British Army

The modern British Army traces back to 1707, with an antecedent in the English Army that was created during the Restoration in 1660. The term British Army was adopted in 1707 after the Acts of Union between England and Scotland. Members of the British Army swear allegiance to the monarch, their commander-in-chief, but the Bill of Rights of 1689 requires parliamentary consent for the Crown to maintain a peacetime standing army. Therefore, Parliament approves the army by passing an Armed Forces Act at least once every five years. The army is administered by the Ministry of Defence and commanded by the Chief of the General Staff.

The British Army, composed primarily of cavalry and infantry, was originally one of two Regular Forces within the British military (those parts of the British Armed Forces tasked with land warfare, as opposed to the naval forces), with the other having been the Ordnance Military Corps (made up of the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and the Royal Sappers and Miners) of the Board of Ordnance, which along with the originally civilian Commissariat Department, stores and supply departments, as well as barracks and other departments were absorbed into the British Army when the Board of Ordnance was abolished in 1855 (various other civilian departments of the board were absorbed into the War Office).

The British Army has seen action in major wars between the world's great powers, including the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War and the First and Second World Wars. Britain's victories in most of these decisive wars allowed it to influence world events and establish itself as one of the world's leading military and economic powers. Since the end of the Cold War, the British Army has been deployed to a number of conflict zones, often as part of an expeditionary force, a coalition force or part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, and recently the conflict involving Hong Kong as well the Russian Conquest.

## The Army

### **Personnel**

The British Army has been a volunteer force since national service ended during the 1960s, but drafting resumed as of 2039, with a total of 35000 out of 50000 personnel were drafted into the Army. Since the creation of the part-time, Army Reserve in 1908, the full-time British Army has been known as the Regular Army. In January 2045, there were 120000 Regulars and just 10000 Army Reservists.

### **Equipment**

#### **Artillery**

The army has three main artillery systems: the

#### **Protected mobility**

Where armour is not required or mobility and speed are favoured the British Army utilises protected patrol vehicles, such as the

#### **Engineers, utility and signals**

Specialist engineering vehicles include bomb-disposal robots and the modern variants of the Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers, including the

#### **Aviation**

The Army Air Corps (AAC) provides direct aviation support, with the Royal Air Force providing support helicopters. The primary attack helicopter is the

## Formation and Structure

Army Headquarters is located in Andover, Hampshire, and is responsible for providing forces at operational readiness for employment by the Permanent Joint Headquarters. The command structure is hierarchical, with overall command residing with the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), who is immediately subordinate to The Chief of Defence Staff, the head of the British Armed Services. The CGS is supported by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Army Headquarters is further organised into two subordinate commands, Field Army and Home Command, each commanded by a lieutenant general.These two Commands serve distinct purposes and are divided into a structure of divisions and brigades, which themselves consist of a complex mix of smaller units such as Battalions. British Army units are either full-time 'Regular' units, or part-time Army Reserveunits.

### **Field Army**

Led by Commander Field Army, the Field Army is responsible for generating and preparing forces for current and contingency operations. The Field Army comprises.

* 3rd (United Kingdom) Division which is the United Kingdom's strategic land warfare asset. It is held at continual operational readiness and comprises
	+ 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade,
	+ 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade,
	+ 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade,
	+ 101st Logistic Brigade,
	+ 1st Artillery Brigade,
	+ 25th Engineer Group,
	+ 7th Air Defence Group.:
	+ 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands

* 1st (United Kingdom) Division is the British Army's more versatile force that provide a range of capabilities. It is organised to be light, agile, lethal and expeditionary in nature and can operate effectively at home in the UK and overseas. It comprises
	+ 4th (Infantry) Brigade,
	+ 7th (Infantry) Brigade,
	+ 11th (Infantry) Brigade,
	+ 51st (Infantry) Brigade,
	+ 8th Engineer Brigade,
	+ 102nd Logistic Brigade,
	+ 104th Logistic Support Brigade,
	+ 2nd Medical Brigade;
* The 6th (United Kingdom) Division is the British Army's Information Manoeuvre and Unconventional Warfare force which orchestrates intelligence, counter-intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, information operations and unconventional warfare. It comprises
	+ 1st Signal Brigade
	+ 1st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade,
	+ 77th Brigade
	+ Specialised Infantry Group.
* 16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army's Airborne forces who are specially trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter and air-landing.
* Land Warfare Centre (United Kingdom)which is responsible for driving adaptation in order to deliver success on operations.

### **Other Units**

#### **Special Forces**

The British Army contributes two of the three special forces formations to the United Kingdom Special Forces directorate: the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Reconnaissance Regiment(SRR). The SAS consists of one regular and two reserve regiments.The regular regiment, 22 SAS, has its headquarters at Stirling Lines, Credenhill, Herefordshire. It consists of 5 squadrons (A, B, D, G and Reserve) and a training wing. 22 SAS is supported by 2 reserve regiments, 21 SAS and 23 SAS, which collectively form the Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS [R]), which is under command of the Director of Special Forces. The SRR, formed in 2005, performs close reconnaissance and special surveillance tasks. The Special Forces Support Group, under the operational control of the Director of Special Forces, provides operational manoeuvring support to the United Kingdom Special Forces.

### **Levels of Command**

The structure of the British Army beneath the level of Divisions and Brigades is also hierarchical and command is based on rank. The table below details how many units within the British Army are structured, although there can be considerable variation between individual units:

Whilst many units are organised as Battalions or Regiments administratively, the most common fighting unit is the combined arms unit known as a Battlegroup. This is formed around a combat unit and supported by units (or sub-units) from other capabilities. An example of a battlegroup would be two companies of armoured infantry (e.g. from the 1st Battalion of the Mercian Regiment), one squadron of heavy armour (e.g. A Squadron of the Royal Tank Regiment), a company of engineers (e.g. B Company of the 22nd Engineer Regiment), a Battery of artillery (e.g. D Battery of the 1st Regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery) and smaller attachments from medical, logistic and intelligence units. Typically organised and commanded by a battlegroup headquarters and named after the unit which provided the most combat units, in this example, it would be the 1 Mercian Battlegroup. This creates a self-sustaining mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

## Recruitment

The British Army primarily recruits from within the United Kingdom, but accept applications from all British citizens. It also accepts applications from Irish citizens and Commonwealth citizens, with certain restrictions. Since 2018 the British Army has been an equal-opportunity employer (with some legal exceptions due to medical standards), and does not discriminate based on race, religion or sexual orientation. Applicants for the Regular Army must be a minimum age of 16, although soldiers under 18 May not serve in operations, and the maximum age is 36. Applicants for the Army Reserve must be a minimum of 17 years and 9 months, and a maximum age of 43. Different age limits apply for Officers and those in some specialist roles. Applicants must also meet several other requirements, notably regarding medical health, physical fitness, past-criminal convictions, and education.

Soldiers & Officers in the Regular Army now enlist for an initial period of 12 years, with options to extend if they meet certain requirements. Soldiers & Officers are normally required to serve for a minimum of 4 years from date of enlistment and must give 12 months' notice before leaving.

### **Oath of Allegiance**

All soldiers and commissioned officers must take an oath of allegiance upon joining the Army, a process known as attestation. Those who wish to swear by God use the following words:

> I, [soldier's or commissioned officer's name], swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King William, his heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, his heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, his heirs, and successors and of the generals and officers set over me.
>
>

Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm".

### **Training**

Candidates for the Army undergo common training, beginning with initial military training, to bring all personnel to a similar standard in basic military skills, which is known as Phase 1 training. They then undertake further specialist trade-training for their specific Regiment or Corps, known as Phase 2 training. After completing Phase 1 training a soldier is counted against the Army's trained strength, and upon completion of Phase 2 are counted against the Army's fully trained trade strength.

## Ranks and insignia

### **Officer Ranks**

#### Field Marshall (OF-10)

**Field Marshal** (**FM**) is a five-star rank with the NATO code OF-10. It is the highest rank in the British Army, and issued to the Chief of the General Staff. They are in charge of the entire British Army.

#### General (OF-9)

**General** (**Gen**) is a four-star rank with the NATO code OF-9. It ranks above lieutenant-general and subordinate to the rank of field marshal. They take the role as commander of a region, or are appointed a position in the Defense and General staff.

#### Lieutenant General (OF-8)

**Lieutenant general** (**Lt Gen**), is a three-star rank with the NATO code OF-8. Lieutenant general is a superior rank to Major General, but subordinate to a General. They are leaders of Corps, or appointed positions in the Defense and General staff.

#### Major General (OF-7)

**Major-general** (**Maj Gen**), is a two-star rank with the NATO code OF-8. A major general is the customary rank for the appointment of division commander. A Major General is senior to a Brigadier but subordinate to Lieutenant General.

#### Brigadier (OF-6)

**Brigadier** (**Brig**) is a senior rank with the NATO code of OF-7 Brigadier is the superior rank to colonel, and subordinate to major-general. Brigadier is the customary rank for the appointment of brigade commander.

#### Colonel (OF-5)

**Colonel** (**Col**) is a rank with the NATO code OF-5 and ranking below brigadier, and above lieutenant colonel. British colonels are not usually field commanders; typically they serve as staff officers between field commands at battalion and brigade level.

#### Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4)

**Lieutenant colonel** (**Lt Col**), is a rank with the NATO code OF-4. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel. Regiments and Battalions are assigned a lieutenant colonel as their commander.

#### Major (OF-3)

**Major** (**Maj**) is a rank with the NATO code OF-3. The rank is superior to captain, and subordinate to lieutenant colonel. Majors are either in charge of two or more companies, or the second in command of a battalion or regiment.

#### Captain (OF-2)

**Captain** (**Capt**) is a junior officer rank with the NATO code OF-2. It ranks above lieutenant and below major with a NATO ranking code of OF-2. Captains are often appointed to be second in-command of a company or equivalent sized unit of up to 120 soldiers.

#### Lieutenant (OF-1)

**Lieutenant** (**Lt**) is a junior officer rank with the NATO code OF-1. It ranks above second lieutenant and below captain. A lieutenant is most often in command of a platoon or troop of approximately thirty soldiers.

#### Second Lieutenant (OF-1)

**Second Lieutenant** (**2Lt**) is a junior officer rank with the NATO code OF-1. It ranks below lieutenant, as the lowest officer rank in active service. A second lieutenant is often in command or second in command of a platoon or troop of approximately thirty soldiers.

### Other Army Ranks

#### Staff Sergeant (OR-7)

**Staff Sergeant** (**S/Sgt**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-7. It ranks above Sergeant and below warrant officer class 2. Staff Sergeants are usually assigned to the staff of a regiment.

#### Colour Sergeant (OR-7)

**Colour Sergeant** (**C/Sgt**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-7. It ranks above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. Colour Sergeants are the same as Staff Sergeants, but for infantry regiments.

#### Sergeant (OR-6/5)

**Sergeant** (**Sgt**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-6/OR-5. It ranks above Corporal and below Staff/Colour Sergeant. Sergeants are usually in charge of a troop or infantry platoon.

#### Corporal (OR-4)

**Corporal** (**Cpl**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-4, despite their duties being equivalent to a OR-5. It ranks above Lance Corporal and below Sergeant. Corporals are usually in charge of a section or fireteam.

#### Lance Corporal (OR-3)

**Lance Corporal** (**LCpl**) is the lowest NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-3, It ranks below Corporal and above Private. In the infantry, they are usually second-in-command of a section, and the commander of it's delta fireteam. It is also a rank held by specialists such as clerks, drivers, signallers, machine-gunners, and mortarmen.

#### Private (OR-1/2)

**Private** (**Pte**) is the lowest rank in the British Army, with a NATO code of OR-1 and OR-2.