The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) is the
British tri-service
headquarters
Headquarters (often referred to as HQ) notes the location where most or all of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. The term is used in a wide variety of situations, including private sector corporations, non-profits, mil ...
from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. It is situated at
Northwood Headquarters in
Northwood, London. The Permanent Joint Headquarters is commanded by the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO), the position of which is currently held by Lieutenant General
Nicholas Perry.
History
Major General
Christopher Wallace led the team that began establishing the headquarters from 1994.
"Senior officers in the Army and RAF did not welcome this initiative and Wallace had to deploy his considerable skills of advocacy to win that battle"
[ (to establish the new joint headquarters).
The Permanent Joint Headquarters was established on 1 April 1996 to enhance the operational effectiveness and efficiency of UK-led joint, potentially joint and multi-national operations, and to exercise operational command of UK forces assigned to multinational operations led by others. Wallace was appointed as CJO in the rank of lieutenant general. The PJHQ started to assume responsibility for military operations worldwide (fully operational) on 1 August 1996.]Brigadier
Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
-equivalent officer, the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) was being established within PJHQ. The JFHQ was an outgrowth of the PJHQ's J3 Operations staff. The JFHQ was described as 'capable of deploying into the field at very short notice,' by its first commander, Brigadier David Richards. Richards was appointed as Chief Joint Rapid Deployment Force Operations, and also to expand the concept that underpinned its creation, the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces. The JRRFs were to be "a pool of highly capable force elements, maintained at high and very high readiness," from which the UK was to meet all short notice contingencies. Initially planned to have a staff of 24, Richards expanded the JFHQ to 55 strong, 'something our training and experience on exercise was proving necessary.'
In 2007-2008, the PJHQ' s budget was estimated around £475 million.
Mission and duties
The PJHQ's mission is as follows:Home Office
The Home Office (HO), also known (especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament) as the Home Department, is the United Kingdom's interior ministry. It is responsible for public safety and policing, border security, immigr ...
)
* NATO Article V (General War) ( NATO Military Command Structure)
As of November 2022, there were 567 military and civil service personnel assigned to PJHQ.
Commanders
The Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) is the appointment held by the three star ranked officer that leads PJHQ.[ 30 March 1999]
See also
* Northwood Headquarters
References
*Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, "My Job: The Challenge of Joint Command," RUSI Journal, August 1999
*Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, "PJHQ: The Heart of UK Defence Capability," RUSI Journal, April 2000
External links
*
{{coord, 51, 37, 10, N, 0, 24, 34, W, region:GB, display=title
Buildings and structures in Three Rivers District
Joint military units and formations of the United Kingdom
Military headquarters in the United Kingdom
Military installations in England
Military units and formations established in 1996
Military units and formations in Hertfordshire
Military history of London
Joint military headquarters