Structure of the British Army
Broadly speaking the British Army is made up of 2 halves, the regulars (full-time soldiers and units) and Army Reserve (part-time soldiers and units).
It has two functions, Administrative (the people who look after the pay, recruiting, discipline etc.) and the Operational (preparing to go to war, going to war or assisting with civil emergencies such as flood/disaster relief.
Sub-units (known as Company, Battery, Squadron depending on unit capbadge)
Within a Company you then have Platoons (generally made up of 5 squadrons) and Sections.
A Company is approximately 150 x soldiers.
A Battalion/ Regiment is approximately 650 x soldiers.
1-star headquarters commanded by Brigadier.
2-star headquarters commanded by Major General.
3-star headquarters commanded by Lieutenant General.
4-star headquarters commanded by General.
Royal Corps of Transport (RCT)- was Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) until 1965 - became Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.
Royal Army Ordnance Corps - became Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.
Army Catering Corps - became Royal Logistic Corps in 1993. *2
(1) The ranks within the British Army are as follows;
Officer cadet
This rank is held during initial officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Second Lieutenant
This role is normally held for 2 years, after which the individual is responsible for leading up to 30 soldiers in a platoon or group, in both training and on operations.
Lieutenant
This is a role normally held for up to 3 years. Lieutenant's usually normally command platoons or troops of around 30 soldiers, how ever as their experiences progresses they get more responsibilities.
They can also gain specialised skills outside their unit.
Captain
Captains normally get made second in command of a "sub-unit" of up to 120 soldiers. They're key players in planning and decision-making processes, they also have tactical responsibility for operations on the ground as well as the equipment maintenance , logistic support and manpower.
sub-unit second in command
battalion Ops Officer
battalion Int Officer
staff officer within headquarters
Major
An individual will be promoted to Major after 8-10 years of service, normally a major will be given command of a "sub-unit" of up to 120 officers and soldiers with responsibility for their; training, welfare and administrations both in camp and on any operations, as well as the management of their equipment.
sub-unit commander
quartermaster
battalion second in command
Paymaster
staff officer within headquaretrs
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonels usually command units of up to 650 soldiers, containing four or five sub-units. They're responsible for the overall effectiveness of their unit in terms of military capability, welfare and general discipline.
battalion/ regiment command
staff office within headquarters
Colonel
Colonels aren't usually field commanders they'll typically serve as Staff Officers, working in a major on a headquarters, between field commands at battalion/brigade level. It's the lowest of the staff ranks and they are the principal operational advisors to senior officers.
staff officer within headquarters
command a group of units
Arms & Service Directors
Brigadier
Brigadier is not considered to be a General Officer rank by the British Army more so a Field officer rank.
They can command a brigade or be a director of operational capability groups.
command a brigade
work within a headquarters
Major General
Hold senior staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence and other headquarters.
commands Divisions
work within a headquarters
Lieutenant General
"Lieutenant Generals command formations of Corps size and other commands in the UK and overseas, and hold very senior staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence and other headquarters."
General
"Generals hold the most senior appointments, such as the Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Commander in Chief Land Forces."
Other ranks
Private
When they complete their training all new soldiers start as a Private, however the title can vary between: Trooper, Gunner, Signaller, Sapper, Guardsmen, Rifleman or Kingsman, it all depends on the corps/regiment.
Lance Corporal
A promotion to a Lance Corporal can follow after phase 2 training or after 3 years as a Private, they're required to supervise small teams of up to 4 soldiers called a section. They can also have the opportunity to specialise and undertake specialist military training.
Corporal
After 6-8 years in the Army (and depending on the individual's ability to lead) a promotion to Corporal will typically follow. Whilst in this rank the opportunity to gain trade and instructor qualifications can be gained. Corporals are given command of solders and equipment such as tanks and guns.
Sergeant
A sergeant is a senior role of responsibility, promotion to be a Sergeant typically happens after 12 years of service.
They are second in command of a troop or platoon of up to 35 soldiers, their responsibility for advising and assisting junior officers.
Staff/Colour Sergeant
After a few years as a sergeant, promotion to a staff or colour sergeant can follow.
"It's a senior role combining man and resource management of around 120 soldiers, or even command of a troop or platoon"
Warrant Officer class 2 (WO2)
This is a senior management role focusing on the training, welfare and discipline of a company.squadron or battery of up to 120 soldiers.
WO2's act as senior advisors to the Major in command of the sub-unit and may also end up being chosen for a commission as an officer.
Warrant officer class 1
This is the most senior rank in the British Army, it's typically reached after 18 years of outstanding service.
WO1's are the senior advisors of their unit's commanding officer, they have welfare responsibilities of up to 650 officers and soldiers and equipment.
Overall this research will be massively beneficial to me during the interviews as it gives me a basic knowledge of how the army is structured and the general chain of command it follows.
This will also help me build conversations and ask more detailed questions to interviewees who were involved in the Army.
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(1) "Ranks"=www.army.mod.uk/structure/32321.aspx
(2) "explanation of terminology" my dad who spent time in the Army
It has two functions, Administrative (the people who look after the pay, recruiting, discipline etc.) and the Operational (preparing to go to war, going to war or assisting with civil emergencies such as flood/disaster relief.
Sub-units (known as Company, Battery, Squadron depending on unit capbadge)
Within a Company you then have Platoons (generally made up of 5 squadrons) and Sections.
A Company is approximately 150 x soldiers.
A Battalion/ Regiment is approximately 650 x soldiers.
1-star headquarters commanded by Brigadier.
2-star headquarters commanded by Major General.
3-star headquarters commanded by Lieutenant General.
4-star headquarters commanded by General.
Royal Corps of Transport (RCT)- was Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) until 1965 - became Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.
Royal Army Ordnance Corps - became Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.
Army Catering Corps - became Royal Logistic Corps in 1993. *2
(1) The ranks within the British Army are as follows;
Officer cadet
This rank is held during initial officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Second Lieutenant
This role is normally held for 2 years, after which the individual is responsible for leading up to 30 soldiers in a platoon or group, in both training and on operations.
Lieutenant
This is a role normally held for up to 3 years. Lieutenant's usually normally command platoons or troops of around 30 soldiers, how ever as their experiences progresses they get more responsibilities.
They can also gain specialised skills outside their unit.
Captain
Captains normally get made second in command of a "sub-unit" of up to 120 soldiers. They're key players in planning and decision-making processes, they also have tactical responsibility for operations on the ground as well as the equipment maintenance , logistic support and manpower.
sub-unit second in command
battalion Ops Officer
battalion Int Officer
staff officer within headquarters
Major
An individual will be promoted to Major after 8-10 years of service, normally a major will be given command of a "sub-unit" of up to 120 officers and soldiers with responsibility for their; training, welfare and administrations both in camp and on any operations, as well as the management of their equipment.
sub-unit commander
quartermaster
battalion second in command
Paymaster
staff officer within headquaretrs
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonels usually command units of up to 650 soldiers, containing four or five sub-units. They're responsible for the overall effectiveness of their unit in terms of military capability, welfare and general discipline.
battalion/ regiment command
staff office within headquarters
Colonel
Colonels aren't usually field commanders they'll typically serve as Staff Officers, working in a major on a headquarters, between field commands at battalion/brigade level. It's the lowest of the staff ranks and they are the principal operational advisors to senior officers.
staff officer within headquarters
command a group of units
Arms & Service Directors
Brigadier is not considered to be a General Officer rank by the British Army more so a Field officer rank.
They can command a brigade or be a director of operational capability groups.
command a brigade
work within a headquarters
Major General
Hold senior staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence and other headquarters.
commands Divisions
work within a headquarters
Lieutenant General
"Lieutenant Generals command formations of Corps size and other commands in the UK and overseas, and hold very senior staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence and other headquarters."
General
"Generals hold the most senior appointments, such as the Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Commander in Chief Land Forces."
Other ranks
Private
When they complete their training all new soldiers start as a Private, however the title can vary between: Trooper, Gunner, Signaller, Sapper, Guardsmen, Rifleman or Kingsman, it all depends on the corps/regiment.
Lance Corporal
A promotion to a Lance Corporal can follow after phase 2 training or after 3 years as a Private, they're required to supervise small teams of up to 4 soldiers called a section. They can also have the opportunity to specialise and undertake specialist military training.
Corporal
After 6-8 years in the Army (and depending on the individual's ability to lead) a promotion to Corporal will typically follow. Whilst in this rank the opportunity to gain trade and instructor qualifications can be gained. Corporals are given command of solders and equipment such as tanks and guns.
Sergeant
A sergeant is a senior role of responsibility, promotion to be a Sergeant typically happens after 12 years of service.
They are second in command of a troop or platoon of up to 35 soldiers, their responsibility for advising and assisting junior officers.
Staff/Colour Sergeant
After a few years as a sergeant, promotion to a staff or colour sergeant can follow.
"It's a senior role combining man and resource management of around 120 soldiers, or even command of a troop or platoon"
Warrant Officer class 2 (WO2)
This is a senior management role focusing on the training, welfare and discipline of a company.squadron or battery of up to 120 soldiers.
WO2's act as senior advisors to the Major in command of the sub-unit and may also end up being chosen for a commission as an officer.
Warrant officer class 1
This is the most senior rank in the British Army, it's typically reached after 18 years of outstanding service.
WO1's are the senior advisors of their unit's commanding officer, they have welfare responsibilities of up to 650 officers and soldiers and equipment.
Overall this research will be massively beneficial to me during the interviews as it gives me a basic knowledge of how the army is structured and the general chain of command it follows.
This will also help me build conversations and ask more detailed questions to interviewees who were involved in the Army.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) "Ranks"=www.army.mod.uk/structure/32321.aspx
(2) "explanation of terminology" my dad who spent time in the Army
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