Future Soldier (British Army)

{{Short description|British Army modernisation plans}}

{{more references|date=November 2021}}

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. Future Soldier Guide, p. 3 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.{{cite web|title=Integrated Review: Defence Command Paper, Volume 691: debated on Monday 22 March 2021|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-03-22/debates/49173AD7-1180-4251-8F29-58EB9E9D1C75/IntegratedReviewDefenceCommandPaper|access-date=2021-03-23}}{{cite news |title=Future Soldier: What is the British Army being promised as part of modernisation plans? |url=https://www.forces.net/news/future-soldier-what-british-army-being-promised-part-modernisation-plans |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=BFBS |date=26 November 2021}}

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

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

= 1st Signal Brigade =

1st Signal Brigade provides communications elements to Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), Permanent Joint Headquarters, 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 =

{{Location map+ | United Kingdom

| width = 360

| caption = {{center| 1st (United Kingdom) Division brigade locations 2025}}

| relief = 1

| places =

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|1 (UK) Div.}}|lat= 53.958333 |long= -1.080278 |position=left |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|marksize = 10}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|4 Light}}|lat= 54.3774 |long= -1.722 |position=right |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|7 Light Mech.}}|lat= 52.71 |long= -0.66 |position=left |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|11 Security}}|lat= 51.248 |long= -0.758 |position=right |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|19 Brigade}}|lat= 53.958333 |long= -1.080278 |position=right |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|8 Engineer}}|lat= 51.315 |long= -0.831 |position=left |mark=Black pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|102 Sustain.}}|lat= 52.918 |long= -0.638 |position=right |mark=Purple pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

}}

File:1st (UK) Division - Future Soldier 2024 organization.png

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.

== 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team ==

== 19th Brigade ==

== 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 =

{{Location map+ | United Kingdom

| width = 360

| caption = {{center| 3rd (United Kingdom) Division brigade locations 2025
14px Bulford: 12px 3rd (UK) Division 10px 12 Armoured 10px 20 Armoured 10px 25 Engineer 10px 7 Signals}}

| relief = 1

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{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|Bulford}}|lat= 51.19 |long= -1.761 |position=left |mark=Black pog-sized x.svg|marksize = 14}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|1 Recce/Strike}}|lat= 51.237 |long= -1.664 |position=top |mark=Yellow pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|7 Air Defence}}|lat= 50.817222 |long= -0.920278 |position=right |mark=Yellow pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|101 Sustain.}}|lat= 51.248 |long= -0.758 |position=right |mark=Purple pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

}}

File:3rd (UK) Division - Future Soldier 2024 organization.png

== 12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team ==

== 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team ==

  • 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, in BulfordFuture Soldier Guide, p. 56
  • Royal Dragoon Guards, in Warminster (Armoured Cavalry)
  • Queen's Royal Hussars, in Tidworth (Armoured Regiment)
  • 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, in Woolwich to Cyprus, then Bulford / Tidworth (Mechanised Infantry)
  • 3rd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, in Canterbury (Infantry - Reserve)
  • 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, in Tidworth (Mechanised Infantry)
  • 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, in Alnwick (Infantry - Reserve)
  • 5th Battalion, The Rifles, in Bulford (Mechanised Infantry)
  • 7th Battalion, The Rifles, in Kensington (Infantry - Reserve)
  • 1 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, in Bicester (Close Support Logistics)
  • 3 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, in Tidworth (Armoured Close Support)
  • 1 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, in Tidworth (Close Support Medical Regiment)

== 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 AldershotFuture Soldier Guide, p. 70
  • 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)Future Soldier Guide, p. 72
  • 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)
  • Honourable Artillery Company, in London (Surveillance and Target Acquisition - Reserve)

= Field Army Troops =

{{Location map+ | United Kingdom

| width = 360

| caption = {{center| Field Army Troops locations 2025}}

| relief = 1

| places =

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|16 Air Assault}}|lat= 51.8917 |long= 0.903 |position=top |mark=Blue 0080ff pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|ISR Group}}|lat= 51.290556 |long= -1.778333 |position=top |mark=Orange pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|2nd Medical}}|lat= 54.04006 |long= -1.03436 |position=right |mark=White pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|Cyber & EW}}|lat= 51.208611 |long= -1.525278 |position=right |mark=Blue 00ffff pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

{{Location map~ | United Kingdom | background= white |label={{nowrap|Land Warfare}}|lat= 51.205 |long= -2.181 |position=left |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|marksize = 8}}

}}

File: Field Army Troops - Future Soldier 2024 organization.png

  • Field Army Troops, in AndoverFuture Soldier Guide, p. 74

== Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group ==

== 2nd Medical Group ==

== Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group ==

== Land Warfare Centre ==

Home Command

  • Home Command, in AldershotFuture Soldier Guide, p. 86
  • Army Personnel Centre (APC), in Glasgow
  • Army Personnel Services Group (APSG)
  • Arms and Services

= Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command =

  • Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command (ARITC), in UpavonFuture Soldier Guide, p. 88
  • Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB), in Westbury (Officer Selection)
  • Recruiting Group (RG), in Upavon (Recruit enlistment)
  • School of Infantry (SCHINF), in Catterick (Infantry training)
  • Initial Training Group (ITG), in Pirbright and Grantham (Phase One training)
  • Army Adventurous Training Group (Army) (ATG(A), in Upavon (Adventurous training)

= 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.Future Soldier Guide, p. 100

  • Provost Marshal (Army), in AndoverFuture Soldier Guide, p. 100

= 1st Royal Military Police Group =

Army units in other parts of Defence

Army units assigned to other parts of Defence:Future Soldier Guide, p. 102

= Navy Command =

= Air Command =

= UK Strategic Command =

Graphic overview

Unit changes

The following are the units that will be raised, disbanded, amalgamated, re-designated, and re-roled under the reforms:{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/future-army/unit-details/|title=Unit Details|accessdate=26 November 2021}}

=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, Royal 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.

Notes

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

References

  • {{citation |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/media/14919/adr010310-futuresoldierguide_25nov.pdf |title=Future Soldier Guide |date= |publisher=British Army}}

{{The British Army}}

Category:21st-century history of the British Army