Active from:
1537
Role:
Surveillance, reconnaissance and field artillery
Specialism:
Surveillance & reconnaissance patrols; light intelligence surveillance & reconnaissance; close support artillery
The HAC occupies Finsbury Barracks, which is situated in the City of London on City Road, between Moorgate and Old Street tube stations.
All members of the Regiment train here collectively every week. After training, soldiers and officers alike are welcome to dine together in the adjacent building, Armoury House, which has been the home of the HAC since 1735.
We primarily recruit from across London and the South East.
Our address is:
Honourable Artillery Company
Finsbury Barracks
City Road
London
EC1Y 2BQ
HAC soldiers come from a wide variety of professions, backgrounds, and areas of society. Some of our specialisms in particular benefit from having soldiers from diverse cultural, linguistic and professional backgrounds.
Because of the variety of different roles within one regiment, the HAC offers opportunities for people with very different skills, strengths, and interests. Having a rich mix of skills and backgrounds also offers a pool of specialist civilian skills that can deliver support across UK Defence and Government.
Characteristics expected of all HAC soldiers are selflessness, a commitment to excellence and to service, and unrelenting professionalism. Service in the HAC is not for the faint hearted, but it is uniquely rewarding.
Alongside the wide variety of military training opportunities, the HAC also offers the chance to get involved in a range of sports and adventurous training. The Regiment has a strong tradition of Ski-mountaineering for example, as well as competitive downhill and cross-country skiing. The Regiment has a busy social calendar, the highlights of which include Summer and Winter Balls and a Regimental Carol Service at Christmas.
The HAC offers a breadth of roles unrivalled in any other single Army Reserve unit.
Whichever role you choose, you will face exciting challenges and develop new skills. Some you could learn nowhere else, and many of which will be of benefit in your civilian life and career.
- Surveillance and Reconnaissance Patrol Soldier
- Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Soldier
- Light Gun Operator
- Communication Information Systems Operator
- Artillery Logistician
- Bugler or Drummer
- Musician
Over the past 15 years, more than 300 HAC soldiers have deployed on operations and specialist training deployments with regional partner forces. Over this period HAC soldiers have been mobilised for operations somewhere around the world on an almost continual basis. These deployments have included:
- Bosnia
- Kosovo
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- London Olympic Games
- Sierra Leone
- Cyprus
- South Sudan
- UK COVID civil contingency support
- Ukraine
- North Africa
Overseas Training
The HAC has excellent access to unique, cutting-edge training, delivered across the globe. In recent years its soldiers have trained in:
- Japan
- Malaysia
- USA
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Kenya
- France
On successful completion of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Patrol Course (Reserve), you will achieve the Special Observer Qualification and can begin your career as an STA patrol soldier within 1 (Special Operations) Squadron.
In this role, you will conduct covert surveillance from observation posts or by emplacing remote sensors. STA patrols typically operate in high-risk areas, often at range and well beyond conventional forces.
Deploying in small teams, your role is to find high value targets and provide intelligence on them, as well as delivering a deep strike capability by directing artillery or air-delivered weapons. The role requires intelligent, disciplined, and self-reliant soldiers who are fit, resilient and suited to operating in small teams for long periods of time.
Your skillset will include: covert observation and reporting; close target reconnaissance; long range secure communications; photography and technical surveillance; marksmanship with a variety of weapon systems; close quarter battle skills; camouflage and concealment; small unit tactics; the ability to navigate over all types of terrain in all conditions; use of a variety of vehicle platforms; land survival, evasion, resistance to interrogation and escape skills; and human terrain reconnaissance.
The role of a soldier in one of the HAC’s two ISR Squadrons is to collect battlefield intelligence and build understanding of the operating environment using a range of sensors and techniques, including human terrain reconnaissance.
Your role as an ISR specialist will be built on a foundation of core infantry skills that will allow you to move, communicate and protect yourself and those around you.
Your training will be a mix of fundamental, basic soldiering skills and more specialist information collection techniques.
The role requires fit, intelligent, and adaptable soldiers who are comfortable and confident in a wide variety of challenging environments.
You will be part of a close team who deploy and operate the L118 105mm Light Gun in the field. There are a variety of different roles within A (1st City of London) Battery, including strike operator, signals, logistics and observers, all working together to ensure the effectiveness of the 105mm Light Gun in delivering close artillery support for our troops.
We maintain a close relationship with our regular counterparts in 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, who we provide support. This means you will train alongside regular soldiers in the UK and abroad. As part of our commitment to 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, all members of the Battery are given the opportunity to attempt the All-Arms Pre-Parachute Selection (P Company) and the Basic Parachute Course to achieve their coveted wings.
Additionally, A (1st City of London) Battery plays an important role in the regiment's delivery of the State Ceremonial Gun salutes at HM Palace the Tower of London.
As a Signaller, you will provide the specialist long-range communications vital for the other elements of the Regiment to perform their tasks.
You will be trained in the range of advanced technical and tactical skills necessary to operate independent communications detachments.
You will work in headquarters or attached to forward elements. You will use the latest military communication and information systems to enable secure communications between remote stations and patrols often hundreds, and sometimes thousands of miles apart.
You will enable and sustain other elements of the Regiment in the field. You will have the opportunity to gain various driving licenses and technical qualifications for the handling different types of stores, such as dangerous goods.
You will be trained to be highly proficient in cross-country driving and will be taught all the tactical skills necessary safely to deliver specialist logistic support to troops deployed on operations.
Members of the Corps of Drums are soldiers first and foremost and can volunteer from any part of the HAC, but they predominantly comprise Gunners within A Battery.
To be a Drummer, you will learn to play the bugle and fife, or a drum. As a drummer you will perform additional ceremonial duties alongside your other commitments as an HAC soldier.
You will already play one or more musical instruments to a high standard when you join the HAC Band.
Your colleagues will be some of the most talented and highly trained musicians in the British Army and you will often find yourself supporting state ceremonial events such as the Changing of the Guard Ceremony or the Lord Mayor’s Parade.
As accomplished military musicians, personnel from the HAC Band augment the State Bands in London on a routine basis at the highest profile ceremonial events.
Irrespective of specialism, all HAC soldiers have the privilege of contributing to the HAC’s part in State Ceremonial events.
These routinely include firing Gun Salutes at the Tower of London on events such as Royal Birthdays, marching in the annual Lord Mayor’s Show and Remembrance Sunday parades, or forming a Guard of Honour when foreign Heads of State visit the City of London.
The Honourable Artillery Company is the oldest regiment in the British Army and the second most senior unit of the Army Reserve.
King Henry VIII authorised the formation of “Ye Fraternitie or Guylde of Artillary of Longbowes, Crosbowes and Handegonnes” making the HAC the oldest regiment in the British Army.
The HAC’s first overseas operational deployment – as part of the City Imperial Volunteers. It provided most of the officers and all the gunners of this multi-cap badge formation drawn from across the Volunteer Regiments of the City.
The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act was passed and the HAC was invited to join the new Territorial Force (later the Territorial Army). The following year, the Honourable Artillery Company Act was passed, protecting the HAC’s civilian rights, property and privileges and the regiment duly became part of the Territorial Army (TA).
The HAC mustered three battalions of infantry and five batteries of artillery. The Regiment served in France, Flanders, Italy and the Middle East. Two Victoria Crosses were awarded to HAC officers for their actions at Gavrelle, during the Battle of Arras in France 1917.
The HAC mustered four regiments of artillery – 11th, 12th and 13th Regiments Royal Horse Artillery and 86th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – serving in North Africa, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. In addition the Regiment was responsible for an Officer Training Corps, providing commissioned officers to Regiments across the British Army.
The first HAC operational deployment since the Second World War was to Bosnia in 1995. Every year since then has seen HAC soldiers deployed – to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Cyprus and elsewhere.
How to Progress
To find out more, come down to one of our recruiting presentations held on the first Tuesday of each month at Finsbury Barracks. Email [email protected] to register for a place.
Once you have received confirmation that you can attend, please arrive at 6:30pm for a 7pm start.