CF MILITARY POLICE BRASSARDS

Canadian Forces Military Police

Brassards


The Military Police brassard is usually the most visible symbol of status and authority and it is worn only while on duty. A wide variety of brassards have been employed by Canadian MPs.

The first pattern brassard worn by the Military Police Branch was introduced in the early 1960s and is identical to the one worn by Canadian Provost until Unification. It was worn until the mid 1970s when it was replaced by a bilingual pattern. Both patterns were normally worn above the left elbow on the combat uniform, and on the left cuff of the combat parka.


Locally made versions mid to late 1970's.

In the mid 1970s a subdued combat brassard patch was issued for field wear. The first pattern contained a spelling error which evidently was not caught by quality inspectors until it was widely issued. The brassard was ordered to be worn with the offending accent unstitched, until a new correct pattern could be issued.

The corrected subdued pattern patch worn on an armlet by 5e Peleton de Police Militaire.

A subdued pattern patch worn on an armlet by a Master Corporal

Canadian Airborne Regiment MP Section circa 1979.

First Canadian Division combat armlet with a cut down black and white bilingual brassard sewn in place.

The current issue brassard was worn on the OD combat dress and is now worn on the Cadpat combat uniform in Canada. It was worn with the patrol dress until the complete issue of the MP shoulder insignia.

United Nations And NATO


Members of the Combined NATO Military Police wear a standardised brassard incorporating the NATO symbol. This particular example is of German manufacture.

Combined NATO Military Police brassard with Canadian national identifier.

Outside Canada, bilingual brassards are not normally worn. Below are various patterns worn by Canadians on United Nations duty. Some are locally acquired or made in a base tailor shop.


UN duty, Middle East, mid 1970's


UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) Headquarters MP Section, Golan Heights.


Typical UN duty brassard with a bilingual UN patch adopted in 1992.

Canadian MP brassard worn in Croatia.

Airfield Security Force

The Airfield Security Force is a unit assigned to protect airfields and aircraft in operational areas.


Ed Storey Collection
Airfield Security Force, circa 1992.



Subdued Airfield Security Force brassard with the addition of Master Warrant Officer's rank insignia. Worn by CWO (retired) Ben Boulet when Sergeant Major of the AFS C1998 - 2000.

Canadian MPs in Afghanistan



Image courtesy of Phil Spicer.

The above brassard is one example of a wide variety currently worn by Canadian MPs in Afghanistan.


Another example of a brassard worn by Canadian MPs in Afghanistan.


An example of a MP patch worn on the sleeve instead of a brassard by Canadian MPs in Afghanistan.


An example of a patch similar to the one above worn by members of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service in Afghanistan.


An example of the CFNIS brassard worn by members of Roto 10 of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service training for Afghanistan, 2010.


Artifact courtesy of Capt (Retired) Richard da Silva

These pages are entirely the responsibility of the author and are in no way associated with the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Forces Military Police Branch or any other official agency.