Army Special Operations Brigade

The group was formed to work alongside partner forces,[4] a role which has similarities to that of the US Army Security Force Assistance Brigades.[7][8] 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).[9][10][11][3][4] in July 2018, the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was added to the Group.[9][10][11][4] 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, The Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2020.[10][12][11][13][4][14]

In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.[15] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[16] 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.[17]

In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,[18] 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,[19] and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company attached to provide long-range surveillance patrols.[20][21]

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.[5][22][23]

The inaugural Brigade Commander is Brigadier Angus Fair who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.[2][24][25]

The structure of the Specialised Infantry Group in March 2021 was as follows:

• Group Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[26]
  • Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[27]
  • 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[28][29][30][31]
  • 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[32][29][30][33]
  • 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 RIFLES), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[29][34][35]
  • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (3 RGR), at Aldershot Garrison[36]

Graphic representing the structure of the new brigade.

The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) will be:[37][6][38]

• Brigade Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[5][39][4]
  • 255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (Aldershot from 2027)[19]
  • 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGER), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[40]
  • 2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (2 RANGER), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[41][42][30][31]
    • F (Falklands) Company, The Royal Gurkha Rifles[43]
  • 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (3 RANGER), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[32][42][30][33]
  • 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[42][44][35]
    • G (Coriano) Company, The Royal Gurkha Rifles[45]
  • Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe Army Camp[46]
  • 1 Squadron, Honourable Artillery Company will provide Special Patrols to the Brigade.[47]