Learn More About The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

1. Learn More About The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) The rich historical background of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP dates back to Confederation and to the time when the Canadian West was opened. It is being headed by a Commissioner who also has the power to control and manage the operations of the organization.

2. The Establishment of RCMP Canada • When the war ended in 1918, the country's need to carry out security operations greatly decreased. This had posted a threat to the future of the mounted police. Instead of totally abolishing the force, the government had decided to expand the mounted police into a national police force. A legislation allowing the merging of the Royal North-West Mounted Police and the Dominion Police was passed in November. The merging of the two organizations took effect on February 1, 1920, and was then known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP. The headquarters of the RNWMP in Regina was also moved to Ottawa.

3. North-West Mounted Police • The North-West Mounted Police Force or NWMP first came to picture on May 23, 1873 when the Dominion Parliament passed an act establishing a police force that will administer the North-West Territories. On August 30, 1873, the act was approved and the North-West Mounted Police Force was established. • The government recruited 150 young men who were all able to read and write either in Spanish or English language and who were all good horsemen. The recruited men marched towards the west and stayed at Fort Garry, now known as Winnipeg, all throughout the winter season. They were all armed with some small artillery pieces, small short-barreled rifles known as carbines, and pistols. The government realized that the force was too small to handle the areas in the north-west areas. And so they recruited and sent another group of 150 men the following spring to join the first group.

4. RCMP Musical Ride • RCMP recruits were once required to undergo mounted training. But even though the mounted training was already abolished, the RCMP Musical Ride still remains to be a very famous public attraction in Canada. It is also considered as one of the popular icons of the Canadian identity. The origin of the musical ride dates back to the 1870s. It was once just a horse riding drill that was included in the training. But as the years passed by, the simple horse riding drill had evolved and became a renowned public horsemanship exhibition set to music.

5. Training • Since 1886, allow RCMP recruits were required to undergo basic training which was held at the Depot division in Regina. Today, new recruits need to spend six months in the training center in order to pass the series of training and courses which include fitness, shooting, police tactics, driving, and basic criminal laws. • The RCMP training center also offers courses for native constables and tribal police, fisheries enforcement officers, government law enforcement agencies, and correctional services personnel. • Since 1974 up to the present years, the organization has been accepting female applicants. Just like men, all recruited women also need to undergo and pass the same training and course modules as men.