The command structure within the British Army is hierarchical; with divisions and brigades controlling groupings of units from an administrative perspective. Major units are battalion-sized, with minor units being company sized sub-units. In some regiments or corps, battalions are called regiments, and companies are called squadrons or batteries, sub-divided into platoons or troops. All units within the British Army service are either Regular (full-time) or Army Reserve (full-time or part-time), or a combination with sub-units of each type.
Naming conventions of units differ for traditional British historical reasons, creating a significant opportunity for confusion; an infantry battalion is equivalent to a cavalry regiment. An infantry regiment is an administrative and ceremonial organisation only, and may include several battalions. For operational tasks, a battle group will be formed around a combat unit, supported by units or sub-units from other areas. An example would be a squadron of tanks attached to an armoured infantry battle group, together with a reconnaissance troop, artillery battery, and engineering support.
The British military (those parts of the British Armed Forces tasked with land warfare, as opposed to the naval forces)[1] historically was divided into a number of 'forces', of which the British Army (also referred to historically as the 'Regular Army' and the 'Regular Force') was only one.[2][3] The oldest of these organisations was the Militia Force (also referred to as the 'Constitutional Force'),[4] whereby the Reserve Forces units mostly lost their own identities, and became numbered Territorial Force sub-units of regular British Army corps or regiments (the Home Militia had followed this path, with the Militia Infantry units becoming numbered battalions of British Army regiments, and the Militia Artillery integrating within Royal Artillery territorial divisions in 1882 and 1889, and becoming parts of the Royal Field Artillery or Royal Garrison Artillery in 1902 (though retaining their traditional corps names), but was not merged into the Territorial Force when it was created in 1908 (by the merger of the Yeomanry and Volunteer Force). The Militia was instead renamed the 'Special Reserve',[5][6][7] and was permanently suspended after the First World War (although a handful of Militia units survived in the United Kingdom, its colonies, and the Crown Dependencies). Unlike the Home, Imperial Fortress, and Crown Dependency Militia and Volunteer units and forces that continued to exist after the First World War, although parts of the British military, most were not considered parts of the British Army[8][9] unless they received Army Funds (as was the case for the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps),[10][11] which was generally only the case for those in the Channel Islands or the Imperial Fortress colonies: Nova Scotia (before Canadian confederation), Bermuda, Gibraltar, and Malta).[12][13][14]
30 Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote (supports the PJHQ's deployable Joint Force Headquarters, Very High Readiness Field Hospital, the Air Assault Task Force and Joint Helicopter Command) (to move to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)
Field Army gained initial operating capability (IOC) on 30 November 2015, and was formed as a result of the 2015 Army Command Review. The Commander Field Army commands all the formations of the British Army's forces for operational tasks, its collective training, and tactical doctrine organisations, and includes the vast majority of the Army's fighting equipment.[18]
12 (Minden) Battery, Royal Artillery, at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island (LAD) (under 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery for Admin)[25]
21 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Air Assault Battery, Royal Artillery, at Roberts Barracks, Larkhill Garrison (UAS) (under 32 Regiment Royal Artillery for Admin)[26]
1st Military Police Brigade at Marlborough Lines, Andover[37] CGS retains full responsibility over military police investigations while day-to-day control of 1 and 3 RMP rest with General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd UK Division. Administrative control of other Royal Military Police Brigade units rest under GOC Regional Command.[38]
Defence Serious Crimes Unit (DSCU), at Bulford
Specialist Operations Regiment Royal Military Police[39]
1st Battalion, Scots Guards, at Mons Barracks, Aldershot Garrison, to move to Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison in 2023[57] (Light Mechanised Infantry)
5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, in Newcastle upon Tyne (Army Reserve Armoured Infantry)[56]
156 (North West) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, in Liverpool (Army Reserve – paired with 27 Regiment RLC, provides reserve augmentation to the brigade's regular RLC units)
Regional Command - to ensure delivery of a secure home front and forces and families in Brunei and Nepal.[102] When not engaged with operational commitments or when units may report to the Standing Joint Commander (UK) or mission-specific training (e.g. when conducting routine civilian engagement, ranges, or ceremonial duties, units and formations may report through a Regional Point of Command (RPOC) to HQ Regional Command at Andover.[103] Regional Command, as of 1 August 2019, has 38th (Irish) Brigade and 160th (Welsh) Brigade permanently under its command as RPOCs. Commander Regional Command is also Commander Army Cadet Force & Combined Cadet Force.[104]
London District - commands all the Army forces within the London area and conducts ceremonial events.[105]
Recruiting and Initial Training Command - recruits and trains soldiers.[106]
Army Personnel Centre - deals with personnel issues and liaises with outside agencies.[107]
Commander Home Command,[109] is also the Standing Joint Commander (UK) for responsible for the planning and execution of civil contingency operations within the UK landmass and territorial waters.[110][111]
20 Transport Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps at Regent's Park Barracks, Regent's Park, (provides all the transport needs for London District and the Royal Household)
Headquarters Regional Command at Montgomery House, Aldershot is commanded by a Major-General. It is the Army's HQ for the UK, Nepal and Brunei, administering Army bases in the UK and providing civil engagement.[118] Headquarters Regional Command is also the operational command for the Army Cadets.[104]
Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command was established on 1 April 2018,[40] and oversees the Army Recruiting Group, which includes the National Recruitment Centre (NRC) and local Army Careers Centres, and is staffed by a mixture of Capita staff and Army personnel.[126]
Army Training Units (ATU) are commanded and staffed by Army Reservists. Along with Regular Army Training Regiments (ATR), they provide Basic Training to Army Reserve recruits, except those joining 4 PARA. Reserves recruits are selected at an Army Recruit Selection Centre. They then undertake a short basic training course known as ‘alpha', over four weekends or a residential week. The alpha course is followed by a 15.5-day residential 'bravo' course to achieve trained soldier status. These generic courses teach essential elements of the Regular Common Military Syllabus 2014 (CMS 14). Recruits will then attend Initial Trade Training courses as stipulated by their cap badge / Corps. The Honourable Artillery Company currently runs its own alpha course twice a year. The current ATUs include:
The Centre is located in Glasgow. The APC's Chief Executive is the Military Secretary, who also holds the post of General Officer, Scotland. The APC deals with personnel issues and contact with outside agencies.
The British Army parades according to the order of precedence, from right to left, with the unit at the extreme right being highest on the order. The Household Cavalry has the highest precedence, unless the Royal Horse Artillery parades with its guns.
British Army units in other areas of the British Armed Forces
^Light Mechanised Infantry is either equipped with Foxhound or Mastiff
^Security Force Assistance Battalions have only two companies rather than four. In the case of the Guards Regiments they will re-role two companies to the Public Duties role to make up for the loss of manpower.
^Armoured Infantry Battalions are equipped with Warrior AFVs, by 2025 all Armoured Infantry Battalions will become Mechanised Infantry equipped with Boxer MIV
^Under Future Soldier, the brigade was due to become a Group rather than a Brigade. However the British Army website appears to show its capabilities split into the Surveillance and Understand Groups
^The Guards Regiments will rotate in roles across a sixteen year cycle. Eight years in the light role under 4 BCT, a further four years in the security force assistance role and four years on public duties. The exception to this, is the Scots Guards who will remain Light Mechanised Infantry and rotate through Cyprus every four years.
References and sources
Sources
A Guide to Appointments and Invitations for Defence Staffs within High Commissions and Embassies in London, UK Ministry of Defence, June 2005 edition
^A LIST OF THE OFFICERS of the ARMY, (WITH AN ALPHABETICAL INDEX;) OF THE OFFICERS of the ROYAL ARTILLERY, THE ENGINEERS, the MARINE FORCES, AND OF THE OFFICERS on HALF-PAY; AND A SUCCESSION of COLONELS. THE THIRTY-SECOND EDITION, War Office, 31 March 1784
^MAJOR H. G. HART, 49TH REGT. JOHN MURRAY (1854), THE NEW ANNUAL ARMY LIST, MILITIA LIST, 1854: (BEING THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL VOLUME), CONTAINING THE DATES OF COMMISSIONS, AND A STATEMENT OF THE WAR SERVICES AND WOUNDS OF NEARLY EVERY OFFICER IN THE ARMY, ORDNANCE, AND MARINES. CORRECTED TO 30TH DECEMBER, 1853. WITH AN INDEX, London((citation)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^BY THE LATE LIEUTENANT GENERAL H. G. HART. JOHN MURRAY (1911), HART'S ANNUAL ARMY LIST, SPECIAL RESERVE LIST, AND TERRITORIAL FORCE LIST, FOR 1911: (BEING THE SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL VOLUME,) CONTAINING DATES OF COMMISSIONS, AND A SUMMARY OF THE WAR SERVICES OF NEARLY EVERY OFFICER IN THE ARMY, SUPPLY &c. DEPARTMENTS, MARINES, AND INDIAN ARMY, AND INDIAN LOCAL FORCES. WITH AN INDEX, London((citation)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Colonel KW Maurice-Jones, DSO, RA (1959), History of The Coast Artillery in the British Army, Royal Artillery Institution((citation)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Who we are". Home Command. British Army. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
^ ab"London District"(PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. Whatdotheyknow. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020. The 1st Battalions of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Irish, and Welsh Guards rotate in pairs between public duties/ceremonial and field army roles on a two-yearly cycle.
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