Strategic Command: The key part of the MOD that most people haven't heard of
Strategic Command, or UKStratCom as it is known in the MOD, is one of the most important parts of UK Defence and deals with joint capabilities.
Its commander, General Sir Jim Hockenhull, told Forces News that its role was to drive integration for defence to ultimately make the Armed Forces more than the sum of its parts.
UKStratCom brings together elements from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, as well as civil servants and contractors, to deliver joint operations on land, at sea, in the air, in space and across the digital world.
Gen Sir Jim said: "We have a brilliant Navy, we have a brilliant Army, we have a brilliant Air Force – that's fantastic.
"When we fight, we fight collectively, we don't fight individually. As a consequence, what we need is to create that force.
"My responsibility at Strategic Command is to help deliver on that defence purpose of defending the nation and helping it prosper."
UKStratCom is an integrated military and civilian organisation, working across Defence and with other partner agencies.
An example of the shared capabilities run by UKStratCom is defence intelligence, which provides a service to all three of the Armed Forces.
Based at Northwood in northwest London, UKStratCom helps ensure the UK remains ready to face future conflicts and is at the forefront of development and innovation, overseeing everything from state-of-the-art weaponry to life-saving medical technology.
UKStratCom is also home to the Directorate of Special Forces, coordinating and facilitating often short notice and high-risk operations to defend the UK and her allies.
As an organisation, it has an incredibly vast remit, with UKStratCom having an impact on every area of wider defence, from looking after all overseas British military bases to the logistics of transporting food and equipment.
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