3 Commando Brigade to replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in Helmand
3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines will replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in April 2011 as the lead formation of British troops in Helmand province, Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has announced this week.
Royal Marines from 42 Commando take a moment to reflect after a successful operation clearing compounds used by the Taliban in the Kajaki area of Helmand province in February 2007 [Picture: PO(Phot) Sean Clee, Crown Copyright/MOD 2007]
The deployment of 3 Commando Brigade and accompanying units will not result in any change to the UK鈥檚 established and enduring conventional force level of 9,500 personnel.
Volunteer and ex-Regular members of the Reserve Forces will continue to deploy to Afghanistan as part of this integrated force package, and we expect to issue around 786 call-out notices to fill some 676 posts.
On completion of their mobilisation procedures, the reservists will undertake a period of training and, where applicable, integration with their respective receiving units.
The majority will serve on operations for around six months. As part of this commitment, we expect up to 19 members of the Sponsored Reserves to be in theatre at any one time.
Following 3 Commando Brigade鈥檚 deployment it is planned that 20th Armoured Brigade will take over.
The forces deploying with 3 Commando Brigade include:
Elements of
Elements of the forming Headquarters Joint Force Support (Afghanistan), including members of the Maritime Reserve
Headquarters,
Elements of
, including members of the
, including members of the
Elements of the forming the in-theatre Medical Regiment and Field Hospital
Elements of , including members of the
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of , including members of the
Elements of
Elements of the Royal Naval Regulators
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
2nd Battalion
Elements of 1 Regiment,
Elements of 3 Regiment,
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
2 Close Support Battalion,
Elements of 7 Air Assault Battalion,
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of 114 Provost Company
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of 1 Military Intelligence Brigade
Elements of the Military Stabilisation Support Group (MSSG)
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of 148 Expeditionary Force Institute Squadron (Volunteers),
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of the
Elements of the
Number
Elements of HQ Royal Air Force Police Wing
58 Squadron,
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of the Tactical Supply Wing,
Elements of 1 Air Mobility Wing,
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron,
Elements of 5001 Squadron,
Elements of 3 Mobile Catering Squadron
Elements of
Elements of 1 (Expeditionary Logistics) Squadron
Elements of
Elements of
Elements of Joint Ground Based Air Defence
Elements of Defence HUMINT Unit
Elements of the