Field Army Troops

Prior to the Army 2020 programme, 'Land Forces Troops' existed, as part of Headquarters Land Forces, overseen by the Commander Field Army (CFA). Under a reorganisation, as a consequence of the Army 2020 programme, effective from 1 November 2011 the Chief of the General Staff took direct command of the Army through a new structure, based at Andover, known as "Army Headquarters".[1][2][3] Within this new organisation, the rank of Commander, Land Forces was shifted to that of a three-star instead of the former four-star rank.[4] The post of Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces ceased to exist.[2] From this point, the troops designated as 'Land Forces Troops' were reorganised into several large organisations, becoming Home Command (including Regional Command), the Land Warfare Centre (now under CFA), Joint Helicopter Command (formed in 1999), and Commander Land Support (CLS).[5]

The structure of 'Land Forces Troops' in 2008 was therefore as follows:[5]

• Land Forces Troops, at Erskine Barracks, Wilton
  • Director General Training Support – a Major General responsible for "operational military training and overseeing the training areas"
    • Land Accident Prevention and Investigation Team (LAIT)
  • Commander Land Support (Land Support Management Group) – formerly Commander Logistical Support – responsible for the management of the Defence Supply Chain to deployed forces, storage, transportation, distribution, of all the necessities for operations and living
  • Media Operations Group (Volunteers), in Kingston upon Thames – providing media support to HQ Land Forces
  • 16th Air Assault Brigade, HQ at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison

Under the Army 2020 programme, the grouping of units known as "Land Forces Troops" was disestablished, and the above units either became under direct control of Commander Field Army, or (in the case of the Media Ops Group), joined the new 77th Brigade.

In 2019, under the Field Army Reorganisation Plan (FARP), the role of Deputy Commander, Field Army was expanded with the moving of several commands and formations (by 2021) coming under direct control of CFA. Those units included the following:[6]

• Land Operations Command, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon[7][8]
• Land Warfare Centre, HQ at Waterloo Lines, Warminster Garrison[9]
• 16th Air Assault Brigade, HQ at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison[10][11][12][13]
• Collective Training Group (also Training Branch, Field Army)[lower-alpha 1],[14] at Warminster Garrison[15]
• Field Training Unit[lower-alpha 2]

On 25 November 2021, the Future Soldier programme was announced, which is due to be completed by 2030 and will reorganise the British Army from bottom to top. The role of "Field Army Troops" has been described as follows: "Field Army Troops – will centrally command high-demand, low-volume capabilities. It will consist of 16th Air Assault BCT and the ISR, Medical, and CEMA Effects Groups." Under the new programme, the term 'Field Army Troops' is to be re-established, and the following to come under Field Army's direct command:[16]

• Field Army Troops, at Marlborough Lines, Andover[16][17]
  • Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group, at Marlborough Lines, Andover[18][19]
    • 13th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne – Cyber operations
    • 14th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth – Electronic Warfare
    • 21st Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth – Electronic Warfare
  • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group,[20] at Trenchard Lines, Upavon[21]
    • 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps (Hybrid), at Trenchard Lines, Upavon[22]
    • 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps (Army Reserve), in Hackney[22]
    • Specialist Group Military Intelligence, Intelligence Corps (Army Reserve),[23] at Aldershot Garrison
    • Land Image Intelligence Company
    • 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison (Mini UAS)
    • 47th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison (Tactical UAS)
    • Land Intelligence Fusion Centre, at Marlborough Lines, Andover
  • 16th Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison[18][24]
    • 216 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Colchester Garrison
    • Pathfinder Platoon, at Colchester Garrison
    • 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, at Glencorse Barracks, Edinburgh (Light Reconnaissance Infantry)
    • 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, at Colchester Garrison (Airborne Infantry)
    • 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, at Colchester Garrison (Airborne Infantry)
    • 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Army Reserve), in Leeds (Airborne Infantry)
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, at Sir John Moore Barracks, Folkestone (Air Assault Infantry)
    • 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, at Colchester Garrison (Light Artillery, +1 gun battery)
    • 23rd Parachute Regiment, Royal Engineers, at MoD Woodbridge
    • 13th Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Colchester Garrison (+1 squadron)
    • 16th Air Manoeuvre Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Colchester Garrison
  • 2nd Medical Group, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall[18][25] – reduction of 2nd Medical Brigade
    • 21st Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
    • 22nd Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
    • 202nd (Midlands) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Birmingham
    • 203rd (Welsh) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Cardiff
    • 206th (North West) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Liverpool
    • 210th (North Irish) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Belfast
    • 214th (North East) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Newcastle upon Tyne
    • 215th (Scottish) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Glasgow
    • 243rd (Wessex) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Keynsham
    • 254th (East of England) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Cambridge
    • 256th (London and South East) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), in Walworth
    • 306th Hospital Support Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
    • 335th Medical Evacuation Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
    • Medical Operations Support Unit, Royal Army Medical Corps (Army Reserve), at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall