Unit (SAFPU) and moved to the
Mowbray Camp at
Ulu Pandan Road in July
1971. The Kranji Disciplinary Barrack was built in 1972, before being converted into a proper detention facility in 1977. The British Army Military Correction Centre was handed over to the SAF and renamed as the Tanglin Detention Barracks in 1972. Changi Detention Barracks opened in 1973, and Nee Soon Detention Barracks in 1974. The SAF Detention Barracks was opened on
29 March 1987 to replace the three facilities.
The Security Company (SC) was added to the SAFPU, while the
Special Investigations Branch (SIB) was formed in July
1973. In
1974, the sixth sub-unit, the
1st Reservist Provost Company, was formed, completing the organisational structure of the unit which has remained so to this day. The Operations Company took on ceremonial functions in 1980, and formed the first pretige guard for the German ambassador to Singapore.
The distinctive Military Police uniform was first introduced in 1983. In 1984, a 93-man unit drawn from the ranks of the SAFPU formed the Silent Precision Drill Squad (SPDS), trained with the help of foreign instructors for a performance at a ''
Reach Out Singapore'' event that same year. The overwhelmingly positive public response led to the sub-unit becoming a permanent fixture, and since then, has become one of the most well-known and visible aspects of the SAFPU which the general public would relate to. The unit first appeared in the
National Day Parade in 1986, and put up its first mass precision drill performance in 1988 at the
National Stadium. It performed twice for the Malaysian King and the general public at
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia in
1989.
From the mid 1980s, the SAFPU began performing ceremonial sentry duties at the
Istana, the official residence of the
President of Singapore, and the monthly
Change of Guard parade has since become a public spectator event also attracting the attention of tourists. New colours was awarded to the unit by ex-president
Ong Teng Cheong during the
SAF Day Parade in
1995.
Today, the unit is based at a new camp near
Choa Chu Kang. In keeping with tradition, the new road leading to the camp was called
Mowbray Road, and the camp itself retaining the
Mowbray Camp name. The old Mowbray Camp has since been handed over to the
Singapore Police Force, which currently uses the camp for the training of
reservists for the KINS unit. From
1 September 2006, the unit was renamed the ''Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command'' (SAFMPC).
Heritage
'Vision': ''To be the Bastion of Enforcement in the Singapore Armed Forces, a United yet Diverse Team of Elite Protectors, Enforcers and Reformers of Law and Order, Highly Regarded as Exemplary Guardians of Military Law and Premier Leaders in Ceremonial Drills.''
'Mission': ''To uphold and enforce military law, order and discipline in the SAF during both peace and war time, whilst providing security support and executing ceremonial duties for the State and SAF.''
'Motto': ''Pride, Discipline and Honour'', which is also the name of the unit's regimental
Slow March ('listen':
[2]), written by
CPT Lee Kah Hee Johnson, currently the Director of Music and Officer-in-Charge of the
SAF Band's
Parade Band A. The regimental
Fast March of the unit is entitled ''Spot On'', composed by MAJ(Ret) E. E. Dragon.
Organisation
The formation is headed by the Command Headquarters which oversees its daily operations, and supported by four units specialising in the various specific operational responsibilities of the SAF MPC.
The four units are as follow:
1. Military Police Enforcement Unit (MPEU):
This unit consist of one Law Enforcement and Ceremonial Company, which is a merge of APC and ZPC, and one Special Investigation Branch to perform it's enforcement duties.
|a. Active Provost Company (APC):
This is the company that performs most of the important ceremonial duties required within the SAF. It also consists of a traffic platoon which ensures the compliance of traffic regulations by military personnel on the road as well as performing escort duties.
|b. Zone Provost Company (ZPC):
ZPC consists of MPs that perform regular raids for contrabands and/or miscreants on various camps of the SAF. A Deserter Platoon also perform regular raids in residential areas to apprehend
deserters and
AWOL offenders. The security of Mowbray Station is overseen by a platoon who is also in charge of registering and detaining suspects and offenders of military crimes in holding cells. The station is similar to a civilian police station and it is usually the first stop for detainees before their transfer to detention barracks after conviction in military courts.
|c. Special Investigations Branch (SIB):
The sub-unit that performs the important task of investigating military crimes committed within the SAF.
2. SAF Detention Barracks (SAFDB):
Headed by a commandant, DB consists of MPs in charge of supervision of detainees of the SAF who have been convicted in military courts.
3. Military Police Training School (MPTS):
The school is in charge of equipping would be MP trainees with necessary and fundamental policing skills as well as instilling in them a high standard of discipline.
4. Security Support Force (SSF):
-''due to the sensitivity and security of this department, information is not to be disclosed to the public''-
Manpower
Provost Marshals
The current
Provost Marshal, or
Commanding Officer of the SAF MPC is COL Mike Yong. Past Provost Marshals include:
Uniforms
The uniforms of the SAFMPC are rarely modified, but are sometimes done for the purpose of performances. These members had their white helmets replaced by red peak caps usually worn with the no.1 uniform for a
National Day Parade performance in
Marina South.
As is the case for other members of the Singapore Armed Forces, SAFMPC members wear a variation of uniforms for each specific usage or occasion. They are, however, probably most distinctively identified by the
Olive Drab-coloured no.3 uniform shirt and pants (gartered ankles) worn by members of the military police, complimented by a white cotton
stable belt, white
lanyard with whistle, a white helmet with the letters "MP" in red type or a blue
beret, and specially treated, extra shiny black combat boots with white laces. This attire was first introduced in 1983, and has remained largely unchanged, even after most of the SAF has adopted the
camouflage-coloured no.4 uniform from 1985. The camouflage uniform may also be worn, but SAFMPC members are distinguished by wearing a black leather
brassard on the right arm, with the letters "MP" in orange.
Members of the
Regimental police, who are not considered part of the unit although having received training there, are always dressed in no.4 uniforms when on normal official duty. They also wear an armband, similarly made of leather with orange letters "RP" on them.
In ceremonial occasions and other important official functions, such as in the forming of the GOH for visiting VIPs and the
Singapore Armed Forces Day, when performing ceremonial guard duties at important state institutions such as the
Istana, and in military funerals, members of the SAFMPC wear the army no.1 uniform.
The SAFMPC is the only unit in the SAF to don a unique cap badge design incorporating elements from the crest of the
Singapore Police Force and the Armed forces, featuring the
Coat of Arms and
laurels from the SAF crest, but with the words "SAF Military Police" on a ribbon design similar to the SPF's crest.
References
★ Chiang, Mickey (1990) ''Fighting fit: The Singapore Armed Forces''
Times Editions,
Singapore ISBN 981-204-176-1
★ Choo, Martin (1981) ''The Singapore Armed Forces''
Public Affairs Department,
Ministry of Defence,
Singapore
★ Sin, Tino (2006) ''Pride, Discipline, Honour'' SAF Provost Media Department,
Ministry of Defence,
Singapore [3]
External links
★
40th Anniversary SAF Military Police Command e-book
★
Pride, Discipline and Honour Mp3 source page
★
Changing of the Guards Ceremony
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