HQ Land Command is located at Erskine Barracks, Wilton near Salisbury and controls about 80% of the troops in the British Isles and almost 100% of its fighting capability. HQ Land Command replaced HQ United Kingdom Land Forces (HQ UKLF) in 1995.

Land Command's role is to deliver and sustain the Army's operational capability, whenever required throughout the world, and the Command comprises all operational troops in Great Britain, Germany, Nepal and Brunei, together with the Army Training Teams in Canada, Belize and Kenya.

Land Command has almost 75,000 trained Army personnel the largest single Top Level Budget in Defence, with a budget of over £5.6 billion annually. It contains all the Army's fighting equipment, including Attack Helicopters, Challenger 2 Tanks, Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, AS90 and the Multi Launched Rocket System (MLRS).

Land Command is one of the three central command agencies in the British Army, the other two being the Adjutant General (with responsibility for administration, personnel and training) and Director General Logistics (Land) responsible for supply and logistics. The Command is responsible for providing all the Army's fighting troops throughout the World. These are organised into eight formations and are commanded by Major Generals.

THE STRUCTURE OF LAND COMMAND   

Future plans for HQ Land Command: Work to consider the benefits of rationalisation and collocation of the two main Army HQs - HQ Land Command (Wilton) and HQ Adjutant-General (Upavon) appears to be continuing. The Army is currently determining the possible size and structure of the new HQ organisation and, in parallel, assessing a number of local site options.

As of late 2006 there were 597 military and 759 civilian posts at HQ Land Command 325 military and 470 civilian posts at the Adjutant-General's headquarters in Upavon.

It would appear that Andover is the preferred site option for the new Headquarters Land Forces and subject to final decisions it is possible that from 1 April 2009, Headquarters Land Forces will be fully operational in its new location. This will provide the Army with a headquarters of about 1,750 military and civilian staff. Compared to current headquarters staffing levels this represents a reduction of about 240 civilian and 100 military posts and a probable significant reduction in running costs.

Field Army

The Commander Field Army has operational command of all Field Army Formations. This includes training designated forces for all types of military operations and providing appropriate military capability to Permanent Joint Headquarters and/or the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces as required.

Major units under the direct command of the Field Army include:

• 1 (UK) Division (Ready Division)

• 3 (UK) Division (Ready Division)

• Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom)

• Combat Service Support Group (Germany)

Service personnel total for the Field Army at 1 April 2006 was 49,000 (including 4,400 officers).

Joint Helicopter Command (JHC)

The Joint Helicopter Command's primary role is to deliver and sustain effective Battlefield Helicopter and Air Assault assets, operationally capable under all environmental conditions, in order to support UK's defence missions and tasks. JHC major formations are as follows:

• All Army Aviation Units

• RAF Support Helicopter Force

• Commando Helicopter Force

• Joint Helicopter Force (Northern Ireland)

• 16 Air Assault Brigade

• Combat Support Units

• Combat Service Support Unit

• Joint Helicopter Command and Standards Wing

Service personnel total for the Joint Helicopter Command at 1 April 2006 was 12,300 (includes RAF and Royal Navy personnel and 1,400 officers).

Commander Regional Forces

The Commander Regional Forces maintains, and where possible, enhances the provision of the military capability and infrastructure support required to meet Land Command’s operational requirements.

In addition, Commander Regional Forces at HQ LAND is the Inspector General of the Territorial Army, with addition responsibilities for Cadets and the University Officer Training Corps (UOTC).

Major units that assist Commander Regional Forces are amongst the following:

• 2 Division (Regenerative Division)

• 4 Division (Regenerative Division)

• 5 Division (Regenerative Division)

• United Kingdom Support Command (Germany)

• London District

• Land Support Management Group

Service personnel total for the Commander Regional Forces at 1 April 2006 was 12,500 (including 1,400 officers).

Commander Land Support

The Defence Supply Chain provides a range of support functions to enable the British armed forces to carry out operations. These include storing and distributing all the supplies needed by the forces, such as equipment, mail, medical supplies, fuel, clothing, food and ammunition, as well as transporting personnel and freight anywhere in the world.

Personnel total for the Commander Land Support grouping at 1 April 2006 was 400 service and 800 civilian personnel.

Note: HQ Land also has responsibility for overseas detachments including Belize, Canada, Brunei, Nepal and Kenya. Troops in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands are commanded from the MoD via PJHQ. Overseas operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Iraq, and Sierra Leone are also the responsibility of PJHQ.

Theatre Troops

Commander Theatre Troops is responsible for the following:

1 Artillery Brigade
16 Regiment RA
1 Signal Brigade
2 (NC) Signal Brigade
11 Signal Brigade
8 Force Engineer Brigade
2 Medical Brigade
1 Reconnaissance Brigade
1 Military Intelligence Brigade
101 Logistic Brigade
102 Logistic Brigade
104 Logistic Brigade
Equipment Support Theatre Troops
HQ RLC TA

READY DIVISIONS                

There are two 'Ready' Divisions: the 1st (UK) Armoured Division, based in Germany, and the 3rd (UK) Division in the United Kingdom. Both of these divisions are earmarked to form part of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), NATO's premier strategic formation, but they also have the flexibility to be employed on rapid reaction tasks or in support of other defence roles.

In addition to their operational roles, they also command the Army units in specified geographic areas. In the case of the 1st Division, this area is made up of the garrisons in Germany where the Division's units are based; and in the case of the 3rd Division, the South West of England.
 

REGENERATIVE DIVISIONS 

There are three Regenerative Divisions, based on old Military Districts of the United Kingdom. These are the 2nd Division, with its Headquarters in Edinburgh, the 4th Division, with its Headquarters at Aldershot, and the 5th Division with its Headquarters at Shrewsbury. These Regenerative Divisions are responsible for all non-deployable Army units within their boundaries, and could provide the core for three new divisions, should the Army be required to expand to meet a major international threat.

MILITARY DISTRICTS                           

Two Districts remain: London (although subordinated to 4th  Division for budgetary purposes), and the United Kingdom Support Command (Germany). The United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) with its Headquarters at Rheindahlen has similar responsibilities, but also provides essential support functions for the 1(UK) Armoured Division and the Headquarters of the ARRC.

London District

London District is responsible for all Army units within the M25 boundary. The activity for which the Headquarters and the District is most well known is State Ceremonial and Public Duties in the Capital. The district insignia shows the Sword of St Paul representing the City of London and the Mural Crown representing the County of London. The District has its Headquarters in Horse Guards and is commanded by a Major General.

Between 500 and 600 troops are involved at any one time in MoD-sponsored equipment trials, demonstrations and exhibitions. Public Duties in London also take up two/three battalions at any one time. All troops not otherwise operationally committed are also available to provide Military Aid to the Civil Authorities in the United Kingdom. London District is responsible for all Army units within the M25 boundary.

These divisional and district areas are further sub-divided into brigades and garrisons, which also have a varying mix of operational and infrastructure support responsibilities. As a result of the Defence Costs Studies, some brigade headquarters, which previously had purely operational functions, have been amalgamated with garrison headquarters to achieve savings and greater efficiency.

The United Kingdom Support Command – Germany (UKSC(G))

The United Kingdom Support Command – Germany (UKSC(G)) with its Headquarters at Rheindahlen has about 3,600 personnel and provides essential support functions for 1 (UK) Armoured Division and the Headquarters of the ARRC.

HQ UKSC(G) also commands the only garrison west of the River Rhine, designated Rhine Garrison, which comprises mainly a signal brigade and logistic support units.

It also has administrative responsibility for the four other British Army Garrisons in Germany - at Osnabrück, Bergen-Hohne, Paderborn and Gütersloh.

There are two Combat Service Support (CSS) Groups:

Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom) consists of a supply regiment, two transport regiments, general support medical regiment which has both Regular and Territorial Army squadrons, three field hospitals, and a field medical equipment depot. For operations, the group may have assigned to it two Territorial Army transport regiments, five Territorial Army field hospitals, and a Territorial Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.

Combat Service Support Group (Germany) consists of a supply regiment; two transport regiments, and a general support medical regiment which has both Regular and Territorial Army squadrons. For operations, the group may have assigned to it a Territorial Army transport regiment, six Territorial Army field hospitals, a Territorial Army field medical equipment depot, and a Territorial Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.

Other areas and tasks

Although Land Command is not responsible for running operations in Northern Ireland, the Former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Iraq (a responsibility of PJHQ), it will provide the operational troops for these areas. Some 5,000 troops will be stationed in Northern Ireland from 2008; and a further 15,000 are deployed in Afghanistan, Cyprus, the Balkans, Sierra Leone the Falkland Islands and Iraq.

Some 500 troops are involved at any one time in MoD-sponsored equipment trials, demonstrations and exhibitions. Public Duties in London take up two/three battalions at any one time. All troops not otherwise operationally committed are also available to provide Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) in the United Kingdom.