Infantry of the British Army
The Infantry of the British Army is made up of 49 battalions in 19 regiments. Of these, 32 battalions are Regular Army and 16 are in the Army Reserve. The infantry encompasses a range of roles, including armoured, mechanised, air assault and light infantry.
Recruitment and regiments
Traditionally, infantry regiments recruited from specific areas of the country. The Cardwell Reforms in the 1860s linked regiments to depots and recruiting areas, giving rise to the idea of “county regiments.” Over time, regiments were amalgamated into larger formations, expanding recruitment areas. Since then, many regiments have merged, often combining nearby recruitment zones. Examples include monarchies like the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and The Light Infantry, which were formed from several county regiments.
Today, regiments fall into several traditions. Five regiments of foot guards recruit from home nations; the Coldstream Guards recruits along its historic march route. Scotland, Ireland and Wales each have a single line infantry regiment, while England has seven line infantry and rifle regiments. The Parachute Regiment recruits nationally, the Royal Gurkha Rifles recruits mainly from Nepal, and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment recruits from the UK and Commonwealth countries.
Training
New infantry recruits undertake a single 26-week Combat Infantryman's Course at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, covering basic soldiering (Phase 1) and infantry skills (Phase 2). Officers begin at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and then attend the Platoon Commander's Battle Course at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon. Phase 3 training for officers and soldiers, including weapons and communications, is delivered at the Support Weapons School in Warminster. Reservists start at Regional Training Centres and complete a two-week CIC (Reserve) at Catterick.
Headquarters and structure
Headquarters Infantry, based at Waterloo Lines in Warminster, handles recruitment and training policy and was established in 1991. The infantry is administratively divided into divisions, but these are not the same as deployable fighting divisions. Under the Future Soldier reforms (announced in 2021), there are four divisions: the Guards Division; the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division; the King’s Division; and the Queen’s Division. Some regiments sit outside these divisions for special roles.
Major formations and roles
Most infantry battalions are attached to deployable brigades, but some operate in independent formations for roulement tours. The 1st (UK) Division is the army’s primary land element, with four infantry-centered brigades, including a high-readiness mobile brigade and a light-infantry surge capability. The 16 Air Assault Brigade is the rapid-reaction element. The UK Commando Force is mainly made up of Royal Marines. Field Army Troops includes specialist infantry roles, a mentoring formation for allies, and the Army Special Operations Brigade, plus the Land Warfare Centre, which runs several training units.
Public duties and overseas units
London District oversees public duties in London and Windsor. Some battalions are stationed in overseas territories with varied roles. The Guards Division’s battalions handle public duties and other tasks; the Rifles became a five-battalion regiment after combining multiple units in the 2000s. The Royal Gurkha Rifles recruit mainly from Nepal, and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment recruits from the UK and Commonwealth nations. Most regiments maintain Territorial Army battalions.
Recent reforms and numbers
Since 2010, the army has been reduced in size through programmes like Army 2020 and Army 2020 Refine, aiming to reduce the total army from about 102,000 to around 82,000 by 2020 and beyond. The infantry was slimmed from 36 regular battalions to 31, with several battalions disbanded or converted to other roles. Some battalions were reorganised into larger regiments to preserve experience and capability. Five battalions were designated for specialist infantry roles supporting counter-terrorism and stability operations overseas, rotating through different duties. The Royal Irish Regiment was moved under the Prince of Wales’ Division as part of these changes.
The infantry continues to adapt to modern military needs while maintaining its long-standing traditions and regional identities.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:19 (CET).