The 1st Military Police Battalion (1 MP Bn) is the integral policing capability of the Australian Army designed to conduct policing activities beyond the capability of other regulatory or law enforcement agencies. 1 MP Bn possesses the combat survivability required to execute policing tasks where the operational uncertainty precludes or restricts operations by civilian police. Military Police capa
bility is centred on four key functions: Law Enforcement, Mobility and Manoeuvre Support, Internment and Detention Operations, and Security. 1 MP Bn fulfils these functions through provision of General Duties Military Police, Close Personal Protection Operators, Military Police Dog teams, and Headquarters Provost Staff. The Battalion maintains a strength of around 450 regular and reserve personnel geographically dispersed across Australia. Battalion Headquarters is based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, with three Regular Army Companies located in Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin. All dog teams are presently centralised in Oakey, providing support to the three regular sub-units. The Battalion also maintains an Army Reserve Company with elements based in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. Representing the warrior's perpetual readiness for combat and the guardian spirit of Law Enforcement, the 1 MP Bn crest consists of two Gladius swords, drawn from the Roman symbol for Justice, crossed over a black shield. The crossed swords pay respect to the crest of the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police with the colour black representing the tactical half of the Corps colours (black and red). The unit motto of ‘United We Fight’ refers to the sacred commitment of unit members to fight as one with all other ADF personnel and to always place the needs of the team before themselves.
