Army Headquarters (United Kingdom)
Army Headquarters | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Active | 2011–present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Headquarters |
Location | Marlborough Lines, Andover, Hampshire |
Commanders | |
Current commander | General Sir Patrick Sanders |
Army Headquarters is a British Army organisation based at Marlborough Lines, Hampshire. The equivalent in the Royal Navy is Navy Command Headquarters at Portsmouth, and the equivalent in the Royal Air Force is Headquarters Air Command at High Wycombe.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Andover_-_Marlborough_Lines.jpg/300px-Andover_-_Marlborough_Lines.jpg)
History
[edit]Until 31 October 2011, British Army forces were commanded by a four star named Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces. Under a major army command reorganisation effective 1 November 2011, the Chief of the General Staff took direct command of the Army through a new structure known as Army Headquarters.[1][2] Army Headquarters, which started to take responsibility for more than 2,000 military and civilian personnel, was established at Marlborough Lines near Andover.[3]
The two main buildings constructed at Marlborough Lines were named as Blenheim (named after the Battle of Blenheim in 1704) and Ramillies (named after the Battle of Ramillies in 1706).[4]
Functions established at Marlborough Lines include elements of Home Command as well as Headquarters Field Army.[5]
Structure
[edit]The British Army is commanded by the Chief of the General Staff. Under the Army 2020 Refine command structure, four lieutenant-general posts report to the Chief of the General Staff: Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Commander Field Army, Commander Home Command and Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.[6] Commander Joint Helicopter Command was added to the list around September 2020.[7]
On formation of Army Headquarters in 2011, those reporting to the Chief of the General Staff were: the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, the Commander Land Forces, the Adjutant-General to the Forces and the Commander Force Development and Capability. At that time the Commander Land Forces was responsible for generating and preparing forces for current and contingency operations, the Adjutant-General for developing the Army's personnel policies, recruiting and supporting its people, and the Commander Force Development and Capability for developing its capability, sustainability and doctrine.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Army Command reorganization Archived 2011-11-12 at the Wayback Machine Defence Marketing Intelligence, 10 November 2011
- ^ Higher Command
- ^ New Army's HQ Land Forces base is opened in Andover BBC News, 9 September 2010
- ^ "British Army Headquarters". Army Technology. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ "Written Answers". UK Parliament. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ "Freedom of Information Act answer from Army Headquarters" (PDF). Army Headquarters. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ^ "How Defence Works version 6.0" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. UK Ministry of Defence. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
page 30
- ^ Army conducts Top Level Organisational Review Archived 12 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine Defence News, 9 December 2009