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Guest Editorial - The 6th United Kingdom Division
THE 6TH (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION
Scribe: Colonel Dan Scott CEng, FIMechE, MIET – Deputy Chief of Staff, 6th Division
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6th Division, a summary…
The 6th Division sets out a new approach in an era of strategic competition. It does this through unconventional operations, seeking and gaining advantage in partnership with other Nations’ forces. It uses appropriate military skills, intelligence, information, cyber and electromagnetic activity. The 6th Division acts in concert with Army and Defence units, governmental partners, and allied forces.
The role of the Division: The 6th Division is optimised for discreet and unconventional operations in competition, and to deliver information manoeuvre capabilities to the Army and Defence. It exists to constrain adversaries below the threshold of direct armed conflict through the conduct of Special Operations and Specialist Information Activities. It optimised the Land Component with an array of unconventional capabilities. Our aim is to:
“Contest potential adversaries, denying them unconstrained freedom of action and imposing actual or potential cost on them.”
We will operate primarily through partner forces but will retain the ability to act independently. We will develop exploitable opportunities through intelligence and targeting, and we will be prepared to conduct the exploitation ourselves if appropriate. We will operate throughout the spectrum of conflict, using or synchronising a wide range of capabilities. The Division will act in concert with Army and Defence units, governmental partners, and allied forces in either a supported or supporting role, and in line with permissions. How the Division operates: The 6th Division integrates personnel and capabilities from two Brigades: 77th Brigade delivers targeted information activity and outreach; and the
Army Special Operations Brigade
commands the Ranger Regiment and the Joint Counter-Terrorism Training and Advisory Team. (Commanded by Lt Col Tim Turner REME). The Division also draws on other specialist areas from across Defence. These forces are brought together to deliver unconventional operations in an ever more volatile world. The Division conducts intelligence, information, cyber and electronic warfare activities. It operates from the UK, and with partners around the world. Forward elements are built around multi-disciplinary Ranger Teams, drawn from volunteers from across the Army and trained together to a high standard. The Ranger Regiment is optimised for working alongside and enabling partner force operations. Team Members are trained to understand and operate in complex, high threat environments. To be successful, they must possess emotional intelligence, and have the physical fitness to be capable of operating in austere conditions. Their training helps them learn from partners to improve the Army’s understanding and shape its actions. In addition to learning and specialising in new skills, they remain ready to rapidly adapt to changing situations. The Ranger Regiment are being equipped with the latest technology and communications equipment; which enables them to reach
Colonel Dan Scott (DCOS)
back to capabilities in the UK. These are delivered through a network of UK Operations Centres which monitor and control operations and provide capabilities such as access to wider intelligence networks, support to Information Operations and the use of cutting-edge data capabilities to conduct cyber and electronic warfare activities. This integration of modern, digitised, persistently engaged forces means that the 6th Division is uniquely optimised to defend the UK’s people and interests.
What Readiness means to the Division: The 6th Division establishes partnerships and builds platforms outside of crisis which can then surge when required. This ability to dial up and reinforce extant partnerships and information operations is achieved through persistent engagement, pre-established platforms and agreed dissemination channels both in the UK and abroad.
REME Personnel in 6th Division
Operations in Africa – working with partners on Non-Standard Pattern Weapons
Cpl McCracken working on Non-Standard Weapons in support of the Rangers and a Partner force
REME Soldiers supporting the Rangers a vignette:
“Corporal Finch and Lance Corporal Rawson deployed to Abuja in Nigeria in June 2022 for a 2week period to conduct Mandatory Equipment Inspections (MEI) across 43 white fleet vehicles including Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAV). Concurrent with this task they completed the engineering assurance on the local maintenance facility and undertook repairs on a Field Electrical Power Supply (FEPS) Generator that had been out of service for over 2 years. Conducting the assurance with partner forces required a diplomatic and sensitive touch. Corporals Finch and Rawson highlighted considerable concerns for both Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and MoD vehicle maintenance. Without their tactful and professional intervention using sound engineering principles of good assurance there was risk to life for the vehicle users. Their actions alleviated this.”
Training assistance to Ukrainian Forces, using NonStandard Pattern Weapons. Armourers from The Rangers deployed in support of 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade as the only source of trained and competent Engineers.
