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Army Special Operations Brigade

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For the special forces of the army in Kenya using this title, see Army Special Operations Brigade (Kenya).
Army Special Operations Brigade
Brigade flash
Active2021 – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeSpecial operations-capable[1]
RoleSpecial Operations
Unconventional Warfare
Security Force Assistance
Foreign internal defence
Counterinsurgency
SizeBrigade
Part ofField Army Troops
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier Rob Hedderwick

The Army Special Operations Brigade, previously called the Specialised Infantry Group, is a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces.[2][3] Its name and role was adapted after the Defence in a Competitive Age reforms, to a unit that not only trains partner nations, but also fights alongside them in "complex high-threat environments".[4][5]

History

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Specialised Infantry Group

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The group was formed to work alongside partner forces,[3] a role which has similarities to that of the US Army Security Force Assistance Brigades.[6][7] Initially formed in October 2017 with the 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 Rifles) and Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots).[8][9][10][2][3] in July 2018, the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was added to the Group.[8][9][10][3] and in January 2019, a fourth battalion, the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was added and this was followed by the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2020.[9][11][10][12][3][13]

In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.[14] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[15] In July 2018, C Company from the 2 PWRR was dispatched to Nigeria, where 1 Scots also trained the Nigerian Army for their fight against Boko Haram.[16]

Army Special Operations Brigade

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In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,[17] with the four battalions of the newly created Ranger Regiment and two reinforcement companies of the Royal Gurkha Rifles along with 255 Signal Squadron under command,[18] and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company attached to provide long-range surveillance patrols.[19][20]

The mentoring and training role that was previously undertaken by the Specialised Infantry Group, will be taken on by a new brigade, formed through the conversion of 11th Infantry Brigade, into the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade.[4][21][22]

The inaugural Brigade Commander was Brigadier Angus Fair DSO* OBE who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.[23][24][25]

By 2024, the brigade had been transferred from the disbanded 6 (UK) Division to Field Army Troops.[26]

Structure

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Former Structure (2021)

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The structure of the Specialised Infantry Group in March 2021 was as follows:

Future Structure (2030)

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Graphic representing the structure of the new brigade.

The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) will be:[38][5][39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Defence in a Competitive Age (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. pp. 46, 68. ISBN 9781528624626. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Defence review to see dozens of sites close". BBC News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?". IISS. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Army Special Operations Brigade". Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  6. ^ Matisek, Jahara; Williamson, Joshua (June 2020). "Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance". Expeditions with MCU Press. doi:10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
  7. ^ Matisek, Jahara; Reno, William (2019). "Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters" (PDF). Joint Force Quarterly. 92 (1st quarter): 65–73.
  8. ^ a b "Leadership in The Specialised Infantry: An Interview with Brigadier James Roddis". thearmyleader.co.uk. The Army Leader. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Army 2020 Refine Structure" (PDF). britisharmedforcesreview. HM Armed Forces Review. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  10. ^ a b c "Written Statement: Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367". parliament.uk. Hansard. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019. Specialised Infantry Battalions
  11. ^ "New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows". gov.uk. London. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. ^ "New 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Will Begin Recruiting 2019". warfare.today. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  13. ^ Latter, Mick (3 February 2020). "The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade".
  14. ^ Grzeszczyk, Sian (21 February 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Specialist British Soldiers' First Operational Deployment In Kuwait". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  15. ^ Wiltshire, Amy (2 May 2019). "Duchess Of Cornwall Presents 4 RIFLES With Medals". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  16. ^ Cotterill, Tom (23 July 2018). "Portsmouth soldiers teach Nigerian Army how to defeat brutal terror group Boko Haram". Portsmouth News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  17. ^ "First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. p. 14.
  18. ^ a b "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  19. ^ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 1. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  20. ^ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  21. ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  22. ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  23. ^ Nicholls, Dominic (25 November 2021). "'Emotional intelligence' key for Army's new Rangers units". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  24. ^ Luscombe, Stephen. "Light Dragoons". The British Empire. Retrieved 13 December 2021. Angus George Costeker Fair
  25. ^ "Aldershot Soldiers Receive Operational Medals". British Army (Press release). 14 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Formations, Divisions & Brigades | The British Army". 10 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  28. ^ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  30. ^ a b c Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  31. ^ a b c d "Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  32. ^ a b "Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  33. ^ a b British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
  34. ^ a b "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  35. ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  36. ^ a b "4 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  37. ^ "New specialist Gurkha battalion established". Ministry of Defence. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  38. ^ "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  39. ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  40. ^ "6th (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  41. ^ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  42. ^ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  43. ^ a b c Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  44. ^ Latter, Mick (30 November 2021). "F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021". Welcome to the Gurkha Brigade Association. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  45. ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  46. ^ Rushworth, Will (9 February 2022). "4 RANGER'S GURKHAS DEPLOYED ACROSS AFRICA" (PDF). 4 RIFLES. Bugle. No. 19 Spring 2022. Kettering: Crest Publications. p. 30. … G (Coriano) Coy, the newest addition to 4 RANGER, …
  47. ^ Peach, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart (2012). "Defence and Intelligence" (PDF). Geospatial World Forum. Joint Forces Command. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  48. ^ The Integrated Review, Lt Gen Andrew Gregory CBE, Master Gunner St James's Park, 25 November 2021
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