The British Army is directed by the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), within Army Headquarters, which is located in Andover, Hampshire. Subordinate to the CGS, there is Land Forces Command, located at Trenchard Lines, Wiltshire and a personnel and UK operations command, Home Command, located at Aldershot Garrison, Hampshire.
Introduction 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.
Since the 1957 Defence White Paper, which re-roled British forces in Germany in favour of nuclear weapons and the end of National Service, the size of the British Army has consistently shrunk. Since 1990, reductions have been almost constant, through succeeding defence reviews: Options for Change (1990), Front Line First (1994), the Strategic Defence Review (1998), Delivering Security in a Changing World (2003), the Army 2020 Restructuring (2010), the Army 2020 Refine (2015), and Defence in a Competitive Age (2021).
There were historically multiple types of military reserve forces. The oldest was the Militia Force (also referred to as the 'Constitutional Force'). While 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', 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 unless they received Army Funds (as was the case for the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps), 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).
For all units, operational direction is via Permanent Joint Headquarters. Elements within the regionally-aligned brigades may also report to another chain of command. When not dealing with operational commitments or mission-specific training (e.g. when conducting routine civilian engagement, ranges, or 'defence contribution to homeland resilience' (homeland defence)) they may report through a Regional Point of Command (RPOC) to Headquarters Regional Command at Andover.British Army, Transforming the British Army: An Update: July 2013, pp. 22–23. Therefore, it may not always be apparent as to which Headquarters a given unit is working to, and care should be taken to establish the correct chain of command for any engagement.
Army Headquarters Through a major army reorganisation, effective 1 November 2011, the Chief of the General Staff took direct command of the Army through a new structure, based at Andover and known as 'Army Headquarters'.
Reporting to the Chief of the General Staff are four lieutenant-generals: the Deputy Chief of the General Staff (DCGS), the Commander Home Command (CHC), the Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and the Commander Field Army (CFA). The CFA is responsible for generating and preparing forces for current and contingency operations; they command 1st (United Kingdom) Division, 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, and Joint Aviation Command (JAC).
Graphic overview
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
Headquarters, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth
1st Aviation Brigade 1st Aviation Brigade, at Middle Wallop Flying Station 1 Regiment Army Air Corps, at RNAS Yeovilton, (AH1 Wildcat) 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, at Wattisham Flying Station, (AH64E Apache) 4 Regiment Army Air Corps, at Wattisham Flying Station, (AH64E Apache) 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, at Middle Wallop Flying Station 6 Regiment Army Air Corps, at Middle Wallop Flying Station 7 Aviation Support Battalion REME, at Wattisham Flying Station
1st Military Police Brigade 1st Military Police Brigade at Marlborough Lines, Andover 1st Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Gaza Barracks, Catterick Garrison 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Wing Barracks, Bulford Camp Military Provost Staff Regiment, at Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester Garrison Specialist Operations Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Southwick Park
1st Signal Brigade 1st Signal Brigade, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), supports Other Government Departments in the UK and overseas, Bletchley 10 Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at MOD Corsham, Corsham 16 Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford 22 Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford 30 Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote (to move to Beacon Barracks, Stafford) 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, in Glasgow (Army Reserve) 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, in Bristol (Army Reserve) Gurkha ARRC Support Battalion, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth
2nd Medical Group 2nd Medical Group, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall Medical Operations Support Unit, Royal Army Medical Service, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall (Army Reserve) Central Reserve Headquarters, Army Medical Services, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall 21 Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall 22 Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett 202 (Midlands) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Birmingham (Army Reserve) 203 (Welsh) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Cardiff (Army Reserve) 206 (North West) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Manchester/Liverpool (Army Reserve) 210 (North Irish) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Belfast (Army Reserve) 214 (North East) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Newcastle/Sheffield (Army Reserve) 215 (Scottish) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Glasgow (Army Reserve) 243 (Wessex) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Keynsham (Army Reserve) 254 (East of England) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Cambridge (Army Reserve) 256 (London and South East) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in Walworth (Army Reserve) 306 Hospital Support Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, in York (Army Reserve) 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall (Army Reserve)
7th Air Defence Group 7 Air Defence Group, at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, Thorney Island 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island (Equipped with Starstreak LML and Stormer HVM) 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island (Equipped with Sky Sabre) 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery, in London (Army Reserve, Equipped with Starstreak LML)
8 Engineer Brigade 8 Engineer Brigade, at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley Central Volunteer Headquarters, Royal Engineers, at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group at RAF Wittering 28 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Rock Barracks, Woodbridge and RAF Honington – CBRN Defence 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone 39 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Kinloss Barracks, Kinloss – Air Support 71 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Leuchars Station, Fife (Army Reserve - paired with 39 Engineer Regiment) 75 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington (Army Reserve - paired with 36 Engineer Regiment) 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron 20 Works Group Royal Engineers (Air Support) at RAF Wittering (STREs based at other RAF bases) 62 Works Group Royal Engineers at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford) 63 Works Group Royal Engineers at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks) 65 Works Group Royal Engineers at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (Army Reserve) (moving to Beacon Barracks) 66 Works Group Royal Engineers at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks) 29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group at Montgomery House, Aldershot Garrison 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD&S), Royal Engineers at Carver Barracks, Wimbish 35 Engineer Regiment (EOD&S), Royal Engineers at Carver Barracks, Wimbish - EOD Regiment 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (EOD&S), Royal Engineers in Catford (Army Reserve) 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps at St George's Barracks, North Luffenham
9th Deep Recce Strike Brigade 9th Deep Recce Strike Brigade, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth
104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade, at Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney 2 Operational Support Group, Royal Logistic Corps, at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham (Specialist Support Group) 9 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Buckley Barracks, Chippenham (Theatre Logistic Regiment) 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Marchwood Military Port, Marchwood (Port and Maritime Support Regiment) 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney (Postal Courier and Movement Control Regiment) 152 (North Irish) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Palace Barracks, Holywood (Fuel Storage and Transport Regiment) (Army Reserve) 162 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Nottingham (Movement Control Regiment) (Army Reserve – paired with 29 Regiment, RLC) 165 (Wessex) Port and Enabling Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Plymouth (Port and Maritime Support Regiment) (Army Reserve – paired with 17 Regiment, RLC) 167 Catering Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham (Catering Support) (Army Reserve) 5 Force Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at MOD Lyneham (Force Maintenance Support Battalion)
Field Army