Future Soldier (British Army)

Future Soldier is a reform of the British Army resulting from the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy ("Global Britain in a Competitive Age") published in March 2021. The aim of the reform is to create a more lethal, agile and expeditionary force, able to fight and win wars and to operate in the grey-zone between peace and war. [1] Future Soldier was published on 25 November 2021 and deals with the organizational changes of the British Army, with changes to personnel and equipment were set out in the Defence in a Competitive Age paper published on 22 March 2021.

The British Army will be reduced to 73,000 regular personnel by 2025. The reserves will be kept at the current level.[2][3]

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is a high readiness corps-level command tasked to lead NATO’s Response Force (NRF).

1st Signal Brigade

1st Signal Brigade provides communications elements to Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), Joint Task Force HQ (JTFHQ), and other government departments.

104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade

104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade is a theatre logistic enabling formation that operates strategic and operational Lines of Communications.

Field Army

1st (UK) Division

1st (United Kingdom) Division brigade locations 2025
1st (UK) Division organization 2025 (click to enlarge)

1st (UK) Division is the British Army's main contributor for land operations outside the Euro-Atlantic area and operations on NATO's flanks.

4th Light Brigade Combat Team

4th Light Brigade Combat Team consists of Light Infantry formations.

7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team

7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team is a high readiness and highly mobile formation.

11th Security Force Assistance Brigade

11th Security Force Assistance Brigade trains and mentors allied and partner nations' ground units.

19th Brigade

19th Brigade is to be reactivated in 2022 to command and generate Army Reserve combat units.

8 Engineer Brigade

8 Engineer Brigade commands the army's two engineer specialist groups: 12 Group provides land and air force support engineering. 29 Group provides Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Counter-Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear capabilities.

102 Operational Sustainment Brigade

102 Operational Sustainment Brigade moves troops and equipment to the battle area and logistically sustains fighting formations.

1st Divisional Integrated Effects Group

3rd (UK) Division

3rd (United Kingdom) Division brigade locations 2025
Bulford: 3rd (UK) Division 12 Armoured 20 Armoured 25 Engineer 7 Signals
3rd (UK) Division organization 2025 (click to enlarge)

12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team

20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team

1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team

7 Air Defence Group

25 (Close Support) Engineer Group

101 Operational Sustainment Brigade

7 Signals Group

3rd UK Divisional Integrated Effects Group

6th (UK) Division

Army Special Operations Brigade

  • Army Special Operations Brigade, in Aldershot[26]
    • 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment, in Belfast (Army Rangers; former 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
    • 2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment, in Aldershot (Army Rangers; former 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment)
    • 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment, in Pirbright (Army Rangers; former 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment; will move to Aldershot in 2027)
    • 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment, in Aldershot (Army Rangers; former 4th Battalion, The Rifles)
    • 255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, in Perham Down (Communication and Information Support; will move to Aldershot in 2027)

77th Brigade

  • 77th Brigade, in Hermitage (Will move to Pirbright in 2026)[27]
    • Staff Corps, in Hermitage (Capacity Building; will move to Pirbright in 2026)
    • Deployed Information Activities, in Hermitage (Deployed Information Activity; will move to Pirbright in 2026)
    • Stand-off Information Activities, in Hermitage (Stand-off Information Activity; will move to Pirbright in 2026)
    • 6 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, in Manchester (Military Intelligence, hybrid active/reserve unit; will move to Pirbright by 2026)
    • The Honourable Artillery Company, in London (Surveillance and Target Acquisition - Reserve)

Field Army Troops

Field Army Troops organization 2025 (click to enlarge)

16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

2nd Medical Group

Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group

Land Warfare Centre

Home Command

Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Group

London District

Regional Command

Joint Helicopter Command

1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team

Provost Marshal (Army)

Provost Marshal (Army) polices the army and undertakes activities concerned with investigations, custodial matters and security in the UK. The 1st Royal Military Police Group provides police support to the force at an operational level, which includes operational detention, and support to security and stability policing.[42]

1st Royal Military Police Group

Army units in other parts of Defence

Army units assigned to other parts of Defence:[44]

Air Command

UK Strategic Command

Graphic overview

Future Soldier organization of the British Army

Unit changes

The following are the units that will be raised, disbanded, amalgamated, re-designated, and re-roled under the reforms:[45]

Units raised

  • No 9 Company, Irish Guards
  • No 12 Company, Irish Guards
  • Coriano Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles
  • Falklands Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles
  • 9 Equipment Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Disbandment

Amalgamations

Infantry

Royal Army Medical Corps

Re-designations

Infantry

Royal Army Medical Corps

Re-role

Infantry

  • 1st Battalion, Irish Guards from Light Role Infantry to Security Force Assistance.
  • 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment from Light Role Infantry to Security Force Assistance.
  • 3rd Battalion, The Rifles from Light Mechanised Infantry to Security Force Assistance.
  • Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland from Light Mechanised Infantry to Security Force Assistance.
  • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards from Light Mechanised Infantry to Light Role Infantry.
  • 1st Battalion, The Rifles from Light Role Infantry to Light Mechanised Infantry.
  • 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment from Light Role Infantry to Light Mechanised Infantry.
  • 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment from Armoured Infantry to Light Mechanised Infantry.
  • The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland from Armoured Infantry to Light Mechanised Infantry.
  • 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment from Light Role Infantry to Mechanised Infantry.

Royal Armoured Corps

Notes

    1. Future Soldier Guide, p. 3
    2. "Integrated Review: Defence Command Paper, Volume 691: debated on Monday 22 March 2021". Retrieved 2021-03-23.
    3. "Future Soldier: What is the British Army being promised as part of modernisation plans?". BFBS. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
    4. Future Soldier Guide, p. 28
    5. Future Soldier Guide, p. 32
    6. Future Soldier Guide, p. 30
    7. Future Soldier Guide, p. 34
    8. Future Soldier Guide, p. 36
    9. Future Soldier Guide, p. 40
    10. Future Soldier Guide, p. 38
    11. Future Soldier Guide, p. 42
    12. Future Soldier Guide, p. 44
    13. Future Soldier Guide, pp. 46-47
    14. Future Soldier Guide, p. 48
    15. Future Soldier Guide, p. 50
    16. Future Soldier Guide, p. 52
    17. Future Soldier Guide, p. 54
    18. Future Soldier Guide, p. 56
    19. Future Soldier Guide, p. 58
    20. Future Soldier Guide, p. 60
    21. Future Soldier Guide, p. 62
    22. Future Soldier Guide, p. 64
    23. Future Soldier Guide, p. 66
    24. Future Soldier Guide, p. 66
    25. Future Soldier Guide, p. 68
    26. Future Soldier Guide, p. 70
    27. Future Soldier Guide, p. 72
    28. Future Soldier Guide, p. 74
    29. Future Soldier Guide, p. 76
    30. Future Soldier Guide, p. 78
    31. Future Soldier Guide, p. 80
    32. Future Soldier Guide, p. 82
    33. Future Soldier Guide, p. 84
    34. Future Soldier Guide, p. 86
    35. Future Soldier Guide, p. 88
    36. Future Soldier Guide, p. 90
    37. Future Soldier Guide, p. 92
    38. "State Ceremonial Music". Household Division. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
    39. Future Soldier Guide, p. 94
    40. Future Soldier Guide, p. 96
    41. Future Soldier Guide, p. 98
    42. Future Soldier Guide, p. 100
    43. Future Soldier Guide, p. 100
    44. Future Soldier Guide, p. 102
    45. "Unit Details". Retrieved 26 November 2021.

    References


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