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The Army in Scotland

Almost 10,000 regular and reserve troops and MOD civil servants work for the British Army in Scotland.  They deliver UK operations, support to our allies around the world, and provide emergency support to the Scottish Government, local authorities, and public bodies.

The British Army in Scotland

Scotland is home to a wide range of British Army units with diverse capabilities.

51st Infantry Brigade and HQ Scotland

51 Infantry Brigade & HQ Scotland is based in Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh.  It is responsible for the essential support which sustains the Army (Regular, Reserve, Civil Servants and Cadets in Scotland) and Lived Experience of all British Army personnel and their families within Scotland.  It is also the British Army’s connection to the Scottish public, the Scottish Government and the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.  This includes the effective delivery of planned UK Operations and establishing as the Joint Military Command Scotland (JMC Scotland) when required, as well as delivering State Ceremonial & Public Duties (SCPD) and British Army engagement in Scotland.

It also provides staff support to General Officer Scotland (GOS).  This includes the needs of the Army in Defence as well as highlighting the utility of the British Army to Scotland’s institutions, communities and people.

Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) is the senior line infantry regiment of the British Army with its Regiment Headquarters located in Edinburgh castle.  It was formed in March 2006 and was initially made up of six regular and two reserve battalions.  Today, the Royal Regiment of Scotland consists of three regular battalions, an incremental company and two reserve battalions located across Scotland and the UK:

  • 2 SCOTS in Penicuik.
  • 3 SCOTS in Fort George.
  • 4 SCOTS in Catterick.
  • 5 SCOTS, Balaklava Company in Edinburgh.
  • 6 SCOTS based in Glasgow with units across Southern Scotland.
  • 7 SCOTS based in Perth with units across the Highlands and Islands.

Since its formation, the regiment has deployed to almost every theatre of operations the British Army has been involved in – conflicts, disaster relief and support to UK Civil Authorities.

Other regiments and facilities

Other British Army regiments in Scotland include the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (SCOTS DG) and 2 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Leuchars39 Engineer Regiment in Kinloss and 3 RIFLES in Edinburgh.  The Army Personnel Centre is in Kentigern House in Glasgow, and The Personnel Recovery Centre is in Edinburgh.

Army Reserve units

In addition to the above there are a number of Army Reserve units resident across Scotland. The Scottish & North Irish Yeomanry5 Military Intelligence Battalion and 105 Regiment Royal Artillery are headquartered in Edinburgh, 32 Signal Regiment and 205 Field Hospital in Glasgow, 225 Medical Regiment in Dundee, 71 Engineer Regiment in Leuchars, and 154 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps in Dunfermline.  All of these have sub-units across various locations in Scotland, leading to an almost universal footprint of Army units.

More information

Visit the British Army website - external link
Ministry of Defence website - external link

Find out more about defence and security in Scotland.