Home Command (British Army)

Home Command (British Army). Home Command is a major command of the British Army, established in 2015 as part of the Army 2020 restructuring programme. It is responsible for generating and sustaining the army's personnel, delivering training, and providing support to regional forces across the United Kingdom. The command's headquarters is located at Marlborough Lines in Andover, Hampshire.

History

The formation of Home Command was a central element of the Army 2020 reforms, which consolidated several disparate organisations into a single entity. It absorbed the functions of the former Adjutant General's Corps and Army Personnel Centre, alongside elements of the disbanded Land Forces command. This reorganisation aimed to streamline the management of regular and reserve personnel following the strategic defence review known as the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010. The command's creation also reflected lessons learned from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, emphasizing improved soldier welfare and career management. Its establishment coincided with other major structural changes within the Ministry of Defence, including the creation of Field Army and the transformation of Regional Command.

Organisation

Home Command is organised into several key directorates and subordinate commands, each focusing on a specific functional area. The command oversees the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command, which manages entry through the Army Training Centre Pirbright and the Army Foundation College Harrogate. It also includes the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow, which handles career management, postings, and transitions for all soldiers. Regional engagement is delivered through the Regional Command, which works closely with the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations and the University Officers' Training Corps. Key support functions are provided by the Army Medical Services and the Royal Military Police, while training doctrine is developed in conjunction with the Combined Arms Manoeuvre Centre at Warminster.

Responsibilities

The command's primary responsibility is the generation and sustainment of the army's human capital, encompassing the entire career cycle from recruitment to retirement. It manages all initial training for soldiers and officers at establishments like the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Infantry Training Centre Catterick. Home Command is also charged with individual specialist training, education through the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst's Defence Academy, and promoting army values and standards. A critical function is providing support to regional forces, including the oversight of the Army Cadet Force and the coordination of civil contingency plans with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Furthermore, it holds responsibility for infrastructure and garrison management at key locations such as Catterick Garrison and Aldershot Garrison.

Current units

Home Command does not command operational combat units but oversees numerous training, support, and regional formations. Key subordinate entities include the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command, the Army Personnel Centre, and the Regional Command. It also has authority over the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada and the British Army Training Unit Kenya. The command provides the administrative and support framework for the Army Reserve units spread across the United Kingdom, such as those within the 4th Infantry Brigade. Specialist training units under its purview include the Defence College of Technical Training and the Army School of Ceremonial.

Commanders

The commander of Home Command holds the rank of lieutenant general. The inaugural commander was Lieutenant General James Bashall, who previously served as the Adjutant-General to the Forces. He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Ian Cave, who had extensive experience in personnel roles. Subsequent commanders have included Lieutenant General Ty Urch, a former commander of the Field Army, and Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, who became the first woman to hold a three-star command role in the British Army. The position is based at the command's headquarters in Andover and involves close liaison with the Chief of the General Staff and the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence.

Category:Commands of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 2015 Category:2015 establishments in the United Kingdom