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][5]
In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.[14] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[15] 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.[16]
Army Special Operations Brigade
In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,[17] 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,[18] and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company attached to provide long-range surveillance patrols.[19][20]
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.[4][21][22]
The inaugural Brigade Commander was Brigadier Angus Fair DSO* OBE who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.[23][24][25]
Structure
Former Structure (2021)
The structure of the Specialised Infantry Group in March 2021 was as follows:
^Defence in a Competitive Age (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. pp. 46, 68. ISBN 9781528624626. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^ a b"Defence review to see dozens of sites close". BBC News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^ a b c d e f"Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^ a b c"New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?". IISS. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
^ a b"Army Special Operations Brigade". Retrieved 8 September 2021.
^Matisek, Jahara; Williamson, Joshua (June 2020). "Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance". Expeditions with MCU Press. doi:10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
^Matisek, Jahara; Reno, William (2019). "Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters" (PDF). Joint Force Quarterly. 92 (1st quarter): 65–73.
^ a b"Leadership in The Specialised Infantry: An Interview with Brigadier James Roddis". thearmyleader.co.uk. The Army Leader. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^ a b c"Army 2020 Refine Structure" (PDF). britisharmedforcesreview. HM Armed Forces Review. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
^ a b c"Written Statement: Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367". parliament.uk. Hansard. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019. Specialised Infantry Battalions
^"New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows". gov.uk. London. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^"New 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Will Begin Recruiting 2019". warfare.today. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^Latter, Mick (3 February 2020). "The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade".
^Grzeszczyk, Sian (21 February 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Specialist British Soldiers' First Operational Deployment In Kuwait". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^Wiltshire, Amy (2 May 2019). "Duchess Of Cornwall Presents 4 RIFLES With Medals". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^Cotterill, Tom (23 July 2018). "Portsmouth soldiers teach Nigerian Army how to defeat brutal terror group Boko Haram". Portsmouth News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^"First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. p. 14.
^ a b"Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
^Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 1. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
^Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
^"New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
^"New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
^Nicholls, Dominic (25 November 2021). "'Emotional intelligence' key for Army's new Rangers units". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
^Luscombe, Stephen. "Light Dragoons". The British Empire. Retrieved 13 December 2021. Angus George Costeker Fair
^"Aldershot Soldiers Receive Operational Medals". British Army (Press release). 14 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
^"Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
^"Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ a b cFallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
^ a b c d"Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ a b"Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^ a bBritish Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
^ a b"Duke of Lancaster's Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ a b"4 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^"New specialist Gurkha battalion established". Ministry of Defence. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
^"Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
^"New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^"6th (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
^"Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ a b cFallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
^Latter, Mick (30 November 2021). "F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021". Welcome to the Gurkha Brigade Association. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
^Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^Rushworth, Will (9 February 2022). "4 RANGER'S GURKHAS DEPLOYED ACROSS AFRICA" (PDF). 4 RIFLES. Bugle. No. 19 Spring 2022. Kettering: Crest Publications. p. 30. … G (Coriano) Coy, the newest addition to 4 RANGER, …
^Peach, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart (2012). "Defence and Intelligence" (PDF). Geospatial World Forum. Joint Forces Command. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^The Integrated Review, Lt Gen Andrew Gregory CBE, Master Gunner St James's Park, 25 November 2021