Regional Command (British Army)

Two-star command of the British Army

Regional Command

Active| Regional Command 2015–present
Support Command 2011–2015
Country|  United Kingdom
Branch|  British Army
Type| Command
Part of| Home Command
Garrison/HQ| Aldershot Garrison
Commanders
Current
commander| Major-General James Senior

Military unit

Regional Command, formerly Support Command until 2015, is a two-star command of the British Army. It is the Army's HQ for the UK, Nepal and Brunei. It delivers Real Life Support to the Army and controls the UK Stations and Garrisons. It is also responsible for engagement with the civilian community and acts as the proponent for UK Operations.[1]

## History

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Support Command was formed on 1 November 2011 and absorbed the functions of the 4th Infantry Division on 1 January 2012 and of 2nd Infantry Division and 5th Infantry Division from 1 April 2012.[2] Support Command is headquartered at Aldershot Garrison in South East England.[3] Initial published tasks included:[2]

* Lead on the Firm Base Concept for Commander Land Forces from 1 November 2011.
* Deliver Firm Base support as defined by Project AVANTI from 3 January 2012 within 2nd (South East) Brigade, 43rd (Wessex) Brigade and 145 (South) Brigade boundaries and for the remainder within boundaries from 3 April 2012.
* Assume command of British Gurkhas Nepal and British Forces Brunei from 3 January 2012.
* Provide the Land Forces link to the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCA) in order to ensure its outputs match the LF requirement. In order to provide land military capability in the most effective and efficient manner.

On 1 September 2015 Support Command was renamed Regional Command.[2] The main duties of GOC Regional Command is to:

* Provide the necessary support to the successful delivery of both UK and overseas operations
* Achieve the specified tasks in support of the achievement of Firm Base Outputs
* Deliver the Firm base, championing overseas support, whilst managing the drawdown in Germany
* Support the sustainment of the Army's Moral Component in order to deliver success on operations, at home, and thereafter the Army of the future.[4]

### Components

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#### 2011–2015

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In 2014, before Support Command became Regional Command, the command had administrative control of the following units:

* 2 (South East) Brigade
* 15 (North East) Brigade
* 38 (Irish) Brigade
* 42 (North West) Brigade
* 43 (Wessex) Brigade
* 49 (East) Brigade
* 51 (Scottish) Brigade
* 143 (West Midlands) Brigade
* 145 (South) Brigade
* 160 (Welsh) Brigade
* British Forces Brunei
* British Gurkhas Nepal
* Aldershot Garrison
* Colchester Garrison
* Catterick Garrison

#### 2015–2024

[edit]

Under the Army 2020 reorganisation programme, the command began assisting 1st (UK) Division in managing the seven infantry brigades in the Adaptable Force. In late 2014 / early 2015, 2nd, 15th, 43rd, 49th, 143rd and 145th Brigades merged with the other brigades, leaving seven brigades in the Adaptable Force and two other Regional Points of Command in Force Troops Command.[5] The command remains based at Aldershot and, from Spring 2015, had operational control of the nine Regional Points of Command which are:[6]

* Headquarters North East
* Headquarters East
* Headquarters South East
* Headquarters North West
* Headquarters Scotland
* Headquarters West Midlands
* Headquarters South West
* 38th (Irish) Brigade
* 160th (Welsh) Brigade

#### 2024–Present

[edit]

The current organisation is as follows:[7]

* Under Future Soldier reforms, Headquarters North East and Headquarters North West was combined to form Headquarters North, at Catterick Garrison, in 2024.[8][9]

* Headquarters East and Headquarters West Midlands will soon combine to form Headquarters Central, based at Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore.

* 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland remains the RPOC for Scotland based at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, with Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland under its command.
* 38 (Irish) Brigade remains the RPOC for Northern Ireland based at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn.
* 160th (Welsh) Brigade remains the RPOC for Wales based at Brecon Barracks.
* Headquarters London District remains the London RPOC in Horse Guards. It will also continue to command troops assigned to State Ceremonial and Public Duties.
* Headquarters South East remains in Aldershot Garrison.
* Headquarters South West remains in Tidworth Garrison.

## Commanders

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Commanders include:[10]

* January 2012 - August 2013 Major-General Colin Boag
* August 2013 - June 2015 Major-General Robert Nitsch
* June 2015 - June 2017 Major-General Richard Stanford[11]
* June 2017 - February 2020 Major-General Duncan Capps[10]
* February 2020 - July 2022 Major-General David Eastman[12]
* July 2022 – August 2023 Major-General Jonathan Swift[13]
* August 2023 – present Major General James Senior[14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Support Command - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
2. ^ a b c "HQ Regional Command". Retrieved 5 March 2016.
3. ^ Map showing the remit of Support Command Accessed: 2013-06-08
4. ^ "Land Forces senior, as of September 2015". Retrieved 5 March 2016.
5. ^ Army 2020 Brochure Accessed: 2013-06-08
6. ^ Army 2020 Update Archived 15 July 2013 at WebCite
7. ^ "Future Soldier Guide - adr010310-futuresoldierguide_30nov.pdf" (PDF). army.mod.uk. 1 December 2021. p. 94-95.
8. ^ Federation, Army Families (31 July 2024). "Joining the Army in the North of England". Army Families Federation. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
9. ^ Tanzey, Helen (22 July 2024). "HQ North Formation Day - Catterick Garrison". Merseyside Lieutenancy. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
10. ^ a b "Senior Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 1 April 2017.
11. ^ The Daily Telegraph (London), 2015, "SENIOR ARMY APPOINTMENT" 16 May 2015, The Daily Telegraph (London), Pg. 30
12. ^ "Current generals" (PDF). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
13. ^ "No. 63760". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2022. p. 13598.
14. ^ "No. 64162". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 September 2023. p. 17681.

## External links

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* Main Website

* v
* t
* e

Current brigade-sized formations of the British Army

1st Division|

* 1st Military Police Brigade
* 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team
* 4th Light Brigade Combat Team
* 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team
* 8th Engineer Brigade
* 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade
* 19th Brigade
* 102 Operational Sustainment Brigade

3rd Division|

* 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team
* 7th Air Defence Group
* 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade
* 12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team
* 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team
* 25 (Close Support) Engineer Group
* 101st Operational Sustainment Brigade

6th Division|

* 77th Brigade
* Army Special Operations Brigade

Regional Command|

* 38th (Irish) Brigade
* 51st Infantry Brigade
* 160th (Welsh) Brigade

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps|

* 1st Signal Brigade
* 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade

Other formations|

* 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team
* 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
* Brigade of Gurkhas
* 2nd Medical Group

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