The Army Special Operations Brigade (Army Spec Ops Bde) (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. 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''"''.

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. 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). 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, Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2020. In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard. R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. 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 Boko Haram, officially known as ''Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād'' ( ar, جماعة أهل السنة للدعوة والجهاد, lit=Group of the People of Sunnah for Dawah and Jihad), is an Islamic terrorist organization ...

Army Special Operations Brigade

In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade, with the four battalions of the newly created Ranger Regiment, plus two reinforcement companies from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, under its command, along with 255 Signal Squadron of the

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...

providing communications, and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company providing long-range surveillance patrols to support the Brigade. 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 The 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade is a brigade of the British Army which is intended to train and assist foreign forces. In 2021, under the Future Army changes, the brigade was redesignated, formerly being the 11th Infantry Brigade & HQ ...

. The inaugural Brigade Commander is Brigadier Angus Fair who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.

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 Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, is a major garrison in South East England, between Aldershot and Farnborough in Hampshire. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the villa ...

** Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS), at Palace Barracks, Belfast ** 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett ** 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), at Elizabeth Barracks,

Pirbright Camp Pirbright Camp is a British Army installation in Pirbright, Surrey. It houses the Army Training Centre Pirbright, and a number of other units. History In 1875, the War Office acquired of Pirbright's heath which is the southern end of the north- ...

British Army Newsletter , Summer 2020 , Issue 5 , In Front
** 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 RIFLES), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison ** 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (3 RGR), at Aldershot Garrison

Future Structure (2030)

The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) is: * Brigade Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks,

**255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (Aldershot from 2027) **1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGER), at Palace Barracks, Belfast **2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (2 RANGER), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett *** F (

Falklands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...

) Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles **3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (3 RANGER), at Elizabeth Barracks,

British Army Newsletter , Summer 2020 , Issue 5 , In Front
**4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison *** G ( Coriano) Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles **

Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team The United Kingdom's Strategic Command (StratCom), previously known as Joint Forces Command (JFC), manages allocated joint capabilities from the three armed services. History Background In August 2010 the then Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, a ...

, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe Army Camp

References

External links

Army Special Operations Brigade
{{United Kingdom Special Forces Military units and formations of the British Army Military units and formations established in 2017 Infantry units and formations of the British Army Future Soldier