Military Provost Staff: The Opportunity Most Prison Staff Don’t Know Exists

Many prison officers—and professionals across police, Border Force, and immigration enforcement—don’t realise this… you can become a part-time soldier without leaving your current job.

The Military Provost Staff (MPS), part of the Adjutant General's Corps, is built for people with custodial experience. This isn’t a leap into the unknown—your skills already fit. Discipline, control, decision-making under pressure—you’re already doing it.

At the centre of the role is the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester—the UK’s only military custodial facility. But this is more than a prison setting. It’s about rehabilitation, structure, and enforcing standards within a military system.

You don’t need to leave your career. As an Army Reservist with MPS, you commit to a minimum of 19 days training per year—which is lower than many other Army Reserve roles. In return, you are paid for every day you serve and can receive an annual tax-free bounty.

Your journey starts with basic military training—Alpha and Bravo—designed for every soldier, giving you the foundation of discipline, fieldcraft, and military skills. For the Military Provost Staff, this training is often delivered as one continuous course, allowing you to complete it in a shorter, more focused period compared to other roles. From there, you move into specialist MPS detention training, where your existing experience is sharpened and taken to another level.

And here’s the truth—this can be the reset many people need. Custodial work can be relentless, repetitive, and draining. Stepping into a different uniform, a different structure, and a completely new environment can break the monotony, refocus your mindset, and give you something fresh to aim for.

You’ll be expected to be fit—but you won’t be left behind. If you’re not there yet, the training will get you there. Along the way, you’ll gain new qualifications, leadership skills, and opportunities to travel across the UK and overseas.

And this isn’t just training. Provost staff go where British troops go. That means real environments, real responsibility, and real purpose. You may deal not only with British personnel, but also detainees, prisoners of war, and individuals in operational theatres—roles that demand professionalism, resilience, and control under pressure.

This role is particularly suited to those with experience in secure and custodial environments, where professionalism and judgement are critical.

This is not just an add-on. It’s a chance to expand who you are beyond your current role, challenge yourself, and be part of something bigger—without giving up the career you’ve built.

If you feel like you’ve hit a plateau in your role, this might be exactly what you’ve been missing. If this sounds like something for you—don’t wait. Take the first step and find out more today.

Find out more through the official Army route or contact the Military Provost Staff directly via telephone 01206 543591.

And one final note—make space in your wardrobe… you’re going to need it. The British Army is very generous with uniforms.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not represent or imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Justice.

UKPS Network Team

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