Force Troops Command
| Force Troops Command | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 April 2014 - |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Role | Combat Service Support |
| Size | 9 Brigades |
| Part of | British Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Trenchard Lines, Upavon |
Force Troops Command is a combat support and combat service support command of the British Army. Its headquarters are at Upavon, Wiltshire. It was formed in 2013 as a redesignation of the previous Headquarters Theatre Troops.
History
Previously, General Officer Commanding, Theatre Troops was a senior British Army officer responsible for the provision of Combat Support and Combat Service Support operations world-wide in support of the UK's Defence Strategy.[1] There were two logistic brigades 102 Logistic Brigade in Germany and 101 Logistic Brigade which contained logistic units to support the two deployable divisions (1st Armoured Division in Germany and 3rd Mechanised Division in the UK). Additionally 104 Logistic Support Brigade operates the specialist units needed to deploy a force overseas such as pioneers, movements and port units. These brigades come under the authority of the General Officer Commanding, Theatre Troops.
Theatre Troops became Force Troops Command under Army 2020 in September 2013 and reached Full Operating Capability (FOC) on 1 April 2014. Force Troops no longer commands 101 or 102 Logistic Brigades.[2]
Structure
FTC comprises nine ‘functional’ brigades as well as the Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps. The various units include: The Intelligence and Surveillance Brigade which provides integrated intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, drawing specifically on lessons from Afghanistan. 1st Artillery Brigade delivers both close support artillery and precision fires, as well as leading Air-Land Integration. 8 Engineer Brigade commands the close support engineer units, as well as Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search, Force Support and Infrastructure Groups. The 77th Brigade is involved in conflict prevention and stabilisation through the projection of soft power.[3]
Subordinate formations
- 1 Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West
- 8 Engineer Brigade
- 1 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
- 1 Signal Brigade
- 11 Signal Brigade
- 2 Medical Brigade
- 104 Logistic Support Brigade
- 77th Brigade
- 1 Military Police Brigade
- Joint Ground-Based Air Defence Command (administrative control, joint with Air Command)
Commanders
Commanders have included:[4]
General Officer Commanding, Theatre Troops
- 2001–2004 Major General James Shaw
- 2004–2006 Major General Tim Cross
- 2006–2008 Major General Hamish Rollo
- 2008–2011 Major General Bruce Brealey
- 2011–2013 Major General Shaun Burley
General Officer Commanding, Force Troops Command
- 2013–2015 Major General Tim Radford
- 2015–present Major General Tyrone Urch
References
- ^ UK Government Archived 2015-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Force Troops Command
- ^ Major-General Tim Radford, 'Troops at the ready,' The British Army 2014, p.118-119
- ^ Army Commands