Structure of the British Army


The page contains the current structure of the British Army.
The British Army is directed by the Chief of the General Staff, within Army Headquarters, which is located in Andover, Hampshire. Subordinate to the CGS, there is a Commander Field Army, 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 or Army Reserve, 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, Front Line First, the Strategic Defence Review, Delivering Security in a Changing World, the Army 2020 Restructuring, the Army 2020 Refine, and Defence in a Competitive Age.
There were historically multiple types of military reserve forces. The oldest was the Militia 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, but was not merged into the Territorial Force when it was created in 1908. The Militia was instead renamed the 'Special Reserve', and was permanently suspended after the First World War.
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, which was generally only the case for those in the Channel Islands or the Imperial Fortress colonies: Nova Scotia.
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 they may report through a Regional Point of Command to Headquarters Regional Command at Andover. 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, the Commander Home Command, the Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and the Commander Field Army. 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.

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

Headquarters, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth

1st Aviation Brigade

1st Aviation Brigade, at Middle Wallop Flying Station

1st Military Police Brigade

1st Military Police Brigade at Marlborough Lines, Andover

1st Signal Brigade

1st Signal Brigade, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth

2nd Medical Group

2nd Medical Group, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall

7th Air Defence Group

7 Air Defence Group, at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, Thorney Island

8 Engineer Brigade

8 Engineer Brigade, at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley

104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade

104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade, at Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney

Field Army

Field Army gained initial operating capability 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.
The units under Field Army are:

1st (UK) Division

1st (UK) Division, in York

1st (UK) Division Information Manoeuvre Units

1st Division Information Manoeuvre Units, in York

4th Light Brigade

4th Light Brigade, at Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison

7th Light Mechanised Brigade

7th Light Mechanised Brigade, at Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore

16 Air Assault Brigade

16 Air Assault Brigade, at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison
16 Air Assault Brigade reinforcement batteries:

19th Light Brigade

19th Light Brigade, at Imphal Barracks, York

102 Operational Sustainment Brigade

102 Operational Sustainment Brigade, at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham

3rd (UK) Division

3rd (UK) Division, at Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp

3rd (UK) Division Information Manoeuvre Units

3rd Division Information Manoeuvre Units, at Bulford Camp

3rd Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade

3rd Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade, at Tidworth Garrison

12th Armoured Brigade

12th Armoured Brigade, at Bulford Camp

20th Armoured Brigade

20th Armoured Brigade, at Bulford Camp

25 (Close Support) Engineer Group

25 (Close Support) Engineer Group, at Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp

7 Signal Group

7 Signal Group, at Venning Barracks, Donnington

101 Operational Sustainment Brigade

101 Operational Sustainment Brigade, at St Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison

Land Special Operations Force

Army Special Operations Brigade

Army Special Operations Brigade, at St Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison

11th Brigade

11th Brigade, at Aldershot Garrison

77th Brigade

77th Brigade, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage

Field Army Troops

Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group

Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group, in Andover

Surveillance Group

  • '''Surveillance Group'''

Understand Group

Understand Group

Land Warfare Centre

Land Warfare Centre, in Warminster

Joint Aviation Command

Joint Aviation Command brings tri-service helicopters and unmanned aerial systems together under one command, providing lift, find and attack capabilities.
The British Army contribution to the Joint Aviation Command consists of:Joint Aviation Command, at Middle Wallop Flying Station

Home Command

Home Command consists of:Regional Command - to ensure delivery of a secure home front and forces and families in Brunei and Nepal. When not engaged with operational commitments or when units may report to the Standing Joint Commander or mission-specific training to HQ Regional Command at Andover. 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.London District - commands all the Army forces within the London area and conducts ceremonial events.Recruiting and Initial Training Command - recruits and trains soldiers.Army Personnel Centre - deals with personnel issues and liaises with outside agencies.Sandhurst Group - deals with initial officer training and development at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, student military and leadership training through the University Officer Training Corps, professional development for members of the General Staff and overseeing the Centre for Army Leadership.
Commander Home Command, is also the Standing Joint Commander for responsible for the planning and execution of civil contingency operations within the UK landmass and territorial waters.

Headquarters London District

Headquarters Regional Command

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. Headquarters Regional Command is also the operational command for the Army Cadets.

38th (Irish) Brigade

51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland

160th (Welsh) Brigade

Headquarters Centre

Headquarters South East

Headquarters North

Headquarters South West

Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command

Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command was established on 1 April 2018, and oversees the Army Recruiting Group, which includes the National Recruitment Centre and local Army Careers Centres, and is staffed by a mixture of Capita staff and Army personnel.
Army Training Units are commanded and staffed by Army Reservists. Along with Regular Army Training Regiments, they provide Basic Training to Army Reserve recruits, except those joining 4 PARA and The Honourable Artillery Company. The current ATUs include:

Army Personnel Centre

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.

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Group

Commandant Sandhurst is a Major-General.

Army Adventurous Training Group

Headquarters, Army Adventurous Training Group, at Upavon

British Army Germany

Order of precedence

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

Strategic Command

Defence Intelligence, in London

Navy Command

UK Commando Force

Air Command

22 Group, Defence College of Technical Training