Tactical Provost Wing

The Tactical Provost Wing was established in 2001 as a deployable Royal Air Force Police formation. Its purpose was to support two concurrent lines-of-communication military-policing operations, including one operation conducted under warlike conditions and another conducted in a non-warlike setting. The original structure contained two regular squadrons and one Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. The organization was intended to provide a capability similar to a Royal Military Police provost-support unit while remaining part of the RAF Police. The formation's first major operational deployment was the 2003 Iraq operation. No. 1 Squadron deployed as a full sub-unit under 5 Royal Military Police and operated within the Joint Force Logistics component. Its principal assignment was policing the military road network running from Kuwaiti air and sea ports toward the front line. The squadron conducted route reconnaissance and signing, escorted troops and supplies, carried out traffic-policing duties, and performed counter-terrorist patrols. It also undertook air-transport security at coalition airheads, enforced restrictions on areas out of bounds to British personnel in Kuwait, and provided close protection for senior RAF officers. The account of the deployment states that the wider UK joint force moved into and out of the theatre without fatalities among its own forces in the squadron's area of responsibility. The unit later performed comparable military-policing and protective functions in both Iraq and Afghanistan, although the available reference does not provide a complete deployment chronology. During a restructuring in 2006 or 2007, the formation was reduced to one regular squadron and one reserve squadron. The reserve component was No. 3 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, with an establishment of 50 personnel. Later descriptions placed the Tactical Police Squadron at approximately 150 regular and 50 reservist personnel and identified RAF Honington in Suffolk as its headquarters. The referenced material states that the Tactical Provost Wing was soon to be disbanded and reorganized into tactical police flights within Royal Air Force Regiment field squadrons. The proposed arrangement would remove the capability from its traditional RAF Police role and place it inside RAF Regiment field formations. The source does not establish a definitive completion date or the final post-reorganization identity, so the unit's ultimate status remains recorded as unknown.

• 2007

  Organizational reduction

  [1]Tactical Provost Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The establishment was reduced to one regular squadron and one reserve squadron, including No. 3 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

• 2003

  First major deployment to Iraq

  [1]Tactical Provost Wingen.wikipedia.org

  No. 1 Squadron deployed as a complete military-police sub-unit and assumed responsibility for policing key logistics routes in Kuwait and toward the front line.

• 2001

  Formation of the Tactical Provost Wing

  [1]Tactical Provost Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The Royal Air Force established the wing to support two simultaneous lines-of-communication military-policing operations.

A specialist Royal Air Force Police formation positioned to provide deployable military-policing, protection, and logistics-route security in expeditionary operations.

• Military-policing capability · 2001

  Lines-of-communication policing

  The formation's central operational capability was the policing of military road routes connecting ports, airheads, logistics hubs, and forward areas. This included reconnaissance of routes, placement of route signs, escorting personnel and supplies, traffic control, and patrols intended to deter or respond to hostile activity.

• Security capability · 2001

  Operational protection and security

  In addition to route policing, the Tactical Provost Wing provided air-transport security at coalition airheads, enforced discipline and movement restrictions, conducted counter-terrorist patrols, and supplied close protection for senior Royal Air Force officers in deployed environments.

• 2003Iraq deployment

  Iraq · Kuwait

  No. 1 Squadron operated under 5 Royal Military Police as part of the Joint Force Logistics component. It policed the main military road network, escorted troops and supplies, supported airhead security, enforced discipline, and conducted protective and counter-terrorist duties.

  Outcome. The source states that the UK joint force moved into and out of the theatre without own-forces fatalities in the squadron's area of responsibility.

  Source
• Afghanistan operations

  Afghanistan

  The formation performed military-policing and related protection tasks in Afghanistan, although the available reference does not provide dates, force structure, or a detailed account of individual operations.

  Source

• 2007

  Reduce the wing's squadron structureStrategy

  Background

  A decision taken in 2006 or 2007 changed the formation from two regular and one auxiliary squadron to one regular and one reserve squadron.

  Action taken

  The establishment was reduced, with No. 3 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force retained as the reserve element.

  Aftermath

  The reorganized formation continued to provide deployable RAF Police capabilities, with later descriptions giving an approximate strength of 150 regular and 50 reservist personnel.

  Source

• Proposed integration into RAF Regiment field squadronsStrategy

  Background

  The formation was described as due for disbandment and structural integration into RAF Regiment field formations.

  Action taken

  The Tactical Provost Wing was to be broken into tactical police flights and incorporated into RAF Regiment field squadrons.

  Aftermath

  The planned change would end the formation's separate traditional RAF Police role, but the reference does not confirm when or whether the reorganization was completed.

  Source

1. 1Tactical Provost Wingen.wikipedia.org