PLATOON COMMANDER (ROYAL MILITARY POLICE)

The Job

You will be leading a platoon of up to 25 soldiers, providing policing and investigation services to the Army. Undertaking duties similar to those of the civilian police, you will be responsible for maintaining order and military discipline both in barracks and on operations. From safeguarding the security of essential supply routes to conducting criminal investigations, you will work alongside other police forces anywhere in the world. You could go on to specialise in the Special Investigations Branch, preventing and investigating serious crimes like murder, drug smuggling and fraud, or in close protection, playing a crucial role in ensuring the security of leading political figures around the world.

The Right Job For Me?

All officer jobs will call on your ability to lead and motivate the troops under your command, and you will need the maturity and sense of responsibility necessary for a role in which soldiers’ wellbeing can depend on the outcome of your decisions. As part of a larger unit, an ability to take orders is essential, but you must also be able to act on your own initiative if the situation calls for it.

What Skills Will I Learn?

Officers are expected to master the same basic military skills and tactics as the soldiers they command. This will include drill, basic fieldcraft, map-reading, first aid and how to fire and maintain your personal weapon.In addition to your soldiering skills, you will also learn the skills pertinent to being a Platoon Commander, and how to command soldiers in the field and in barracks through a series of field exercises.Policing skills gained in the RMP are equivalent to many of those learned in the civilian police force.

What Training Will I Do?

Initial TrainingThe Commissioning Course takes place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, arguably the most prestigious institution of its kind in the world, and lasts for 44 weeks. It is divided into three terms with periods of leave and adventurous training between them. As well as core military skills such as drill and weapon handling, it includes a rigorous physical regime. The course also has an academic component, but the emphasis is on learning by doing, so you will take part in a range of exercises. You will also learn about the behaviour and self-discipline of an officer, and will be expected to act with integrity at all times.Further TrainingAt the Tri-Service Defence Police College near Portsmouth, you will complete the Military Police Officer’s Course. This is also where you might be able to undertake a variety of advanced qualification courses such as crime scene management and fraud investigation. The training for this is provided and accredited by the Ministry of Defence Police Fraud Squad.

What Qualifications Could I Get?

The Commissioning Course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and the Chartered Management Institute, while City & Guilds award a Certificate in Human Resource Management on completion. It also counts towards the Edexel/BTEC Certificate in Management Studies and towards Bournemouth University’s Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management. The Army prides itself on its continuing professional development and you will attend courses throughout your career, many of which translate directly into civilian life.

Future Prospects

Whatever you decide to do, your training and experience as a Platoon Commander will stand you in good stead. If you choose to make a career in the Army, then the Royal Military Police, with its high levels of responsibility, offers great opportunities. Equally, should you decide to return to civilian life, your track record of leading troops all over the world will impress any civilian employer recruiting for senior managerial roles. The specific skills you learn while in the RMP – whether in general policing or something more specialised, such as close protection – will also transfer directly into similar roles in civilian life.