Higher Command

The British Army is headed by the Chief of the General Staff and his General Staff who are based in the Ministry of Defence. The Commander-in-Chief Land Forces is based in Headquarters Land Forces and reports directly to the Chief of the General Staff to deliver forces that are properly trained and equipped to sustain current operations. The Adjutant General is also based in Headquarters Land Forces and reports directly to the Chief of the General Staff on the personnel policies that enable the Army to carry out its duties. Both the Commander-in-Chief Land Forces and the Adjutant General are supported by the remainder of the General Staff. Everyone in the Army is a part of 'the chain of command' - the phrase used for the whole Army structure from the Chief of the General Staff downwards.

Command Structure

The Army command structure is hierachical with Commander Field Army and Commander Regional Forces controlling groupings of units based around Divisions and their Brigades. Within these Brigades are Major Units, regiment or battalion-sized and Minor Units, smaller company sized sub-units or platoons. All units within the service are either Regular (full-time) or Territorial Army (parttime), or a combination with sub-units of each type.

Executive Committee of The Army Board

The Executive Committee of the Army Board assists the Chief of the General Staff in discharging his executive responsibilities for the delivery of coherent military capability, the current and future fighting effectiveness and efficiency of the Army and the morale of the Service. It also supports the Chief of the General Staff as the Budget Holder to produce the Army's Plan and oversee in-year performance management, risk, budgetary, resource and financial assurance issues. It will take account of concerns raised by the Adjutant General and the Non Executive Director.

Headquarters Land Forces

How is the Army organised?

Joint Helicopter Command

The Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) was formed in 1999 to bring together under one command the battlefield helicopters of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. The JHC operates over 250 aircraft including the Sea King and Lynx helicopters of the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force; the Chinook, Puma and Merlin helicopters of the Royal Air Force and the Apache, Lynx, Gazelle and Bell 212 helicopters and the Islander/Defender fixed wing aircraft of the Army Air Corps (AAC). The principle Army formation under command is 16 Air Assault Brigade, the newest and largest brigade in the British Army. Formed in 1999 and based in Colchester, the brigade has already served in Macedonia, Iraq and Afghanistan. 16 Brigade is the Army's primary rapid reaction formation, equipped and manned so that it can be used throughout the spectrum of conflict from humanitarian tasks, such as disaster relief at one extreme, through to high intensity warfighting at the other. The JHC includes all front-line elements of the Army Air Corps. 1 and 5 Regiments AAC are based in Germany and Northern Ireland respectively. 3, 4 and 9 Regiments AAC are part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. 6 and 7 Regiments AAC are Territorial regiments; 7 Regiment AAC (V) operates within the United Kingdom from its base at Netheravon, Wiltshire and the newly created 6 Regiment AAC (V) is based at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. In addition to the regiments, the Army Air Corps

have a number of independent flights under the command of JHC; these are based in Canada, Belize and Brunei. Overall the JHC employs over 15,000 personnel, some 8,000 of whom are in 16 Air Assault Brigade. This figure includes over 900 volunteer reserves from the Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and 380 MOD civilian staff. The Headquarters of the Joint Helicopter Command is co-located with the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief Land Forces at Wilton near Salisbury.

General Sir Richard Dannatt KCB CBE MC ADC Gen

General Sir Richard Dannatt KCB CBE MC ADC Gen General Sir Richard Dannatt took over as Commander-in-Chief Land Command in March 2005 and assumed the appointment of Chief of the General Staff in August 2006. The Chief of the General Staff's role is to maintain and enhance the morale and fighting effectiveness of the Army to achieve current and future operational success now and in the future. General Dannatt was born on 23rd December 1950 and was educated at Felsted School and St Lawrence College. He and his wife, Philippa, have their permanent home in Norfolk and are both graduates of Durham University. Married in 1977, they have three sons and a daughter. One of their sons is currently serving with The Grenadier Guards. In addition to his current appointment, General Dannatt is Colonel Commandant of the Army Air Corps. He is President of the Army Rifle Association, the Army Rugby Union, the Army Winter Sports Association, the Soldiers' and Airmens' Scripture Readers Association, and a Vice President of the Armed Forces'

Christian Union. He enjoys all sports, in particular cricket, rugby, tennis, skiing, shooting and fishing.

General Sir David Richards KCB CBE DSO 27 April 2008

General Sir David Richards General Sir David Richards KCB CBE DSO Commander-in-Chief Land Forces (CINCLAND) is responsible for delivering forces that are properly trained and equipped to sustain current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. At the same time, he continues to support standing commitments such as the Falkland Islands and Cyprus. He also maintains contingent forces, such as the land component of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force, to cater for the unexpected. General Sir David Richards has a home in Wiltshire, is married and has 2 daughters . He is Honorary Colonel of 3rd Regiment RHA, Colonel Commandant Royal Artillery, Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas, Chairman Gurkha Welfare Trust and President of Army Tennis. A keen student of military history, he is also a qualified offshore yachtsman - he is Admiral of the Army Sailing Association and of the British Kiel Yacht Club - a Governor of his old School, an occasional horseman and an unskilled but hard working gardener. He became Commander in Chief Land Command on 1 February 2008. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the Distinguished Service Order and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

Lieutenant General W R Rollo CBE

Lt Gen W R Rollo CBE Late RHG/D 1977 commissioned into the Blues and Royals. A short but intense period as a tank and rifle troop leader in Germany, Canada and Northern Ireland was followed by a series of regimental appointments, interspersed with 8 months running the Infantry Platoon Commanders' Tactics Course at the Zimbabwe Military Academy and a short tour in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), 1987 attended the Army Staff Course at Camberley. Following Staff College, Lieutenant General Rollo returned to Germany to command an armoured squadron,. 1989 MA to the Assistant Chief of the General Staff. 1991 Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was posted back to the Staff College as an instructor. From there he was selected to attend the SAMS at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 1994 Took command of the Household Cavalry Regiment, completing a tour in Bosnia. Followed by Higher Command and Staff College and 18 months in J5 in the Permanent Joint Headquarters. 1998 Command of 4 Armd Bde, deploying to Macedonia in February 1999 and thence to Kosovo. 2000 Awarded the CBE for his command during that period and returned to UK to become Director Royal Armoured Corps. 2002 Director Military Operations in the Ministry of Defence during the period of planning for operations in Iraq. 2003 Deputy Adjutant General. 2004 Command of Multi National Division (South East) in Basra. 2005 Assistant Chief of the General Staff. 2007 Deputy Commanding General Multi National Force - Iraq/ Senior British Military Representative to Iraq. 2008 Assumed the appointment of Adjutant General. He is married, with 3 children, and is a keen small boat sailor and ski-mountaineer.