At the heart of the action
The Royal Yorkshire Regiment recruits from across Yorkshire and Teesside, England and the Commonwealth. We recruit our officers nationwide and many from further afield. If you live in or have connections with the north, then The Royal Yorkshire Regiment is your infantry regiment.
Our professional soldiers of 1 R YORKS and 2 R YORKS have a strong sense of pride based on stamina, courage and success. They come equipped with resolve and a steely determination to succeed and a sense of humour that sustains them when the going gets tough.
We look to our officers to provide the strong natural leadership that will make the most of their soldiers qualities and create unique bonds of trust that are essential in the rigours of today's battlefield. They are made of stronger by shared experience in training on operations and on the sports field to achieve confidence and understanding between our officers and soldiers that is special even within the Army.
To be at the cutting edge of the British Army’s warfighting capability, Yorkshire’s Infantry train hard in order to fight hard.
1 R YORKS Light Mechanised Infantry at Catterick undertake rigorous training exercises to enable them to rapidly deploy as part of 7th Infantry Brigade (The Desert Rats). 1 R YORKS also support Defence Outputs by providing specialist Short Term Training Teams (STTT) overseas.
As experts in close combat and urban operations, the 2nd Battalion, as part of 11 Brigade, serves as the Near Surface Operations Battalion. They specialise in the use of drones and other uncrewed platforms to gather vital battlefield intelligence. Additionally, they are trained to detect and counter enemy forces employing similar technologies against British troops.
As the Best Sporting Regiment in the Army we provide the opportunity to play sport at all levels. Competitive team and individual sport is especially valued in The Royal Yorkshire Regiment because it attracts men who enjoy and thrive in a team environment, whatever their sporting talents. From a kick about with your mates, to mountain biking; scuba diving, skiing, sailing and boxing, we offer it all.
Our reputation as the best sporting regiment is borne out by our successes on sports fields at home and on tours overseas.
Football
- Army Cup Champions 2010/11, 2016/17 and Finalists 2013/14 and 2015/16
- Infantry Cup Champions 2006/07, 2010/11, 2014/15 and 2016/17
- 2017/18 Army Cup Champions
Rugby Union
- Army Cup Champions fifteen times including 2017/18
- Finalists or semi -finalists for the last 10 years
- 2017/18 and 2025/26 - Army Premiership Cup Champions
Rugby League
- Army Cup Champions nine times in last ten years
- Army 9’s winners 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2015/16 and 2025/26
Soldiers of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment are equipped with cutting-edge technology and operate in complex environments, making continuous learning and skill development essential. New recruits benefit from the Infantry Apprenticeship Scheme, which combines military training with nationally recognised qualifications, providing a strong foundation for both military and civilian careers.
As soldiers progress, many military courses offer civilian accreditation, allowing them to gain valuable qualifications that enhance their career prospects beyond the Army. Additionally, the Army supports lifelong learning by providing an annual education allowance (Standard Learning Credits), enabling soldiers to pursue further qualifications and professional development in areas of their choice.
This commitment to education ensures that Royal Yorkshire Regiment soldiers remain highly skilled, adaptable, and ready to meet the challenges of modern operations.
Light Mechanised Infantry
1 R YORKS has embraced its new role within the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team. After joining the Desert Rats on Exercise Cerberus in October 2022, the Army’s most significant exercise in over a decade, 1 R YORKS were at the heart of demonstrating the utility of Light Mechanised Infantry. With an operational deployment to Iraq, a further deployment to Kosovo on the horizon for this year and next, and a Battlegroup validation on Exercise Wessex Storm in 2024, 1 R YORKS is now set to be part of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). Given the turbulence of events in eastern Europe, there are few, if any, more relevant roles in the Field Army right now.
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Near Surface Operations
Experts in close combat and urban operations, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, plays a vital role within 11 Brigade as the Near Surface Operations Battalion. In today’s rapidly evolving battlespace, where technology and information dominance are key, 2 R YORKS is at the forefront of integrating advanced unmanned systems into frontline operations. They specialise in deploying drones and other uncrewed platforms to gather real-time, high-value intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), providing commanders with crucial situational awareness to make informed decisions swiftly.
Their expertise extends beyond intelligence gathering; the battalion is also trained to detect, disrupt, and neutralise enemy forces attempting to exploit similar technologies against British troops. This dual capability ensures that 2 R YORKS not only enhances the UK’s operational effectiveness but also protects forces from emerging threats in contested environments.
Operating in complex urban and close-quarter battle scenarios, the battalion’s adaptability, technical proficiency, and tactical acumen make them indispensable in modern conflict. Their role is critical in maintaining the balance of information superiority and force protection, enabling the British Army to operate decisively across a range of contemporary and future operational theatres.
Community engagement
The Royal Yorkshire Regiment has strong bonds with our home county of Yorkshire and the conurbation of Teesside. In June 2019, we remembered D-Day 75 when three of our famous antecedent regiments were among the first ashore and Company Sergeant Major Stan Hollis of the Green Howard’s was awarded the only Victoria Cross on 6 June, a date that continues with us as our regimental formation day. In 2020 we celebrated VE Day 75 and VJ Day 75 with our communities and veterans and we represented the Army at the 25 June 2022 National Armed Forces Day, in Scarborough.
Responsible for UK Resilience in the region, our Army Reserve infanteers supported the people of West Yorkshire with flood relief efforts as well as mobilising 150 soldiers as part of the immediate response to COVID 19. In late 2020 we also provided mass COVID testing facilities for the people of Liverpool and West Midlands.
As the only county regiment remaining in the British Army, the connection and association we have with our ‘home’ is our great strength. From the Great Yorkshire Show, Yorkshire Day, National Armed Forces Week and community projects across out cities and towns, we continue to be active across the region we represent and recruit from, helping to maintain existing relationships, as well as forging new ones.
Yorkshire Regiment AssociationR YORKS recruitment contacts
Officer Recruitment
Email: [email protected]
Address: Regimental Headquarters, 3 Tower Street, York, YO1 9SB
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