MILNET:  Military of the United Kingdom

Further Info on United Kingdom Military and Intelligence
 

Britain has maintained an army and navy four literally thousands of years, including special units for protection of the royalty even after the magna carta was signed.  Today's armed forces are comprised of the following services:
 

British Armed Forces are all commanded through the civilian leadership of the Ministry of Defense (MOD).  The MOD reports to the British Defense Minister who in turn reports to the British Prime Minister.
 
 

British Army

The Britsh Army consists of the Major Headquarters entities such as:
 


There are also three geographic commands that provide leadership for off-mainland forces:


The British Soldier

The minimum service for a British soldier is basically 4 years with some months for specialized and basic training included.  In some cases an extra three months depending upon age at recruitment.  Most soldiers are capped at 22 years of service, however there are two programs that allow the British Army to retain specialized help beyond the 22 years if the service and the soldier are in agreement.  Minimum age is 18

Soldier's Rank

The rank structure is shown below, with the ideal time in service for each rank:

  1. Private - 0 years
  2. Lance Corporal - 3 years
  3. Corporal - 6 years
  4. Sergeant - 9 years
  5. Staff Sergeant - 14 years
  6. Warrant Officer 2 - 16 years
  7. Warrant Officer 1 - 18.5 years
Soldiers are continually reviewed for suitability to remain in service with 6, 9 and 12 year manning points where a soldier may be relieved.  The British Army has an active and aggressive rentention program including bonuses.

British Officers

Army Officer has a wholly different service program.  Many come from professional life into the service or are promoted from within ranks.  The normal entry is through the 11 month Sandhurst Course ( Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) Commissioning Course), at an age below 29.  There are provisions for older NCOs to attend commissioning course much reduced or directly promoted depending upon their experience and qualifications.  And finally, the professional corps (Professionally Qualified Officers (PQOs)) are populated by direct commissions (upon completion of suitable officer training called the RMAS PQO Course) for Doctors, Lawyers, Dentists, and Nurses.

The normal Direct Entry officer serves a minimum of 3 years (Short Service Commission -- SSC) and may convert to an Itermediate Service Commision (ISC) after two years.  The IRCs serve for a miniumum of 10 years  IRCs may convert to Regular Commission after two years in IRC status.  Regular Commission officers allow officers promoted to Major to continue in service til age 55 with a total runout for older start officers to serve 34 years or attainment od age 60 whichever comes first.
There is also an Undergraduate Cadetship which requires a minimum of 5 years service unless there are special cicumstances.
The list below summarizes the service for officers:
 

Regular Officers may apply for premature resignation of their commissions after three years unless requirements above are in effect.

Officer's Ranks

The rank structure with ideal time of service figures follows:

  1. 2nd Lieutenant - commisioned
  2. 1st Lieutenant - 2 years
  3. Captain - 5 years (2.5 years must be regimental duty)
  4. Major - 16 years or age 37 whichever is later-those officers wi
  5. Lieutenant Colonel - must have attended Command and Staff College, expected to attend Advanced C&SC.
  6. Brigadier General
The Army is comprised of Corps: The British Army website has excellent information on the Army's Equipment.

The reserve component of the British Army is called the Territorial Army is obviously focused on the mainland England area, and consists of two classifications, Independent Units and Specialist Units.  Independent units serve 27 days per year, including a 2 week summer training camp, some evening training and weekends.

Specialist Units serve less time and offer the British Army knowlege and expertise in a wide range of areas, serving 19 days per year and special training in national academies for particular application of their skills in the British Army.

Components

The Division is made up of 3 or 4 Brigades.  The Brigade is made up of a number of Regiments which make up a fighting force such as infantry, artillery, etc.  In the U.K., there are two Divisions, 1 and 2.  These Divisions can be made up of a combination of 15 Brigades:
 

Regiments are specialized units of organization.  For instance the Army Aviation Regiments might field any of:
  Army Aviation can assume a number of roles such as Observation and Reconaissance, providing direction of fire or forward air control, and of course the American designed Apache Attack Helicopter can serve as a combat unit fielded against armour, artillery, emplacements or infantry.

Battlions of soldiers can be brought together to make up a regiment -- for instance the The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, one of Scotland's finest.

The Arygll and Sutherland Highlanders is made up of a Regular Battalion (1st Battalion), a Territorial Army Battalion (7th/8th (Volunteer) Battalion) and an Army Cadet Force Battalion.

This Regiment covers the territory between which stretches from the Western Isles to the Firth of Forth.  Like all British Regiments they can be called upon to go anywhere the British Amry is needed, however tend to serve for the most part in their recruitment region.

Similar Regiments are recognizable by their history, such as the famous hihglander regiment, The Black Watch, with HQ in Perth, Scotland and known worldwide for their Black Watch Bagpipes yet are also known in military circles as a fierce and unrelenting combat force.

Other names, perhaps not so recognizable outside Britain have histories that go back to the 17 century such as the Green Howards, known in the 17th century as the 19th Regiment of Foot.  The Green Howards name comes from the nickname in 1744 when two regiments both had a commander named Howard.  Those with green facing in their uniform facings received the Green Howards name and it has stuck.

The Green Howards raised 24 Battalions in World War 1 and 13 in World War II and fought in all the major the atres of war. Since 1945 the Regiment has seen active service in Malaya, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and Bosnia.
 

The Royal Air Force

The RAF is composed of the Strike Command, Personnel and Training Command, and supported by the new Defence Logistics Command.  A new "jointness" philosophy has resulted in the British RAF assuming new, more rapid ready force capabilities in "Tri-service" organizations such as the Joint Helicopter Command or Joint Force Harrier.

Strike Command, headquartered at RAF High Wycombe consists of:

Personnel & Training Command is headquartered at RAF Innsworth and employs 17,000 people, including 4,000 civilians, at more than 30 locations. It is  responsible for over 500 training aircraft of which 150 are gliders. Headquarters staff number some 1500, of whom a half are civilian.  The command embraces all aspects of recruiting, training, career management,  welfare, conditions of service, resettlement and pensions for RAF regular and reserve forces world-wide. All RAF policy and implementation staffs involved in the full span of personnel  functions are based at the Command's headquarters at RAF Innsworth in Gloucester

The RAF has a number of Air Bases in country:

  1. RAF Aldergrove - British Army. 8 Wessex HC2s  and 5 Puma HC1s of 72 Squadron and 13 Puma HC1s of 230 Squadron make up the permanently based force, but there are regular detachments from other Puma and Chinook Squadrons. No 3  Squadron of the RAF Regiment are the Field Squadron based at Aldergrove. Two Army Air Corps units are also based at Aldergrove.
  2. RAF Barkston Heath - The primary function of RAF Barkston Heath is as a Relief Landing Ground for the flying training activities at RAF Cranwell. The airfield originally opened in 1941 and was home to the 61st Troop Carrier Group of the 9th USAAF during the Second World War. Nowadays, it is a regular home to only one unit, the Joint Elementary Flying Training  School which operates 18 Mk II Firefly two seat trainers
  3. RAF Benson - Several squadrons call RAF Benson home; 28 (AC) flying Merlin HC Mk3 helicopter which carry bulk cargo, artillery, Land Rovers and light strike vehicles, heavily equipped combat teams and, when required, will convert to casualty evacuation (Casevac) or humanitarian and disaster relief roles;  Also at RAF Benson is the 33 , and the 606 (RAF Auxillary) Squadrons, both flying HC1 Puma transport and S&R helicopter and part of the RAF Support Helicopter Force part of Joint Helicopter Command.
  4. Boscombe Down - Home of the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment, the RAF presence at Boscombe Down comprises  the Empire Test Pilots School, the Strike/Attack Operational Evaluation Unit, and the Southampton University Air Squadron
  5. RAF Brize Norton - The largest RAF Station in the UK, Brize Norton is the nerve centre of the RAF's air transport  capabilities. Opened in 1937, the Station was used to train airborne forces, before being handed over to the USAF in 1950. Strategic Air Command based B-29 and B-47 bombers at Brize, before  the RAF reclaimed the Station for use as a tanker and transport base. Currently based at Brize Norton are the 11 VC10 C1Ks of 10 Squadron, the 8 VC10 K3 and K4s of 101 Squadron, the 8 Tristar K1, KC1, C2 and C2As of 216 Squadron, the 4 C-17s of 99 Squadron and No 2624 (County of Oxford)  Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment Field Squadron and sister RAuxAF Squadron, No. 4624. Also based at Brize Norton is No 1 Parachute Training School, which includes the RAF Parachute Display Team, the Falcons. 2001 also saw the arrival of No 99 Squadron and it's Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft
  6. Royal Marines Base Chivenor -Originally a civil airfield opened in the 1930s, the RAF took over the site from May 1940 for use as a Coastal Command Station. Post war the Station was largely used for training, particularly weapons training as the home of No 2 Tactical Weapons Unit, from 1980 until fixed wing flying ceased in 1994. The only units now based at Chivenor are  "A" Flight of 22 Squadron with two Sea King HAR3A helicopters for Search and Rescue duties and its HQ Flight,  and No 624 Volunteer Gliding School operating Vigilant T1 motor gliders.
  7. RAF Church Fenton -  Church Fenton is currently the home of Yorkshire University Air Squadron, flying Tutor T1s, and serves as a relief landing ground for Tucano T1s from RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
  8. RAF Coltishall - 6 Squadron (Jaguar Ground Attack), 16(R) Squadron (reserve OCU), 41 (F) Squadron (Tactical Recon and Ground Attack with Jaguar GR1),  and 54 (F) Squadron (Ground Attack with Jaguar)
  9. RAF Coningsby - Originally a heavy bomber base as part of No 5 Group Bomber Command, Coningsby opened in 1940, and maintained its link with the heavy bomber force until 1964 when the Vulcan Squadrons  based there moved to Cottesmore. Coningsby became the first RAF Station to operate the Air Defence Variant of the Tornado, the major type still based there today. Units based at Coningsby are No 56(Reserve) Squadron, the Tornado F3 Operational Conversion Unit with 19 Tornado F3s and the Tornado F3 Operational Evaluation Unit flies 3 Tornado F3s, and the world-famous Battle of Britain  Memorial Flight operates 5 Spitfires of various Marks, the only flying Lancaster in Europe, two Hurricanes, a Dakota  and two Chipmunks. At nearby Woodhall Spa is located the RB199 engine repair facility which, as well as maintaining the engines of Coningsby-based aircraft, also provides units for the other Tornado F3 units.
  10. RAF Cosford - Shropshire, 150 miles  (250 km) northwest of London. Located adjacent to the A41, near junction 3 of the M54.  The Station consists of 3 schools: No 1 School of Technical Training, with responsibility for training mechanics and technicians from all aircraft engineering trades; the Joint School of  Photography, which trains photographers for all 3 Armed Forces; and the RAF School of Physical Training which, in addition to providing physical education for all trainees, trains physical  education officers and physical training instructors. Cosford also boasts an active airfield used by the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, No 8 Air Experience Flight, No 633 Volunteer Gliding School (Air Training Corps), and the Wrekin Gliding Club.
  11. RAF Cottesmore - On 13 April 1999, IV(AC) Squadron  (equipped with the Harrier GR7) returned from service overseas to their new home at  Cottesmore, closely followed by 3(F) Squadron on 11 May 1999.  They were joined  on 28 June 2000 by 1(F) Squadron, finally collocating all the RAF’s front-line Harrier squadrons in the Cottesmore Wing of ‘Joint Force Harrier’.  At that stage, planning was conducted to move 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with the Sea Harrier, to Cottesmore.  On 28 February 2002, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that these aircraft would no longer be moving to Cottesmore although the RN personnel would.  The intention is to start disbanding the Sea Harrier squadrons in 2004, ultimately enabling both RAF and RN personnel to operate an all-Harrier-GR9 fleet by 2007.  Longer term, these ground-attack Harriers will be replaced by the  multi-role Joint Strike Fighter, starting in 2012, again operated by both  RAF and RN personnel.
  12. RAF Cranwell - Northwest of Nottingham, England, the home of the Royal Air Force War College, the Air Warfare Centre, and the Air Cadet organization.  The Royal Naval Air Service Central Training Establishment Cranwell was commissioned on 1 April 1916, under the command of Commodore Godfrey M. Paine.  With the amalgamation of the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps on 1 April 1918, ownership of Cranwell was placed in the hands of the Royal Air Force. The former Naval base title was replaced  by the designation Royal Air Force Station Cranwell.  Today the site performs the intitial training for Air Officers and non-commissioned aircrews for the RAF as well as other Commonwealth armed forces.
  13. RAF Kinloss - Features some three operational aircraft squadrons; the 120th, the 201st, the 206th and all flying Nimrod MR Mk 2 Patrol aircraft flying maritime surveillance, patrol and aiding in rescue operations.  A fourth OCU (reserve) squadron also operates out of od Kinloss, the 42(R).
  14. RAF Leconfield - Although the majority of the airfield at Leconfield is no longer operational, the base still fulfills an  important role as part of the RAF's Search and Rescue commitments. The 2 Sea King HAR3s of  "E" Flight of No 202 Squadron are based on the airfield and operate over the North Sea.
  15. RAF Leeming - RAF Leeming began operations as a bomber station in July 1940 operating Whitley, Sterling, Halifax and Lancaster aircraft during the Second World War. After the War the Station became a night  fighter base, equipped initially with the Mosquito and then with the Meteor and Javelin before  becoming a Training Command airfield in 1961. The Station was then home to No. 3 Flying Training School, equipped with the Jet Provost, until the mid-1980s when a major refurbishment programme  began to prepare the Station for Tornado F3 operations.

    16. The Station reopened in 1988 as a Tornado F3 Main Operating Base and today is part of No. 11/18 Group within Strike Command and home to two Tornado F3 Squadrons - No. XI(F) Squadron and No. 25(F) Squadron. The squadrons are part of the UK's air defence fighter force and are declared to both the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction  Force and NATO's Immediate Reaction Force (Air). Leeming is also home to two other high-readiness units with  both national and NATO commitments - No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and No. 2 RAF Tactical Survive To Operate HQ. Also at Leeming is No. 100 Squadron, equipped with Hawk aircraft in the target facilities role along  with exercise and training support, and the Joint Forward Air Controllers Training and Standards Unit, which also  utilises the Hawk. Other units at Leeming include the Air Defence Support Squadron, an RAuxAF unit, and  Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron and No. 11 Air Experience Flight, which are equipped with the Tutor  aircraft. Finally, the Station also has a Mountain Rescue Team consisting of 5 permanent staff and about 20 volunteers from around the Station.
  16. RAF Leuchars -
  17. RAF Linton-on-Ouse - One of the busiest training airfields in the RAF, Linton-on-Ouse has been used as a Bomber,   Transport and Fighter airfield in its long and interesting history since it opened in 1937. Since 1957  the main role of the Station has been pilot training, initially with the Jet Provost, but now with the Tucano T1. No 1 Flying Training School operates no fewer than 78 Tucano T1s at Linton-on-Ouse,   providing basic flying instruction. Also flying at Linton is No 642 Volunteer Gliding School, equipped with Vigilant T1s
  18. RAF Lossiemouth -  A number of RAF squadrons call Lossiemouth home; 12 and 14  Bomber Sqn (Toronado GR4) of Gulf War fame ,  15 Sqn (XV(R) Display Team for Toronado GR4, 617 Sqn Dambusters (museum) ,  202 D Flt (Search and Rescue (Sea King Helo and Nimrod MR2)
  19. RAF Lyneham -
  20. RAF Marham - 4 Toronado Squadrons; IX(B), XIII; 31 all flying Toronado GR4s;   and one Caneberra Squadron (39) performing low or high level imagery.
  21. RAF Northolt - One of the key airfields in the defence of London during the Battle of Britain, Northolt became the  major airport for London in 1946, until the new site at Heathrow opened. Transport Command  continued using Northolt after this, and the role of providing VIP air transport is the major task of the airfield today. The unit based at Northolt responsible for VIP transport is No 32 (Royal) Squadron which operates 6 BAe125s, 2 BAe146s and 3 Squirrel HCC1s, and incorporates the aircraft of the  former Queen's Flight. Lesser units based at Northolt include No. 1 (County of Middlesex) Maritime Headquarters  Unit, No 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit and a small Station Flight operating a single Islander CC2.
  22. RAF Odiham -  Chinook Helicopter Squadrons 7, 18, and 27 performing Search and Rescue, lift and combat transport.
  23. RAF Scampton - Scampton in Lincolnshire is home to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, flying  Hawk T1/T1As.
  24. RAF St Athan - St Athan is the major RAF maintenance base for Harrier, Tornado, Jaguar, Hawk, Dominie and  VC10, all of which is the responsibility of the Engineering Division. Other units are a Mountain  Rescue Team, the University of Wales Air Squadron with Tutor T1s and No 634 Volunteer Gliding School with Viking TX1s.
  25. RAF St Mawgan - Ferry Command was originally responsible for St Mawgan, and the base was initially used for ferry flights across the Atlantic. In 1951, the Station reopened as a Coastal Command base, and now  operates largely as a Search and Rescue base. Nimrods and Tornados regularly detach to St Mawgan to exercise the defence of the South West Approaches. Currently based on the airfield is  No 203 (Reserve) Squadron equipped with 3 Sea King HAR3s. All maintenance for the RAF Sea King fleet is carried out at St Mawgan, and the airfield is home to No 3 Maritime Headquarters Unit. Two Field Squadrons are also based here; No 1 Squadron RAF Regiment and No 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron, RAuxAF.
  26. RAF Shawbury -  6 Flight Army Air Corps (Volunteers), based at RAF Shawbury, and equipped with four Gazelle AH 1 helicopters. Its role is to provide communications, transport and exercise support for both Regular and Territorial Army units in Land Command. The Flight’s Commanding Officer and Artificer are both Regular Army; the remainder of the unit's 20 staff comprise two non-regular permanent staff and Territorial Army aircrew.  RAF Shawbury also hosts the Centeral Air Traffic Control School - CATCS,  Central Flying School Helicopters --CFS(H) and  Defence Helicopter Flying School -DHFS.
  27. RAF Valley - home to No 4 Flying Training School (FTS) - Nos 19 and 208 Squadrons operating the Hawk T Mk1/1A, now the only Advanced Training and Tactics Unit, responsible for training all RAF and RN fast jet pilots to front-line Operational Conversion Unit entry standard for Harrier, Sea Harrier, Jaguar, Tornado F3 and GR4 and when it enters Service, the Eurofighter Typhoon. No 208 Squadron conducts Advanced Flying Training and No 19 Squadron provides Tactics and Weapons Training.  C Flight of No 22 Squadron, one of the busiest operational Search and Rescue flights in the United Kingdom, operating the Sea King Mk3; the Search and Rescue Training Unit, which is part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School operating the Griffin HT Mk1, and training helicopter crews in the specialist techniques of Search and Rescue.  The station also hosts the Air Guided Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit, now part of the Air Warfare Centre, which provides support for operational aircraft conducting training and evaluation missile firings using the Aberporth missile range.
  28. RAF Waddington - RAF Waddington is situated about 3 miles south of Lincoln and is one of the largest stations in the RAF in terms of manpower.  It is the home of the RAF fleet of Boeing E3-D AWACS and BAe Nimrod R1 aircraft, along with a range of affiliated and supporting units. Station personnel and aircraft regularly deploy all over the world in support of UK, NATO and UN policy, and other countries regularly visit us, particularly as part of the ACMI program.
  29. Wattisham -- Once a fully operational RAF station, Wattisham is now only home to a Search and Rescue helicopter unit, "B" Flight of No 22 Squadron, equipped with 2 Sea King HAR3A helicopters.
  30. RAF Wittering - No 20(R) Squadron features the Harrier GR7 VTSOL combat aircraft, and transitions all RAF Harrier pilots to the GR7.  Electronic Warfare Instructors and Instrument Rating Examiners are trained and Qualified Flying Instructors are awarded 'Competent to Instruct', which enables them to teach in the area of pure flying. The most demanding and competitive course run by the Squadron is for Qualified Weapons Instructors, which involves four months of intensive air and ground work.
  31. RAF Woodvale - Woodvale is currently home to the Liverpool and Manchester University Air Squadrons which both operate Tutor T1s, and No 10 Air Experience Flight.
The Royal Navy
 

The Royal Navy fields aircraft carriers, Type 22 and Type 23 Frigates, Type 49 Destroyers, Assault Ships, Hydrographic Vessels, Mine Countermeasures and Patrol Craft.

© Copyright, 2002, Michael Crawford, MILNET
 
 

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