The Rifles (Reserves)

6 RIFLES is a Reserve Infantry Battalion based across the South West of England. This is the historic heartlands of some of the antecedent regiments of The Rifles, the largest Infantry Regiment in the Army.

6 RIFLES has around 450 part-time soldiers from a wide variety of backgrounds, making us one of the largest reservist units in the British Army. The battalion has three rifle companies and a headquarters company, each comprising approximately 100 Riflemen and the accomplished, 30-strong Salamanca Band and Bugles that supports a variety of Defence tasks. Each of these companies offer a range of combat and combat support roles including Infantry Soldiers and specialist fire support weapon platoons, but also a range of technical trades such as medics, chefs, communication experts and logistics.

6 RIFLES are under the command of 19 Light Brigade within the 1st (UK) Division meaning that we remain an operationally focused Battalion. 6 RIFLES deployed on the UN mission Operation Tosca in Cyprus in 2021, trained our Ukrainian allies throughout 2023 on Operation Interflex and has sent individual augmentees across the world on many more operations and exercises in support of the Regular forces. All alongside a plethora of sport and adventure training across the world with currently 14 Army athletes within the Battalion.

7 RIFLES is the Reserve Infantry Battalion of The Rifles for London and the South East. We trace our heritage back to the original skirmishers and sharpshooters of the 1800s.

Comprising of 500 Reservists from culturally diverse backgrounds and have bases in London, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire.

We offer a range of combat and combat service support roles, including our accomplished Waterloo Band and Bugles.

As part of the Army’s largest Regiment, and as a Reserve component within the 3rd (UK) Division under command of 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, we have unparalleled access to the widest possible roles and deployment opportunities.

We therefore stand ready to support 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team as part of the Iron Fist in the Iron Division, and recent examples include:

• Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Providing training teams to Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda.
• Supporting regional and local government efforts on Operation Pitchpole (flooding) and Operation Rescript (Covid19 response) as well as Operation Unity (Commonwealth Games).
• Peacekeeping operations in Cyprus.
• Operational deployments to Estonia as part of the Enhanced Forward Presence (Operation Cabrit). 

8 RIFLES is a Reserve Infantry Battalion based across the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East.

These Rifles heartlands, inherited from the Durham Light Infantry, the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, date back to the original skirmishers and sharpshooters of the 1800s. Our 300 female and male Reservist Riflemen still live in the same areas, but with culturally diverse, modern backgrounds, are our competitive edge.

As the Army’s youngest Infantry Battalion, we are proud of our heritage but equally strive to be innovative and forward looking – enabling us to remain at the cutting edge of modern warfare. We offer a range of combat and combat service support roles – including infantry soldiers, specialist fire support weapons personnel (cross trained in remotely piloted aircraft systems) and technical departments – medics, chefs, human resources, logistics and communications experts.

As part of the Army’s largest Infantry Regiment, we are under command of 19 Light Brigade – an ‘all Reserve’ Brigade within the 1st (UK) Division: The British Army’s Global Response Division. As a result, we have unparalleled access to the widest possible roles and deployment opportunities.