New senior military officers appointed - News stories - GOV.UK New senior military officers appointed From: Armed forces and Ministry of Defence reform This news article was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has today, 24 January, confirmed that Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointments of the new Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the Air Staff and Commander Joint Forces Command. Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC is to be appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in succession to Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope GCB OBE ADC in April 2013. Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE is to be promoted to Air Chief Marshal and appointed Chief of the Air Staff in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB ADC in July 2013. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE ADC is to be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in succession to General Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB CBE ADC in May 2013.

Lieutenant General Richard Barrons CBE is to be promoted to General and appointed Commander Joint Forces Command in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE ADC in April 2013. There will be a further announcement in March 2013 concerning the appointment of a successor to the Chief of the Defence Staff. The successor to the Chief of the General Staff will be announced later in the year. Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC (to be appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in April 2013; currently Commander Allied Maritime Command Northwood) Admiral Sir George Zambellas was educated in Zimbabwe, and at Stowe and Southampton University, graduating in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. He joined the Royal Navy in 1980 from the aerospace industry and qualified as a pilot in 1982. He flew 3 tours in different helicopter types, serving in carriers and frigates. After staff training in 1990, and a brief spell as a corporate planner, he commanded the minehunter HMS Cattistock.

In 1993 he was posted to Northwood as a Fleet aviation operations officer before promotion in 1995 and command of the frigate HMS Argyll. During the 1997/98 Strategic Defence Review he served in the MOD Centre Staff helping to shape the maritime case within Defence’s tri-Service balance of investment. In 1999, as a Captain, he commanded HMS Chatham, which included Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone. In 2001 he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course, and then became Deputy Flag Officer Sea Training, responsible for training Royal Navy and foreign warships and auxiliaries. Between 2002 and 2004, as a Commodore, he was Principal Staff Officer to two Chiefs of the Defence Staff. In 2005 he commanded the Royal Navy’s Amphibious Task Group, overseeing the introduction of 2 new amphibious classes of ships, and the Bowman radio and data system into amphibious operational use. He and his staff supported Operation Highbrow, the evacuation of civilians from Lebanon in July 2006.

In 2006, as a Rear Admiral, he was appointed as Chief of Staff (Transformation), leading the change programme to design and deliver the Fleet’s new approach to the generation of maritime capability and support to operations. In 2007 he was Commander United Kingdom Maritime Force and, in October 2008, Chief of Staff (Operations) at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood. On promotion to Vice Admiral In January 2011 he was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Chief of Staff to the Navy Command Headquarters, and the Chief Naval Warfare Officer. On promotion to Admiral in January 2012 he became Commander Allied Maritime Command Northwood, in which role he also discharged full command responsibilities as the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander until November 2012. He was appointed KCB in 2012.

Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE (to be appointed Chief of the Air Staff in July 2013; currently Deputy Commander Capability at Air Command and Air Member for Personnel and Capability) Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot in 1977 and, after flying training, joined No 72 Squadron, flying Wessex helicopters, beginning an association with the Support Helicopter Force which would last 25 years. During his flying career he accumulated over 5,000 hours on both Wessex and Chinook helicopters, serving primarily in Germany with No 18 Squadron but including exchange tours with the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. He has commanded in every rank and has seen operational service in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Lebanon, the Balkans and the Gulf. Sir Andrew’s staff appointments have included command of the Support Helicopter Tactics and Trials Flight, a short spell in Headquarters Northern Ireland as the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps Operational Requirements desk officer, a tour in the British Army’s doctrine organisation and 2 years as Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff.

He attended No 85 Advanced Staff Course at the Royal Air Force Staff College Bracknell in 1993 and graduated from the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2001. He was Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Odiham for 2 years from December 2001, which included a period of unprecedented operational activity for his command, and included large scale deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. He moved to the Directorate of Air Resources and Plans in December 2003 and was subsequently appointed to the position of Director, on promotion to Air Commodore, in August 2004. He was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in February 2007 when he commenced an 18-month tour as Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group. He assumed the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) in the Ministry of Defence in October 2008. He took up his current role as Deputy Commander Capability and Air Member for Personnel and Capability on 31 August 2010 on promotion to Air Marshal. He was appointed as Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in the 2013 New Year Honours List.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE ADC (to be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in May 2013; currently Commander Joint Forces Command) Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach was born in 1956 in the West Midlands. He was educated at Aldridge Grammar School, the University of Sheffield (BA), University of Cambridge (MPhil), RAF Staff College and the Joint Services Command and Staff College (HCSC). He holds 2 honorary doctorates from Kingston University and the University of Sheffield. Commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1977, he flew Canberras in the photographic reconnaissance role prior to 3 successive tours on Tornado GR1 aircraft in the UK and Germany, qualifying as a weapons and electronic warfare instructor. He commanded IX (Bomber) Squadron at RAF Brüggen in Germany from 1994 to 1996. Staff tours include Personal Staff Officer to the Deputy Commander and Commander-in-Chief in RAF Germany, Executive Officer to Commander Second Allied Tactical Air Force and Director Defence Studies Royal Air Force.

Operational service includes Belize, Hong Kong and Germany in the 1980s, Deputy Commander British Forces in Turkey (Op Warden), UK Head Military Coordination Centre Zakho (Iraq), Detachment Commander in Saudi Arabia (Op Jural), Commander British Forces in Italy (Op Engadine), Air Commander (Forward) in HQ KFOR on Kosovo and Deputy Senior British Military Adviser in US HQ Central Command from 2001 to 2002. He commanded the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington from 2000 to 2003, was Director General Intelligence Collection in the Ministry of Defence from 2003 to 2006, and Chief of Defence Intelligence and Deputy Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee from 2006 to 2009. He held the appointment of Chief of Joint Operations at PJHQ(UK) from March 2009 to December 2011 before assuming his current role as Commander Joint Forces Command in December 2011. Air Chief Marshal Peach is a trustee of the Imperial War Museum, with special responsibility for Duxford, and Honorary Colonel of the Joint Service Signal Unit.

Lieutenant General Richard Barrons CBE (to be appointed Commander Joint Forces Command in April 2013; currently Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations)) Lieutenant General Richard Barrons was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1977, prior to reading for a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Queen’s College, Oxford. He then served in a variety of regimental appointments based in the UK and Germany, which included periods of training in Belize, Canada, France, Hong Kong and Brunei, and 2 years at the MOD in London. He completed a Masters degree in Defence Administration in 1990 before attending the Army Staff College Camberley in 1991. As Chief of Staff of HQ 11 Armoured Brigade in Minden, Germany, he was despatched at a week’s notice in October 1993 to form the first HQ British Forces in Bosnia and Croatia. This was followed by a short tour in the Directorate of Military Operations as the Balkans desk officer, before assuming command of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, in 1994 for 2 years - including a period of Northern Ireland duty.

On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 1996 he served as a Military Advisor to the High Representative in Bosnia, also leading on liaison with HQ NATO and SHAPE. In 1997 he was appointed MA to the Chief of the General Staff. He assumed command of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Hohne, Germany, in 1999, deploying the regiment to Kosovo and Bosnia in 2001 and commanding the first KFOR deployments alongside Serbian forces. He was promoted to Colonel in December 2001 and appointed Chief of Staff of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, deploying to Afghanistan the next day with the Headquarters and establishing the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul for the first half of 2002. Having attended the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2003, he deployed again with the Headquarters as the Chief of Staff of HQ Multinational Division (South East) in Basra until October 2003.

As a Brigadier he commanded 39 Infantry Brigade, covering Belfast and South Armagh from December 2003 to December 2005 when he assumed the appointment of Assistant Chief of Staff Commitments at HQ Land Forces, responsible for intelligence, security and operations - especially force generation for Iraq and Afghanistan. On promotion to Major General in 2008 he served as Deputy Commanding General Multinational Corps Iraq (Baghdad), leading on operations with the Iraqi Army. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in April 2009. In October 2009 he was posted at very short notice to HQ ISAF as Director Force Reintegration, assisting the Afghan Government to lay the foundations for the reintegration of Taliban fighters and political reconciliation. He became Assistant Chief of the General Staff in July 2010 to participate in the Strategic Defence and Security Review and Defence Reform exercises. He was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) in May 2011.

Lieutenant General Barrons was appointed MBE in 1993, OBE in 1999, CBE in 2003, awarded QCVS in 2004 and 2006, and appointed as an Officer of the US Legion of Merit in 2009. He is chairman of Royal Artillery Museum Ltd. Share this page British Army | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Insignia Insignia The British Army is the land warfare branch of the British Armed Forces . The English Army founded in 1660, was succeeded in 1707 by the new British Army, [note 2] incorporating the existing Scottish regiments. It was administered by the War Office from London, which was subsumed into the Ministry of Defence in 1964. The professional head of the British Army is the Chief of the General Staff . The full-time element of the British Army is referred to as the Regular Army and has been since the creation of the reservist Territorial Force in 1908. All members of the Army swear (or affirm) allegiance to the monarch as commander-in-chief.

However, the Bill of Rights of 1689 requires Parliamentary consent for the Crown to maintain a standing army in peacetime. Parliament approves the continued existence of the Army by passing an Armed Forces Act at least once every five years. In contrast to the Royal Navy , Royal Marines and Royal Air Force , the British Army does not include Royal in its title because, after a historic struggle between Parliament and monarchy, the British Army has always been answerable to Parliament and the British people rather than the Monarch. [1] Many of the Army's constituent regiments and corps have been granted the "Royal" prefix and have members of the Royal Family occupying senior honorary positions within some regiments. Throughout its history, the British Army has seen action in a number of major wars involving the world's great powers , including the Seven Years' War , the Napoleonic Wars , the Crimean War , World War I and World War II . Repeatedly emerging victorious from these decisive wars has allowed Britain to influence world events with its policies and establish itself as one of the world's leading military and economic powers. Today, the British Army is deployed in several countries, including as an expeditionary force and a United Nations peacekeeping force.

Additionally, the British Army maintains five permanent overseas postings . John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was one of the first generals in the British Army, fighting campaigns in the War of the Spanish Succession . Shortly after the Act of Union in 1707 the English Army and Scottish and Irish regiments were amalgamated to form the British Army. The order of seniority of the most senior line regiments in the British Army is based on the order of seniority in the English army. Scottish and Irish regiments were only allowed to take a rank in the English army from the date of their arrival in England or the date when they were first placed on the English establishment. For example, in 1694 a board of general officers was convened to decide the rank of English, Irish and Scots regiments serving in the Netherlands; the regiment that became known as the Scots Greys were designated as the 4th Dragoons because there were three English regiments raised prior to 1688 when the Scots Greys were first placed on the English establishment.

In 1713, when a new board of general officers was convened to decide upon the rank of several regiments, the seniority of the Scots Greys was reassessed and based on their entry into England in June 1685. At that time there was only one English regiment of dragoons, and so after some delay the Scots Greys obtained the rank of 2nd Dragoons in the British Army. [2] Following William and Mary's accession to the throne, England involved itself in the War of the Grand Alliance , primarily to prevent a French invasion restoring Mary's father, James II . [3] Following the 1707 union of England and Scotland , and the 1801 creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , British foreign policy on the continent was to contain expansion by its competitor powers such as France and Spain. Spain, in the previous two centuries, had been the dominant global power, and the chief threat to England's early transatlantic ambitions, but was now waning. The territorial ambitions of the French, however, led to the War of the Spanish Succession [4] and the Napoleonic Wars . [5] Russian activity led to the Crimean War .

[6] After 1745, recruits were increasingly drawn from Scotland; by the mid-1760s between one fifth and one third of officers were from Scotland. [7] From the time of the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763, Great Britain and its successor the United Kingdom was one of the leading military and economic powers of the world. [8] Early British Empire Edit The British Empire expanded in this time to include colonies, protectorates , and Dominions throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia . Although the Royal Navy is widely regarded as having been vital for the rise of the British Empire , and British dominance of the world, the British Army played an important role in the colonisation of India and other regions. [9] Typical tasks included garrisoning the colonies, capturing strategically important territories, and participating in actions to pacify colonial borders, provide support to allied governments, suppress Britain's rivals, and protect against foreign powers and hostile natives. British soldiers also helped capture strategically important territories, allowing the empire to expand.

The army was also involved in numerous wars to pacify the borders, or to prop up friendly governments, and thereby keep other, competitive, empires away from the British Empire's borders. Among these actions were the Seven Years' War , [10] the American Revolutionary War , [11] the Napoleonic Wars , [5] the First and Second Opium Wars , [12] the Boxer Rebellion , [13] the New Zealand wars , [14] the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 , [15] the First and Second Boer Wars , [16] the Fenian raids , [17] the Irish War of Independence , [12] its serial interventions into Afghanistan (which were meant to maintain a friendly buffer state between British India and the Russian Empire ), [18] and the Crimean War (to keep the Russian Empire at a safe distance by coming to Turkey's aid). [6] As had its predecessor, the English Army , the British Army fought Spain, France, and the Netherlands for supremacy in North America and the West Indies.

With native and provincial assistance, the Army conquered New France in the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War [10] and subsequently suppressed a Native American uprising in Pontiac's War . [19] The British Army suffered defeat in the American War of Independence , losing the Thirteen Colonies but holding on to Canada. [20] The Duke of Wellington's and Field Marshal von Blücher 's triumph over Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo The British Army was heavily involved in the Napoleonic Wars and served in multiple campaigns across Europe (including continuous deployment in the Peninsular War ), the Caribbean, North Africa and later in North America . The war between the British and the First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte stretched around the world and at its peak, in 1813, the regular army contained over 250,000 men. A Coalition of Anglo-Dutch and Prussian Armies under the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal von Blücher defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. [21] The English had been involved, both politically and militarily, in Ireland since being given the Lordship of Ireland by the Pope in 1171.

The campaign of English republican Protector Oliver Cromwell involved uncompromising treatment of the Irish towns (most notably Drogheda) that had supported the Royalists during the English Civil War. The English Army (and subsequently the British Army) stayed in Ireland primarily to suppress numerous Irish revolts and campaigns for independence. In addition to its ongoing conflict with ethnic Irish nationalists, it was faced with the prospect of battling Anglo-Irish and Ulster Scots peoples in Ireland, angered primarily by unfavourable taxation of Irish produce imported into Britain, who, alongside other Irish groups, had raised their own volunteer army and threatened to emulate the American colonists if their conditions were not met. Having learnt from their experience in America, the British government sought a political solution. The British Army found itself fighting Irish rebels, both Protestant and Catholic, primarily in Ulster and Leinster ( Wolfe Tone's United Irishmen ) in the 1798 rebellion . [22] The Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879 saw a small British force repel an overwhelming attack by Zulu forces; eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for the defence.

In addition to battling the armies of other European Empires (and of its former colonies, the United States, in the American War of 1812 ), [23] in the battle for global supremacy, the British Army fought the Chinese in the First and Second Opium Wars , [12] and the Boxer Rebellion , [13] Māori tribes in the first of the New Zealand Wars , [14] Nawab Shiraj-ud-Daula's forces and British East India Company mutineers in the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 , [16] the Boers in the First and Second Boer Wars , [16] Irish Fenians in Canada during the Fenian raids [17] and Irish separatists in the Anglo-Irish War . [12] The vastly increasing demands of imperial expansion, and the inadequacies and inefficiencies of the underfunded, post-Napoleonic Wars British Army, and of the Militia , Yeomanry , and Volunteer Force , led to the Cardwell and Childers Reforms of the late 19th century, which gave the British Army its modern shape, and redefined its regimental system .

[24] The Haldane Reforms of 1907 formally created the Territorial Force as the Army's volunteer reserve component by merging and reorganising the Volunteer Force, Militia, and Yeomanry. [25] World wars Main articles: British Army during World War I and British Army during World War II The Second Battle of El Alamein reversed German ambitions in North Africa, and is often cited as one of the turning points of the Second World War . Great Britain's dominance of the world had been challenged by numerous other powers; in the 20th century, most notably Germany . A century before, it was still vying with Napoleonic France for pre-eminence in Europe and around the world, and Hannoverian Britain's natural allies were the various Kingdoms and principalities of Northern Germany . By the middle of the 19th century, Britain and France were allied in preventing Russia 's appropriation of the Ottoman Empire (although it was the fear of French invasion that led, shortly after, to the creation of the Volunteer Force ).

By the first decade of the 20th century, however, the UK was allied with France (by the Entente Cordiale ) and Russia (which had its own secret agreement with France of mutual support in any war against the Prussian -led German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire ), and when the First World War broke out in 1914, the British Army sent the British Expeditionary Force to France and Belgium to prevent Germany from occupying these countries. [26] The British Army created the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Egypt and sent it to Gallipoli in an unsuccessful attempt to capture Constantinople and secure a sea route to Russia . [27] After the retreat from Gallipoli nearly 400,000 men in 13 divisions from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt formed a strategic reserve in Egypt called the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. [28] [29] With most of the strategic reserve sent to the Western Front , an Egyptian Expeditionary Force of two British infantry and one Australian and New Zealand mounted division in the Eastern Force, successfully defend the Suez Canal and Romani in 1916 from German and Ottoman incursions.

[30] [31] This force captured the Sinai and garrisoned the extended lines of communication , but in early 1917 their advance was stopped at Gaza until towards the end of the year when a greatly enlarged force of infantry and mounted troops captured Beersheba , most of southern Palestine and Jerusalem . Allenby's force, now including Indian Army units which replaced a number of British units sent to the Western Front, captured the southern Jordan Valley in 1918 and carried out two major, but unsuccessful attacks to Amman and Es Salt and occupied part of the Jordan Valley, during preparations for his final successful assault in September at the Battle of Megiddo . As a result of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force's capture of two Ottoman armies, an armistice with the Ottoman Empire was signed on 31 October 1918. [32] British Mark I tank during the First World War . Note the guidance wheels behind the main body which were later scrapped as they were unnecessary. Armoured vehicles of this time still required much infantry and artillery support and still do to a lesser extent today. Photo by Ernest Brooks .

The war would be the most devastating in British military history, with near 800,000 men killed and over 2 million wounded. In the early part of the war, the professional force of the BEF was virtually destroyed and, by turns, a volunteer (and then conscripted) force replaced it. Major battles included the Battle of the Somme . [33] Advances in technology saw advent of the tank , [34] with the creation of the Royal Tank Regiment , and advances in aircraft design, with the creation of the Royal Flying Corps , which were to be decisive in future battles. [35] Trench warfare dominated strategy on the Western Front , and the use of chemical and poison gases added to the devastation. [36] The Second World War broke out in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland. [37] British assurances to the Polish led the British Empire to declare war on Germany . Again an Expeditionary Force was sent to France, [37] only to be hastily evacuated as the German forces swept through the Low Countries and across France in 1940. [38] Only the Dunkirk evacuation saved the entire Expeditionary Force from capture.

[38] Later, however, the British would have spectacular success defeating the Italians and Germans at the Battle of El Alamein in North Africa, [39] and in the D-Day invasion of Normandy with the help of American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Indian and Free French forces. [40] Almost half of the Allied soldiers on D-day were British. [41] In the Far East, the British army battled the Japanese in Burma . [42] The Second World War saw the British Army develop its Special Air Service , Commando units and the Parachute Regiment . [43] Postcolonial era Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment guard Argentine prisoners of war during the Falklands War . After the end of the Second World War, the British Army was significantly reduced in size, although National Service continued until 1960. [44] This period also saw the process of decolonisation commence with the partition and independence of India and Pakistan, followed by the independence of British colonies in Africa and Asia. Accordingly the army's strength was further reduced, in recognition of Britain's reduced role in world affairs, outlined in the 1957 Defence White Paper .

[45] This was despite major actions in Korea in the early 1950s [44] and Suez in 1956. [46] A large force of British troops also remained in Germany, facing the threat of Soviet invasion. [47] The British Army of the Rhine was the Germany garrison formation, with the main fighting force being I (BR) Corps . The Cold War saw significant technological advances in warfare and the Army saw more technologically advanced weapons systems come into service. [48] Despite the decline of the British Empire , the Army was still deployed around the world, fighting wars in Aden , [49] Indonesia , Cyprus , [49] Kenya [49] and Malaya . [50] In 1982 the British Army, alongside the Royal Marines , helped to recapture the Falkland Islands during the Falklands conflict against Argentina . [51] In the three decades following 1969, the Army was heavily deployed in Northern Ireland , to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (later the Police Service of Northern Ireland ) in their conflict with republican paramilitary groups, called Operation Banner .

[52] The locally recruited Ulster Defence Regiment was formed, later becoming home service battalions in the Royal Irish Regiment in 1992, before being disbanded in 2006. Over 700 soldiers were killed during the Troubles . Following the IRA ceasefires between 1994 and 1996 and since 1997, demilitarisation has taken place as part of the peace process, reducing the military presence from 30,000 to 5,000 troops. [53] On 25 June 2007, the Second Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment vacated the Army complex at Bessbrook Mill in Armagh. This is part of the 'normalisation' programme in Northern Ireland in response to the IRA's declared end to its activities. [54] Today Troopers of the Blues and Royals . The British Army is purely a professional force since National service came to an end. The full-time element of the British Army is referred to as the Regular Army since the creation of the reservist Territorial Force in 1908.

The size and structure of the British Army is continually evolving, but as of 1 December 2013, the British Army employs; 95,800 Regulars, 3,130 Gurkhas [55] and 26,500 Army Reservists [56] for a combined component strength of 125,430 personnel. The future transformation of the British Army is referred to as " Army 2020 ", Army 2020 is the result of the October 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and the number of following reviews/modifications thereafter. Army 2020 will "ensure that the British Army remains the most capable Army in its class" and enable "it to better meet the security challenges of the 2020s and beyond". [57] Initially, the October 2010 SDSR outlined a reduction of the Regular British Army by 7,000 to a trained strength of 95,000 personnel by 2015.

[58] However, following a further independent review on the future structure of the British Army – 18 July 2011 "Future Reserves 2020 – The Independent Commission to review the United Kingdom's Reserve Forces" [59] – it was announced that the Regular Army will be reduced to a trained strength of 82,000 while the Army Reserve will be increased to a trained strength of around 30,000 personnel. There will of-course be an added margin for soldiers in training. This reform will bring the ratio of regular and part-time personnel of the British Army in-line with US and Canadian allies. [60] [61] Perhaps the most important aspect of Army 2020 is that the Army Reserve will become "fully integrated" with the Regular Army and "better prepared" for overseas deployments and operations. [62] However budget cuts have made Britain a "hostile recruiting environment", with barely half the required number of new reservists actually signing up.

[63] In addition to the active elements of the British Army (Regular and Army Reserve), all ex-Regular Army personnel remain liable to be recalled for duty in a time of need , this is known as the Regular Reserve. [64] The Regular Reserve is separated into two categories: A and D. Category A is mandatory, with the length of time serving in category A depending on time spent in Regular service. Category D is voluntary and consists of personnel who are no-longer required to serve in category A. Regular Reserves in both category A and D serve under a fixed-term reserve contract and are liable to report for training or service overseas and at home. [64] These contracts are similar in nature to those of the Army Reserve. [56] The Long Term Reserve is also part of the Regular Reserve but excludes personnel serving in categories A and D. Unlike the other reserves the Long Term Reserve do not serve under a contract of any sort, instead they retain a "statutory liability for service" and may be recalled to service under Section 52 of the Reserve Forces Act (RFA) 1996 (until the age of 55).

[64] In 2007 there were 121,800 Regular Reserves of the British Army, of which, 33,760 served in categories A and D. [65] Publications since April 2013 no-longer report the entire strength of the Regular Reserve, instead they only give a figure for the Regular Reserves serving in categories A and D only. They had a reported strength of 31,300 personnel in 2013. [56] The table below shows historical personnel trends of the British Army from 1750 to 2014. The Army Reserve – or Territorial Army as it was known then - did not come into existence until 1908. [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] Historical personnel trends of the British Army e ^ Start of World War Two . f ^ End of World War Two.

g ^ Reserve forces included in the figure above for regular personnel (In 1945, approximately 540,000 of the men serving in the British Army were Reservists). h ^ National Service ends in that year. Equipment Main article: Modern equipment of the British Army Infantry The basic infantry weapon of the British Army is the L85A2 assault rifle, sometimes equipped with an L17A2 underbarrel grenade launcher and with several variants such as the L86A2 , the Light Support Weapon (LSW) and the L22A2 carbine variant, issued to tank crews. Support fire is provided by the FN Minimi light machine gun and the L7 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG); indirect fire by 51 and 81 mm mortars . Sniper rifles used include the L118A1 7.62 mm, the L115A3 and the AW50F , all produced by Accuracy International . Some units use the L82A1 .50 calibre Barrett sniper rifle.

More recently the L128A1 (Benelli M4) 'combat shotgun' has been adopted, and is intended for close quarters combat in Afghanistan. [76] [77] Armour The British Army's main battle tank is Challenger 2 . [78] [79] Other armoured vehicles include Supacat "Jackal" MWMIK and the Iveco "Panther" CLV . [80] The Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle is the primary armoured personnel carrier , although many variants of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked) are used, as well as the Saxon APC and FV430 series now being re-engined and uparmoured and returned to front line service as Bulldog . [81] The British Army commonly uses the Land Rover Wolf and Land Rover Defender . [82] Artillery The Army uses three main artillery systems: the Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS), AS-90 and L118 . The MLRS was first used operationally in Operation Granby and has a range of 70 km (43 mi). [83] The AS-90 is a 155 mm self-propelled gun.

[84] The L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed gun used primarily in support of 16 Air Assault Brigade, 19 Light Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade ( Royal Marines ). [85] The Rapier FSC Missile System is the Army's primary battlefield air defence system, widely deployed since the Falklands War [86] and the Starstreak HVM (High Velocity Missile) is a surface-to-air weapon, launched either by a single soldier or from a vehicle-mounted launcher. [87] Army Aviation The Army Air Corps (AAC) provide direct aviation support for the Army, although the RAF also contribute by providing support helicopters. The primary attack helicopter is the Westland WAH-64 Apache , a license-built, modified version of the US AH-64 Apache that replaced the Westland Lynx AH7 in the anti-tank role. [88] The Lynx remains in service as an armed escort, surveillance and light utility helicopter. Other types are used in specialised roles e.g.

the Westland Gazelle as a light surveillance aircraft [89] and the Bell 212 for support in specific Jungle / 'hot and high' environments [90] The Eurocopter AS 365N Dauphin is used for Special Operations Aviation [91] and the Britten-Norman Islander is a light fixed-wing aircraft used for airborne reconnaissance and command and control. [92] Main articles: Gulf War and Operation Granby The ending of the Cold War saw a significant cut in manpower, as outlined in the Options for Change review. [93] Despite this, the Army has been deployed in an increasingly global role, and contributed 50,000 troops to the coalition force that fought Iraq in the Persian Gulf War . [94] British forces were put in control of Kuwait after it was liberated. 47 British Military personnel died during the Persian Gulf War. [95] Balkans conflicts Main article: Yugoslav wars The British Army was deployed to Yugoslavia in 1992; initially this force formed part of the United Nations Protection Force . [96] In 1995 command was transferred to IFOR and then to SFOR .

[97] Currently troops are under the command of EUFOR . Over 10,000 troops were sent. In 1999 British forces under the command of SFOR were sent to Kosovo during the conflict there. Command was subsequently transferred to KFOR . [98] Between early 1993 and June 2010, 72 British military personnel died on operations in the former Yugoslavian countries of Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. [99] War in Afghanistan Main articles: War in Afghanistan (2001–present) and Operation Herrick In November 2001 the United Kingdom, as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom with the United States, invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban . [100] The 3rd Division were deployed in Kabul, to assist in the liberation of the troubled capital. The Royal Marines' 3 Commando Brigade (part of the Royal Navy but including a number of Army units), also swept the mountains. [101] The British Army is today concentrating on fighting Taliban forces and bringing security to Helmand province.

Approximately 7,900 British troops (including marines, airmen and sailors) are currently in Afghanistan, making it the second largest force after the US. Around 500 extra British troops were deployed in 2009, bringing the British Army deployment total up to 9,500 (excluding Special Forces). [102] In December 2012 Prime Minister David Cameron announced that 3,800 troops - almost half of the force serving in Helmand Province - would be withdrawn during 2013 with numbers to fall to approximately 5,200. [103] By March 2014 troop levels were down to 4,000. [104] Combat operations are projected to end in 2014. Between 2001 and May 2012 a total of 414 British military personnel have died on operations in Afghanistan. [105] Iraq War Main articles: Iraq War and Operation Telic In 2003, the United Kingdom was a major contributor to the invasion of Iraq , sending a force that would reach 46,000 military personnel.

[106] The British Army controlled the southern regions of Iraq and maintained a peace-keeping presence in the city of Basra until their withdrawal on 30 April 2009. 179 British Military personnel have died on operations in Iraq. [107] All of the remaining British troops were fully withdrawn from Iraq after the Iraqi government refused to extend their mandate. [108] The Troubles Main article: Operation Banner Although having permanent garrisons there, the British Army was initially deployed in a peacekeeping role – codenamed "Operation Banner" – in Northern Ireland in the wake of Unionist attacks on Nationalist communities in Derry [109] and Belfast [110] and to prevent further Loyalist attacks on Catholic communities, under Operation Banner between 1969 and 2007 in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and its successor, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). [111] There has been a steady reduction in the number of troops deployed in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998.

[112] In 2005, after the Provisional Irish Republican Army announced an end to its armed conflict in Northern Ireland, the British Army dismantled posts and withdrew many troops, and restored troop levels to that of a peace-time garrison. [113] Operation Banner ended at midnight on 31 July 2007, bringing to an end some 38 years of continuous deployment, making it the longest in the British Army's history. [114] An internal British Army document released in 2007 stated that the British Army had failed to defeat the IRA but had made it impossible for them to win through the use of violence. Operation Helvetic replaced Operation Banner in 2007 maintaining fewer servicemen in a much more benign environment. [114] [115] From 1971 to 1997 a total of 763 British military personnel were killed during the "Troubles". [116] Some 300 deaths during the conflict were attributed to the British Army, including paramilitary and civilians. [117] A total of 303 RUC officers were killed in the same time period.

In March 2009, two soldiers and a Police Officer were killed in separate dissident republican attacks in Northern Ireland. [118] British soldiers in May 2007, during the War in Afghanistan . 3 Para in combat in Helmand Province, Afghanistan British soldiers in March 2003, during the invasion of Iraq . British Army patrol in South Belfast during the Troubles . 4,000 [119] troops British troops have been based in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion there in 2001. Currently, under Operation Herrick , the Army maintains troops in Camp Souter, Kabul and a brigade on 6-monthly rotation in the southern province of Helmand, mostly based in Camp Bastion and forward operating bases. As of November 2013 the 19th Deployment (Herrick 19) is underway. In December 2012 Prime Minister David Cameron announced that 3,800 troops - almost half of the force serving in Helmand Province - would be withdrawn during 2013 with numbers to fall to approximately 5,200. Combat operations are projected to end in 2014.

[103] Low intensity operations The structure of the British Army is complex, due to the different origins of its various constituent parts. It is broadly split into the Regular Army (full-time Officers/soldiers and units) and the Army Reserve (Spare-time Officers/soldiers and units). In terms of its military structure, it has two parallel organisations, one administrative and one operational. Administrative Regiments and Corps. These are listed below (in the template to the right), ranging from the Household Cavalry to the Army Physical Training Corps and the Royal Logistic Corps . Uniquely and somewhat confusingly, the Infantry, which is not a corps but a collection of separate regiments, is administered by 'Divisions' of infantry – Guards Division , Queen's Division , Scottish Division and so on. [134] Operational The major operational command is based at Andover and is known as " Army Headquarters ". [135] [136] It is split into divisions and subordinate units ranging from regiments to squadrons. Divisions (1 Div. based in Herford in Germany and 3 Div.

based in Bulford ) [137] Brigades , both fighting and in a non fighting regional capacity within HQ LF (for example, 43 (Wessex) Brigade based in Bulford ). Structure of units The standard operational units are structured as follows, although various units have their own structure, conventions, names and sizes: [138] Type of Unit LCpl Corps are made up of two or more divisions, but now are rarely deployed as a purely national formation due to the size of the British Army. [138] In place of a Battalion, a task-specific Battlegroup may be formed. A battlegroup is grown around the core of either an armoured regiment or infantry battalion, and has other units added or removed from it as necessary for its purpose. It results in a mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, typically consisting of between 600 and 700 soldiers under the command of a Lieutenant Colonel. [138] A number of elements of the British Army use alternative terms for battalion, company and platoon.

These include the Royal Armoured Corps , Corps of Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps , and the Royal Corps of Signals who use regiment (battalion), squadron (company) and troop (platoon). The Royal Artillery are unique in using the term regiment in place of both corps and battalion , they also replace company with battery and platoon with troop. [138] Divisions The British Army currently has two operational divisions. [139] Name Bulford , Salisbury Three mechanized brigades and one light brigade. There are also a some ten brigades which are not part of any division report directly into Support Command . [140] Rapid Reaction Force 16 Air Assault Brigade forms the bulk of the Army's rapid reaction force. Combat support As of 2014, Force Troops Command or FTC forms the basis of the Army's Combat support, containing units ranging from artillery to military police. [141] Aviation components Edit The British Army operates alongside the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm as part of Joint Helicopter Command , but the army also has its own Army Air Corps . Military helicopters of all three services are commanded by Joint Helicopter Command , a joint 2 star headquarters operating under HQ Land Forces.

[142] Special forces The British Army contributes two of the three special forces formations within the United Kingdom Special Forces Command; the Special Air Service Regiment and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment . [143] The most famous formation is the Special Air Service Regiment. The SAS comprises one regular Regiment and two Army Reserve Regiments. [144] The regular Regiment, 22 SAS, has its headquarters and depot located in Hereford and consists of five squadrons: A, B, D, G and Reserve with a training wing. [145] The two reserve SAS Regiments; 21 SAS and 23 SAS have a more limited role, to provide depth to the UKSF group through the provision of Individual and collective augmentation to the regular component of UKSF and standalone elements up to task group (Regimental) level focused on support and influence (S&I) operations to assist conflict stabilisation. [146] The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), formed in 2005 from existing assets, undertakes close reconnaissance and special surveillance tasks.

[143] Special Forces Support Group were formed around 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment , with attached Royal Marines and RAF Regiment assets, the unit is also open to any member of the HM Armed Forces. The Special Forces Support Group are under the Operational Control of Director Special Forces to provide operational manoeuvre support to the elements of United Kingdom Special Forces. [147] British Overseas Territories military units Edit Numerous military units were raised historically in British territories, including self-governing and Crown colonies, and protectorates. Whereas the Dominions, such as Canada and Australia, had their own armies before achieving complete independence, units raised in those territories which remained part of the realm of the UK were, and are, ultimately under the control of the UK government, and do not constitute separate armies. The UK retains responsibility for the defence of all of the fourteen remaining British Overseas Territories .

Although the Cayman Islands premier has stated the desire to raise a Cayman Islands Defence Force [148] when it can be afforded (it currently has only a cadet corps), [149] becoming the fifth, only four of the remaining British Overseas Territories retain locally-raised regiments: Edit The other armed services have their own infantry units which are not part of the British Army. The Royal Marines are amphibious light infantry forming part of the Naval Service , and the Royal Air Force has the RAF Regiment used for airfield defence, force protection duties and Forward Air Control. [154] Recruitment Main article: Recruitment in the British Army The Army mainly recruits within the United Kingdom; it normally has a recruitment target of around 12,000 soldiers per year. [155] Low unemployment in Britain has resulted in the Army having difficulty in meeting its target. In the early years of the 21st century there has been a marked increase in the number of recruits from other (mostly Commonwealth) countries.

In 2006 overseas recruitment, mostly in Commonwealth countries, generated more than 6,000 soldiers from 54 nations; together with the 3,000 Gurkhas, 10% of the British Army is a foreign national. [156] The Ministry of Defence now caps the number of recruits from Commonwealth countries, although this will not affect the Gurkhas. If the trend continues 10% of the army will be from Commonwealth countries before 2012. The cap is in place as some fear the army's British character is being diluted, and employing too many could make the army seen as employing mercenaries . [157] The minimum recruitment age is 16 years (after the end of GCSEs ), although soldiers may not serve on operations below 18 years; the maximum recruitment age was raised in January 2007 from 26 to 33 years. The normal term of engagement is 22 years, and, once enlisted, soldiers are not normally permitted to leave until they have served at least 4 years. [158] There has been a strong and continuing tradition of recruiting from Ireland including what is now the Republic of Ireland .

[159] [160] [161] [162] Over 200,000 Irish soldiers fought in the First World War. [163] [164] More than 60,000 Irishmen from what was then the Irish Free State [165] (now the Republic of Ireland) and 38,000 from Northern Ireland served in the Second World War, [166] all volunteered. Oath of allegiance Edit Troops of the Grenadier Guards on guard at Buckingham Palace. Various army regiments supply troops to guard the Royal residences. All soldiers 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 name], swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II , her heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, her heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors and of the generals and officers set over me.

[167] ” Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm". [168] Under the reign of another monarch, the name of the monarch and all pronouns with gender are replaced appropriately. Training establishments An Army landing craft of the Royal Logistic Corps The British Army does not have its own specific ensign for the whole Army, unlike the Royal Navy, which uses the White Ensign , and the RAF, which uses the Royal Air Force Ensign . Instead, the Army has different flags and ensigns, some for the entire army and many for the different regiments and corps. The official flag of the Army as a whole is the Union Flag, flown in a ratio of 3:5. A non-ceremonial flag also exists, which is used at recruiting events, military events and exhibitions. It also flies from the Ministry of Defence building in Whitehall. [169] Whilst at war, the Union Flag is always used, and this flag represents the Army on The Cenotaph at Whitehall, London (the UK's memorial to its war dead).

[170] The British Army has throughout its history operated ships, ports and myriad boats. Boats , Landing Craft and Ports are still operated by the Army and ensigns exists for vessels commanded by the Army. The Royal Logistic Corps operates a large fleet of vessels from its base at Marchwood near Southampton. [171] The Royal Engineers has had fleets since the introduction of diving in 1838 and was granted an ensign following the foundation of the Royal Engineers Submarine Mining Service in 1871, where it operated sea mine laying ships, before transfer of the trade to the Royal Navy . The Corps maintains a Blue Ensign defaced by the crest of the Board of Ordnance from where the Corps developed, which it flys from its fleet and shore establishments that routinely operate boats. [172] Each Foot Guards and line regiment (excluding The Rifles and Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR)) also has its own flags, known as Colours —normally a Regimental Colour and a Queen's Colour. The design of different Regimental Colours vary but typically the colour has the Regiment's badge in the centre. The RGR carry the Queen's Truncheon in place of Colours.

[173] Flag Ratio: 3:5. The official flag of the Army. The non-ceremonial flag of the British Army. Sometimes the word Army in gold letters appears below the badge. Further information: List of nicknames of British Army regiments A long established nickname for a British soldier has been Tommy Atkins or Tommy for short. The origins are obscure but most probably derive from a specimen army form circulated by the Adjutant-General Sir Harry Calvert to all units in 1815 where the blanks had been filled in with the particulars of a Private Thomas Atkins, No 6 Company, 23rd Regiment of Foot. German soldiers in both world wars would usually refer to their British opponents as Tommys. Present-day British soldiers are often referred to as Toms or just Tom. The British Army magazine Soldier has a regular cartoon strip, Tom, featuring the everyday life of a British soldier. Outside the services, soldiers are generally known as squaddies by the British popular press , and the general public. [174] Another nickname which applies only to soldiers in Scottish regiments is Jock, derived from the fact that in Scotland the common Christian name John is often changed to Jock in the vernacular.

Welsh soldiers are occasionally referred to as Taffy or just Taff. This may only apply to those from the Taff-Ely Valley in South Wales, where a large portion of men, left unemployed from the decline of the coal industry in the area, enlisted during the First and Second World Wars. Alternatively, it is derived from the supposed Welsh pronunciation of Dafydd [175] —the vernacular form of Dave or Davey, the patron Saint of Wales being Saint David. [176] As a nickname for the Welsh it has existed since 1699. [177] Irish soldiers are referred to as Paddy or Mick. Junior officers in the army are sometimes known as Ruperts by the Other ranks especially for those from a privileged background. [178] This nickname is believed to be derived from the children's comic book character Rupert Bear who epitomises traditional public school values and from the purported preponderance of that particular forename amongst young men from a public school background.

[179] See also British Empire: Armed Forces Armed Forces In many ways it is surprising that the British armed forces were so small considering how much of the world they would have to cover in order to acquire, police and defend its Empire. Discipline, professionalism and the bravery of her personnel usually (but not always) allowed Britain to punch above its military weight. When it came to fighting indigenous peoples, technology would invariably prove to be the decisive element. It was a different matter when it came to fighting their fellow Europeans - although leadership and bravado seemed to offer surprisingly consistent advantages. But in the case of major, prolonged wars against European rivals, systematic advantages such as industrial and financial muscle would generally allow Britain to stay the course and deal with multiple adversaries. Over time, the Empire itself would become a source of strength as more personnel and resources would come on stream from the colonies as they developed and matured economically. By the time of the First World War, the Empire would supply a major proportion of the fighting capability of the British forces. Royal Navy Being an island nation, the Royal Navy was (and still is) the Senior Service for a very real reason.

Control of the seas would be crucial in defending Britain and in allowing Britain to secure such a vast Empire. Domination of the seas was not definitively achieved until the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, although Britain had been challenging for supremacy since the Seven Years War. During the nineteenth century, the Royal Navy was supreme and could deliver soldiers or marines pretty much anywhere on the planet and also deny rivals the ability to do so themselves. The floating gun vessels could be equally intimidating to indigenous leaders who might have contemplated resisting British encroachment or denying access to commercial opportunities. The Royal Navy would ensure the flow of trade vessels and goods to supply Britain's factories or deliver her products overseas. The Laissez Faire economic model that would enrich Britain could not have existed without the power of the Royal Navy. They controlled the communications and supply lines that made the Empire viable in any meaningful way. Army By European standards, the British Army was a tiny army. But what it lacked in numbers it made up for in professionalism and confidence. There was an odd combination of a public school educated officer corps bred to lead and a pool of hardy labourers forced off their land and/or workers attempting to avoid the harsh conditions of the new industrial cities.

It is interesting that the Scots and Irish supplied such a high proportion of the British armed forces. This was probably due to the lack of economic opportunities in their respective home countries. Whatever the reason, they served the British army extremely ably. It should be remembered that the army was never given the title 'Royal' unlike the other two services. This was due to its perceived unreliability by the monarch - with very good reason to assume so. It dates back to the time of the English Civil War and the defeat of King Charles by the 'New Model Army' of Oliver Cromwell. Subsequent British monarchs never forgot this and so have never bestowed the 'Royal' sobriquet. This is despite the fact that it was the army that allowed the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. The element of trust (or lack of it) was also why so many members of the Royal Family were made in to the Colonels in Chief of so many regiments. It was a way of ensuring loyalty. It should be noted that the army has always been a constitutionally interesting organisation. Ever since the Seventeenth Century troubles, Britain has never really appreciated having a large standing army on its soil.

Most of the barracks were either overseas in the colonies or closer to home in Ireland - but not so often in England itself. Another hangover of the Seventeenth Century problems is still evident in the constitutional division of responsibilites of the army even to today. All soldiers must pledge allegiance to the monarch, who is the Commander in Chief and yet the purse strings for pay and equipment are firmly in the hands of parliament. It was hoped that this constitutional arrangement would keep the army out of political squabbles and prevent future coups - which it has done remarkably successfully for over 300 years. Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force grew out of the Royal Flying Corps of World War One. It was formed in 1918 and so is very much the 'baby' of the military establishment. However, the projection of power provided by its weapons allowed it to grow rapidly from the 1920s onwards. Initially hopes were high that air power would be a 'cheap' military option that would tie the empire together and police its wide, open spaces. Operations in Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq would, however, show its limitations.

It was one thing flying the flag by buzzing the locals on the ground - but once the plane had disappeared, power and influence often went with it. Soldiers or police on the ground would prove far more durable in sustaining a presence over a period of time. Air power would complement but not replace land and sea forces. Imperial War Graves and Cemeteries Over the years, countless thousands have died fighting for or on behalf of Britain and its empire. The way that the soldiers were treated have changed dramatically over the years - for the living, for the wounded but also for the dead. I have added a section which details this changing relationship between the British Empire and those who have died on active service. Sections to Visit

Question: The ‘Senior Service’ is the nickname for which of the British Armed Forces?
Answer: Royal Navy