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Adjutant General’s Corps (AGC)

The Adjutant General’s Corps has responsibility for looking after many of the general administrative services within the Army. The Corps was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of the Corps of Royal Military Police (RMP), Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC), Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC), Army Legal Services (ALS), Royal Army Education Corps (RAEC) and the Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC).

The Adjutant Generals Corps is structured into the following 4 Branches:

• Staff and Personnel (SPS) Branch: SPS Branch has responsibility for all aspects regarding finance and personnel management; therefore, on formation personnel from the Royal Army Pay Corps, Women’s Royal Army Corps and the Staff Clerks of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps were taken into the Branch. Clerks from Regiments and Corps were later taken into the Branch. SPS Branch also has the responsibility for providing Staff Clerks to all formations of the Army, to British Embassies and High Commissions throughout the world and Multinational Formations.

• The Provost Branch. The Provost Branch, commanded by the Provost Marshal (Army), comprises approximately 4,300 Regular and Territorial soldiers and consists of 3 different organisations, all with their own Cap Badge and identity. These organisations are:

o Royal Military Police (RMP). RMP carry out the day to day policing and investigative work carried out within the Army and when required work closely with their civilian counterparts around the world.

o Military Provost Staff (MPS). MPS, formerly known as the Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC), provide the professional expertise required with regard to the custody and detention of military personnel at unit level and the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) Colchester. It also provides the same level of support for the handling and custody of Prisoners of War.

All members of the Military Provost Staff hold the minimum rank of Sergeant and as such only recruits from within the Army. It does not accept civilian applicants.

o Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS). MPGS was formed subsequent to the Armed Forces Strategic Defence Review (SDR) produced in the late 1990’s. SDR took into account the shape of the future Army, the increased threat of terrorism and the manner in which it would affect the static locations of the Armed Forces in general and it was from this study that the MPGS was formed.

MPGS are employed at Armed Forces establishments throughout the United Kingdom and have responsibility for the maintenance of security, access and egress from military establishments, control room operations, patrolling and dog handling.

To be considered for employment in the MPGS applicants must have served for a minimum of three years in the British Armed Forces, including the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), Royal Marines Reserve (RMR), Territorial Army (TA) or Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAAF). Applicants must have carried out no more than 6 years civilian employment from leaving the Armed Forces before applying to join the MPGS.

Successful MPGS applicants are required to re-enlist into the British Army on 3 year Local Service Engagements. The Service maintains a structured rank system within each unit where promotion to Warrant Rank is possible, subsequent to satisfactory performance.

• Educational and Training Services (ETS) Branch: Formed from the Royal Army Education Corps this Branch has responsibility for providing the academic education and training needed at all levels of the Army. The Branch is staffed by officers and has approximately 400 serving members.

• Army Legal Services (ALS) Branch: Members of Army Legal Services provide all levels of command within the Army with legal advice when needed. They also offer advice to officers and soldiers when it is sought. Members of The Branch also prosecute at Courts Martial. The Branch consists of approximately 120 commissioned officers, all of whom are qualified solicitors, barristers or advocates.

The Adjutant General’s Corps is one of the largest Corps in the British Army.

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