British Army Confirms Quick Response Force To Battle Threats

20th Armoured Infantry Brigade has been formally approved as the British Army's first Vanguard Armoured Infantry Brigade (VAIB).

Throughout this year it will be on permanent standby to respond at short notice and will be the Army's key deterrent against threats to the UK.

It is the Army's lead formation and so would be first to respond to any crisis considered a risk against Britain.

Brigadier Mike Elviss, Commander, 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, said:

"We are the lead heavy brigade of the British Army. Warfighting is our core business."

"It is at the high end of what we could be asked to do and anything else would be lesser so it's what we train for.

"We train for the hardest possible scenarios... I don't think the nation would expect anything less."

The 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, part of 20th Brigade, has been testing its rapid deployment capability on Exercise Bright Gauntlet.

It consists of a simulated assault in a built-up area - all while under the close examination of an assessment team.

Troops in the VAIB are on five days notice to move and deploy. On Exercise Bright Gauntlet they have achieved operational capability within three days.

"What the readiness verification exercise is seeking to achieve is to give units at readiness the opportunity to demonstrate just how ready they are," says Lieutenant Colonel Steven Tracey, Head of Verification Team.

"They [may] be required to go somewhere at short notice. They're ready to do so and to do their job when they get there."

Electrical and mechanical engineers of 3 Battalion REME are also supporting 20th Brigade.

Battlefield scenarios include the recovery and repair of broken down or damaged vehicles, while 1 Armoured Medical Regiment personnel have been treating simulated casualties.

Lance Corporal Paul Flynn says:

"We train constantly for this so every man and woman within the medical capability are confident that we can do our job and deliver our roles."