Merry Christmas from CFMPA

Article by CWO Crystal Krammer, CFMPA

​Greetings, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Home of the Branch - the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy!

​Since our last submission, we have been extremely busy ensuring that we provide the best learning environment and instruction to our students.  The past four months has seen us graduate a Close Protection Officer Course (CPOC); Force Protection Officer Course (FPOC); QL5A Course; Military Police Investigators Course (MPIC); QL3 course; and hosted a Problem Based Learning (PBL) course at our new facility.

Photo above:   QL5 Course 1603, graduated on our first real snow storm of the season (9 Dec 2016) so we thought it would only be fitting to capture this as a class photo.  This course was the very first QL3 course that the Cmdt of the Academy (LCol Battista) had put through during his tenure as the CFMPA Cmdt.

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​The CFMPA held the Red Beret ceremony on 12 Dec 16, and we were honoured to have MCpl Klein, (2 CER Petawawa) attend and read the poem “I wear the Red Beret”.  MCpl Klein is the author of the poem and wrote it upon the request of his brother Padre Klein after the death of Matt Dinning and Randy Payne.  The emotional delivery of the poem was truly felt by all and the staff and students were grateful for the opportunity to have him attend the event.  The Red Beret Ceremony also saw the return of two of our CWOs who had been selected for key appointments within the greater CAF.  CPO1 Syl Bolduc and CWO Necole Belanger attended the ceremony and assisted in presenting the red berets to the QL3 course.

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​QL3 Course 1602, graduated on 13 Dec 2016.  This was the first graduation in the history of the branch where all elemental Commanders granted permission for the parading members and those MP in attendance to wear the red beret while dressed in parade dress (1As).  We had 79 proud young men and woman on parade; and all parade positions were filled by students.  The parade was quite remarkable and the students proudly represented in front of one of the largest contingents of family and friends the academy has witnessed (well over 350).

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​Members of the QL3 course raised $4444.00 for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children through fundraising efforts such as a Go Fund Me Page, a spin-a-thon at a local grocery store, Christmas parcel wrapping to name a few.  The members that presented the cheque to LCol Battista and CWO Krammer were:  Cpl Schilimat, LS Brown, and Cpl Coté.

​On 13 Dec 16, witnessed by the graduating QL3 course 1602, Capt Pat MacMullen surrendered his credentials and received his retirement badge after 39 years of service.  Congratulations Pat, enjoy your retirement you will be missed.

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​Upcoming in 2017

​Once the Christmas holidays are behind us the CFMPA will be in full swing once again.  Our next QL3 course will be significantly smaller in numbers with only one platoon.  Under a new initiative to strengthen the ties between students and veterans we are going to trial a mentorship program where the platoon will be named after a veteran.  The veteran selected will then attend the Academy approximately four times throughout the course and will sit and talk with the students for around 30 mins each visit.  We are also going to trial this for the MPOC course.  

​The names of the two veterans selected for the upcoming courses will be announced in the new year once we have notified them.  Should you be interested in taking on the role of a mentor for a future course please contact John Corbett, Bob Smith, Wayne Kendall; or Bob Thomas.  They will then send the names to the Academy for selection.

​On behalf of LCol Battista and all members of the CFMPA we wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy happy and prosperous New Year.

​Until next time,

​Securitas!