Rapid reaction force explained

A rapid reaction force / rapid response force (RRF), quick reaction force / quick response force (QRF), immediate reaction force (IRF), rapid deployment force (RDF), or quick maneuver force (QMF) is a military or police unit capable of responding to emergencies in a very short time frame.

Types

Quick reaction force

A quick reaction force (QRF) is an armed military unit capable of rapidly responding to developing situations, usually to assist allied units in need of assistance. They are equipped to respond to any type of emergency within a short time frame, often only a few minutes, based on unit standard operating procedures (SOPs).^[1] Cavalry units are frequently postured as QRFs, with a main mission of security and reconnaissance.^{[2] [3]} A quick reaction force belongs directly to the commander of the unit it is created from and is typically held in the reserve.^[4]

Rapid deployment force

A rapid deployment force (RDF) is a military formation that is capable of fast deployment outside their country's borders. They typically consist of well-trained military units (special forces, paratroopers, marines, etc.) that can be deployed fairly quickly or on short notice, usually from other major assets and without requiring a large organized support force immediately.

List

Rapid reaction force

• The concept of a United Nations rapid reaction force was proposed in the mid-1990s by several commentators and officials, including Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The UN rapid reaction force would consist of personnel stationed in their home countries, but they would have the same training, equipment, and procedures, and would conduct joint exercises. The force would remain at high readiness at all times so as to quickly deploy them where necessary.^[5]
• The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is a NATO rapid reaction force, established in 1992. A successor to the British Army's I Corps, the ARRC is capable of rapidly deploying a NATO headquarters for operations and crisis response.^[6]
• The European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) is a European rapid reaction force under the European Union, established in 2006. An alliance of gendarmerie forces from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, it serves as a unified intervention force of European militarized police.^[7]
• The European Rapid Operational Force (EUROFOR) was a European rapid reaction force under the European Union and Western European Union, established in 1995 and composed of military units from Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. EUROFOR was tasked with performing duties outlined in the Petersberg Tasks. EUROFOR deployed to Kosovo from 2000 to 2001, and North Macedonia as part of EUFOR Concordia in 2003. After being converted into an EU Battlegroup, EUROFOR was dissolved in 2012.
• The European Rapid Reaction Force (ERRF) was the intended result of the Helsinki Headline Goal. Though many media reports suggested the ERRF would be a European Union army, the Helsinki Headline Goal was little more than headquarters arrangements and a list of theoretically available national forces for a rapid reaction force.
• The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a NATO rapid reaction force, established in 2003. Distinct from the ARRC, the NRF comprises land, sea, air, and special forces units that can be deployed quickly.
• Riot Police Units (RPU) are the rapid reaction forces of Japanese prefectural police. They combine riot police, police tactical units, and disaster response squads under one unit. Each prefectural police force operates RPUs, sometimes under different names.
• Rapid Action Force of India
• Army Deployment Force of Singapore
• 2nd Quick Response Division ROK Marine Corps Quick Maneuver Force
• The Immediate Response Force (IRF) is an American rapid reaction force composed of units from the United States Army and United States Air Force. They are capable of responding to any location in the world within 18 hours of notice.
• The Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) was a British Armed Forces capability concept created in 1999. The force was composed of units from all three branches of the British military, and was able to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world at short notice. However, the War in Afghanistan and 2003 invasion of Iraq siphoned British personnel and equipment, leaving the JRRF with insufficient forces. The JRRF was succeeded by the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force in 2010 and the Joint Expeditionary Force in 2014.

Rapid deployment force

• Special forces of India
• Special Operations Force of Singapore
• Argentine Rapid Deployment Force
• 3rd Brigade
• Rapid Deployment Force
• Egyptian Rapid Deployment Forces^[8]
• Finnish Rapid Deployment Force
• / Rapid Forces Division
• Indonesian Air Force Quick Reaction Forces Command
• Indonesian Army Strategic Command
• Indonesian Marine Corps
• NEDSA Corps^{[9] [10]}
• / NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy
• Central Readiness Regiment
• ROKMC Quick Maneuver Force
• 10th Parachute Brigade
• Netherlands Marine Corps
• Norwegian Telemark Battalion
• 710th Special Operations Wing
• Rapid Reaction Brigade
• Guards
• Air Mobile Brigade
• The Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) is divided into two types. The first is the airborne force responsible for the 31st Infantry Regiment, King Bhumibol's Guard. The second is infantry battalions designated as RDF, each Army Area has one RDF battalion including The 3rd Infantry Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division was designated the RDF of the First Army Area. • The 1st Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division was designated the RDF of the Second Army Area. • The 1st Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division was designated the RDF of the Third Army Area. • The 2nd Infantry Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division was designated the RDF of the Fouth Army Area.
• The Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) was a former United States Department of Defense joint task force. It was formed in 1979 as the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), envisioned as a mobile force that could quickly deploy U.S. forces to any location outside the usual American deployment areas of Western Europe and East Asia, soon coming to focus on the Middle East. It was inactivated in 1983 and reorganized as the United States Central Command.
• Marine Expeditionary Unit^[11]
• XVIII Airborne Corps
• 75th Ranger Regiment
• / Russian Airborne Forces
• Separate Operational Purpose Division
• EU Battlegroup

See also

• Expeditionary warfare
• Power projection

Notes and References

1. Michael T. Chychota . Edwin L. Kennedy Jr. . July–September 2014 . Who You Gonna Call? Deciphering the Difference Between Reserve, rapid Reaction, Striking and Tactical Combat Forces . live . INFANTRY . 16–19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191115200859/https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2014/Jul-Sep/Chychota.html . 15 November 2019 . 6 January 2021.
2. Web site: Quick Reaction Force (QRF) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810200909/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/qrf.htm . 10 August 2017 . 17 January 2008 . Globalsecurity.org.
3. Web site: Greg Heath . 10th Mountain Division Soldiers Provide Quick Reaction Force . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150926202132/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=28302 . 26 September 2015 . 1 December 2015 . defense.gov . American Forces Press Service.
4. Web site: Jason C. Mackay . The CSS Quick Reaction Force . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208112216/http://www.alu.army.mil/alog/issues/MarApr01/MS574.htm . 8 December 2015 . 1 December 2015.
5. Book: M., Serafino, Nina . A U.N. Rapid Reaction Force? A Discussion of the Issues and Considerations for U.S. Policymakers . 1995 . Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress . 50077294.
6. Web site: NATO ARRC About us . 2023-04-26 . arrc.nato.int.
7. Web site: European Gendarmerie Force - International agreement . 2023-04-26 . www.geo-ref.net.
8. Web site: 25 March 2014 . السيسى : تشكيل قوات التدخل السريع بالجيش المصرى انجاز تاريخى . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715112117/http://www1.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=1576429 . 15 July 2014 . 25 May 2014.
9. Web site: آمادگی سپاه برای واکنش‌های سخت و سریع . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027195918/https://www.irinn.ir/fa/news/828239/%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%B4%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%AE%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B9 . 2021-10-27 . 2021-11-03.
10. News: ایجاد «تیپ‌های واکنش سریع» در سپاه و آموزش «رزمندگان خارجی» . رادیو فردا . 6 June 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161012045142/http://www.radiofarda.com/a/f12-new-unit-formed-in-revolutionary-guard/27781932.html . 2016-10-12 . 2021-11-03.
11. http://192.156.19.109/22ndmeu/What_is_a_MEU.htm What is a MEU?