There will always be 'disdain' with elitist soldiering units and the RMP. The RMP are looked on, by Para's, as weak people, grasses and for the most part, shouldn't even be wearing a uniform, let alone be in Her Majesty's Forces.
Rich H:
I believe we had a similar exchange on CPW a few months ago. I am sorry that your time in the RMP was not a more positive experience. I have met and worked with a few RMP. All the RMP I have met seemed like good blokes to me.
MPs and Paras are definitely two different kinds of soldier - based on my own experiences in dealing with the Canadian Airborne Regt (before it was disbanded). You were Para Provost, so you managed to get the best of both worlds.
There are knobs in the MPs and in Airborne infantry units. Every military unit on Earth has its fair share of knobs and good blokes. Unfortunately, the knobs in the MPs are more visible due to their roles and the smaller size of MP units compared to teeth arms unit.
Regrettably, there some MPs who are overly focused on policing and don't realise that MPs are not a police force, but rather are a specialised type of soldier intended to support the operations of the rest of the Army. Often these guys have no understanding of what the Poor Bloody Infantryman has been through and do not give him a break (when dealing with less serious matters within individual MP discretion). Some of these folks have poor attitudes, poor fitness or poor soldiering skills. Some of these folks also are time servers with no interest/ambition to progress.
On the other hand, there are some MPs who are fit and keen soldiers, who have served in theatre embedded in combat arms units where they have earned the respect of the teeth arms soldiers. You seem to have had a bad experience in the RMP (less your time in CP or Para Provost).
In my view, MP is a great place to serve in the Army and a great opportunity to take courses, learn, improve one's skill and knowledge and grow to one's full potential, if one cares to make the effort. Like you, I sought whatever opportunities to learn and did not care to stagnate. I took whatever courses I could get and learnt much that helped me in may later military and civilian careers. I am not unusual. I served with plenty of other MPs with similar attitudes.
There is a definite case to be made to have MPs recruited from soldiers in teeth arms units (i.e. don't recruit them directly off the street, but select them from arms units). Such MPs would have had more soldiering experience, better soldier skills, operational service in teeth arms and have a better perspective on their role as MPs (i.e. primacy to M instead of P).
As to the Paras, as you point out, they have disdain for everyone who is not a Para. It was much the same for the Canadian Airborne Regt. Everyone else is a "hat" (or "leg" in Canadian/US parlance). This attitude is understandable to a certain point (unit pride and esprit de corps is very important in an "elite" unit, especially where the role entails conquering one's fear to jump out of aircraft).
Fair enough. There are other units/Corps (e.g. Guards, Royal Marines, etc.) who disdain the Paras. Beyond a certain point, this attitude becomes counter-productive, as it impedes co-ordination and co-operation in operations with other units/Corps. Even the keenest paratroopers on Earth need to be re-supplied and have their weapons maintained by "hats".
For MPs, this hostile attitude from the Paras or other units needs to be like water off a duck. One must have a thick skin to be an MP. I knew right from the start of my time in that being an MP would not make me popular or loved, and decided not to let that bother me. I hope that during my service I earned the respect of others with whom I served (MP and combat arms).
All Arms and Services have their jobs to do and all must get along well enough to ensure they work together effectively so the Army succeeeds in operations.
Regards,
Dave (I'm a "hat" / "leg". I'm an MP soldier [only part-time now] and proud of that.)
