Army Special Operations Brigade Explained

Unit Name:	Army Special Operations Brigade
Dates:	2021 – present
Country:	United Kingdom
Type:	Special operations-capable^[1]
Role:	Special Operations Unconventional Warfare Security Force Assistance Foreign internal defence Counterinsurgency
Size:	Brigade
Command Structure:	6th (United Kingdom) Division
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]

History

Specialised Infantry Group

The group was formed to work alongside partner forces, a role which has similarities to that of the US Army Security Force Assistance Brigades.^{[5] [6]} 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).^{[7] [8]} in July 2018, the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was added to the Group. 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] [10] [11] [12]}

In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.^[13] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.^[14] 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.^[15]

Army Special Operations Brigade

In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,^[16] 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, and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company attached to provide long-range surveillance patrols.^{[17] [18]}

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.^{[19] [20] [21]}

The inaugural Brigade Commander was Brigadier Angus Fair DSO* OBE who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.^{[22] [23] [24]}

Structure

Former Structure (2021)

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

• Group Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison^[25]
  • Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS), at Palace Barracks, Belfast^[26]
  • 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett^{[27] [28] [29] [30]}
  • 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp^{[31] [32]}
  • 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 RIFLES), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison^{[33] [34]}
  • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (3 RGR), at Aldershot Garrison^[35]

Future Structure (2030)

The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) will be:^{[36] [37]}

• Brigade Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison^[38]
  • 255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (Aldershot from 2027)^[39]
  • 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGER), at Palace Barracks, Belfast^[40]
  • 2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (2 RANGER), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett^{[41] [42] [29] [30]}
    • F (Falklands) Company, The Royal Gurkha Rifles^[43]
  • 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (3 RANGER), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp^{[31] [29] [32]}
  • 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison^{[44] [34]}
    • G (Coriano) Company, The Royal Gurkha Rifles^[45]
  • Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe Army Camp^[46]
  • 1 Squadron, Honourable Artillery Company will provide Special Patrols to the Brigade.^[47]

See also

• 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade – British Army formation taking on the role of the former Spec Inf Gp.
• Security Force Assistance Brigade – American equivalent to 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade and Special Operations Brigade.

External links

• Army Special Operations Brigade

Notes and References

1. Book: Defence in a Competitive Age . Ministry of Defence . 12 January 2022 . 46, 68. 9781528624626 . March 2021. .
2. News: . Defence review to see dozens of sites close . BBC News . 7 November 2016 . 15 August 2019.
3. Web site: Specialised Infantry Group . . army.mod.uk . British Army . 15 August 2019 . 1 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190801041909/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/6th-united-kingdom-division/specialised-infantry-group/ . dead .
4. Web site: Army Special Operations Brigade. 8 September 2021.
5. Matisek . Jahara . Williamson . Joshua . Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance . Expeditions with MCU Press . June 2020 . 10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
6. Matisek . Jahara . Reno . William . Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters . Joint Force Quarterly . 2019 . 92 . 1st quarter . 65–73 .
7. Web site: Leadership in The Specialised Infantry: An Interview with Brigadier James Roddis . . 8 December 2018 . thearmyleader.co.uk . The Army Leader . 15 August 2019 .
8. Web site: Written Statement: Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367 . . 15 December 2016 . parliament.uk . Hansard . 15 August 2019 . Specialised Infantry Battalions.
9. Web site: Army 2020 Refine Structure . . 15 October 2019 . britisharmedforcesreview . HM Armed Forces Review . 15 October 2019 .
10. News: . New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows . gov.uk . London . 11 March 2019 . 15 August 2019 .
11. News: . New 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Will Begin Recruiting 2019 . warfare.today . 12 March 2019 . 15 August 2019 .
12. Web site: The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade. Mick. Latter. 3 February 2020.
13. News: Grzeszczyk . Sian . 21 February 2018 . EXCLUSIVE: Specialist British Soldiers' First Operational Deployment In Kuwait . Forces News . 15 August 2019.
14. News: Wiltshire . Amy . 2 May 2019 . Duchess Of Cornwall Presents 4 RIFLES With Medals . Forces News . 15 August 2019 .
15. News: Cotterill . Tom . 23 July 2018 . Portsmouth soldiers teach Nigerian Army how to defeat brutal terror group Boko Haram . Portsmouth News . Portsmouth . 15 August 2019 .
16. Web site: 1 August 2021. First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'. Soldier Magazine. 14.
17. Web site: Gregory. Lieutenant General Sir Andrew. 25 November 2021. The Integrated Review. 3 December 2021. Ministry of Defence. 1.
18. Web site: Gregory. Lieutenant General Sir Andrew. 25 November 2021. The Integrated Review. 3 December 2021. Ministry of Defence. 2.
19. Web site: New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?. 2021-09-04. IISS. en.
20. Web site: 24 March 2021. New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far. 2021-03-24. Forces Network. en.
21. Web site: 6 April 2021. New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far. 2021-09-04. Forces Network. en.
22. News: Nicholls . Dominic . 'Emotional intelligence' key for Army's new Rangers units . 13 January 2022 . The Telegraph . 25 November 2021. subscription.
23. Web site: Luscombe. Stephen. Light Dragoons. 2021-12-13. The British Empire. Angus George Costeker Fair.
24. Aldershot Soldiers Receive Operational Medals . British Army . 13 January 2022 . 14 November 2019.
25. Web site: . Specialised Infantry Group. 15 August 2019. army.mod.uk. British Army. 1 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190801041909/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/6th-united-kingdom-division/specialised-infantry-group/. dead.
26. Web site: Weir. Fiona. 2 October 2014. Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood. 2020-10-29. Forces Network. en.
27. Web site: Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017. 2019-10-10. Dropbox. en.
28. Web site: Fallon. Michael. 15 December 2016. Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367. Hansard. 16 December 2016.
29. News: Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure. Belfast Telegraph. 22 December 2016.
30. Web site: Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. 2020-12-03. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
31. https://www.army.mod.uk/media/10192/adr009405_in_front_5.pdf British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front
32. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. 2020-12-03. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
33. Web site: Garrison. Aldershot. Winter 2020. The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020. 18 March 2021. Aldershot Garrison.
34. Web site: 4 RIFLES. 2020-12-03. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
35. Web site: 14 March 2019. New specialist Gurkha battalion established. 12 July 2021. Ministry of Defence.
36. Web site: Unit Details. 2021-11-26. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
37. Web site: 25 November 2021. New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far. 2021-11-16. Forces Network.
38. Web site: 6th (United Kingdom) Division. 2020-12-03. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
39. Web site: Unit Details. 2021-11-25. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
40. Web site: Fiona. Weir. 2 October 2014. Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood. 2020-10-29. Forces Network. en.
41. Web site: Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017. 2019-10-10. Dropbox. en.
42. Web site: Fallon. Michael. 15 December 2016. Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367. 16 December 2016. Hansard.
43. Web site: Latter. Mick. 2021-11-30. F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021. 2021-12-10. Welcome to the Gurkha Brigade Association. en-GB.
44. Web site: Garrison. Aldershot. Winter 2020. The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020. 18 March 2021. Aldershot Garrison.
45. Rushworth . Will . 2022-02-09 . 4 RANGER'S GURKHAS DEPLOYED ACROSS AFRICA . PDF . 4 RIFLES . Bugle . en . 19 Spring 2022 . Crest Publications . Kettering . 30 . … G (Coriano) Coy, the newest addition to 4 RANGER, ….
46. Web site: Peach. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart. 2012. Defence and Intelligence. 2 November 2017. Geospatial World Forum. Joint Forces Command. 3.
47. The Integrated Review, Lt Gen Andrew Gregory CBE, Master Gunner St James's Park, 25 November 2021