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Protecting our Nation's Interests

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  • Current Location

    British Isles

    13:48 GMT - 19 June 2013

    Home Waters

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    Atlantic, Caribbean & USA

    09:14 GMT - 19 June 2013

    Atlantic, Caribbean & USA

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    Afghanistan

    14:28 GMT - 14 June 2013

    Operation Herrick

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    London

    14:16 GMT - 10 June 2013

    Battle of The Atlantic

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    Bardufoss, Norway

    09:21 GMT - 06 June 2013

    Cold Weather Training

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        3 Commando Brigade

        3 Commando Brigade is the UK’s amphibious infantry, ready to move in support of British interests at any time. Self-sustaining with the help of British Army and Royal Navy units, 3 Commando Brigade can go to trouble spots around the world and and get to work.

        Royal Marines
        Royal Marines
        Royal Marines

        COMMANDING OFFICER

        Stuart Birrell

        RANK:
        Brigadier
        JOINED:
        1988
        SPECIALISATION:
        Royal Marine
        PREVIOUS UNITS:
        Joint Force Headquarters, 40 Commando Royal Marines
        Military experience

        Stuart Birrell joined the Royal Marines in 1988 and, on completion of officer training at the Commando Training Centre, spent the first 10 years of his service in a variety of Regimental posts. During this period he saw operational service in Northern Ireland and Northern Iraq, participating in a significant number of amphibious deployments worldwide

        n 1999 he completed a MA in Defence Studies at the Royal Military College Shrivenham, followed immediately by the Advanced Command and Staff Course at Bracknell. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2002, he was appointed to the Navy Command HQ with responsibility for the development of the Royal Navy’s Littoral Manoeuvre capability. In 2004 he was appointed as Chief of Staff, Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade in Plymouth. In 2006, as Commanding Officer of 40 Commando Royal Marines he deployed his unit as the core of Battle Group (North) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan between 2007-08. For his service in Afghanistan he was appointed as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

        Promoted to Colonel in 2009, he worked on the staff of the First Sea Lord in London, supporting the development of maritime strategy in the lead up to the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. He was subsequently appointed as Chief of Staff of the very high readiness Joint Force Headquarters in Northwood, and was responsible for coordinating UK operational-level military and political planning in response to a wide range of global operations; this period covered the UK military-assisted evacuation in Libya. He completed the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2012.

        Most recently he was the policy lead with the MOD for UK military involvement in the South Asia Region, with specific responsibility for Pakistan. He assumed command of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines in June 2013.


        Units in Action

        • 40 Commando

          40 Commando is a battalion sized Unit providing part of 3 Commando Brigade’s amphibious warfare capability.

          40 Commando Alpha Company in action in Afghanistan
        • 42 Commando

          Recently returned from live fire training in California, 42 Commando Royal Marines are one of three elite battalion-sized units which make up the global punch of 3 Commando Brigade.

          42 Commando feel the desert heat in California
        • 45 Commando

          For a long time Britain’s experts in cold weather warfare, the men of 45 Commando have spent most of the past decade surrounded by sand. However last autumn saw the Royal Marines return to their natural habitat, the Cougar 2012 amphibious deployment to the Mediterranean, and now in the midst of cold weather training in Norway and the highlands of Scotland.

          Royal Marines Storm Former Cold War Base
        • 30 Commando IX Group

          30 Commando Information Exploitation Group was, until March 2010, known as United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group (UKLF CSG), which itself grew out of 3 Commando Brigade's Headquarters and Signals Squadron. The Unit’s role, however, extends back further to Royal Marines units tasked with signals, reconnaissance and intelligence operations during the Second World War.

          Royal Marines
        • 539 Assault Squadron

          539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines is a vital link in the Corps' chain, allowing 3 Commando Brigade to transfer onto land from the sea or river. It can operate amphibious Viking vehicles to deliver force into territories, something which the unit has done several times since it was created in the aftermath of the Falklands War.

          539 Assualt Sqaudron
        • Commando Logistic Regiment

          Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines (CLR) is situated at Chivenor in North Devon. It is home to about 620 personnel from all three services, including Mechanical Engineers, Medics and Logisticians. No other unit has such an eclectic mix of cap badges working together.

          Commando Logistics Regiment
        • Attached Army Units

          29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery is an Army Unit which provides specialist fire support for 3 Commando Brigade. It controls huge firepower ranging from mortars, artillery and naval gunfire to fast jets and Apache helicopters. The Regiment contains volunteers from across the Armed Forces, and soldiers must pass the arduous All Arms Command Course to earn their Green Beret and serve at 29 Cdo. 

          59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers is based at Chivenor in North Devon. The Squadron consists of a headquarters, three field troops, a reconnaissance troop, a support troop and a workshop. The Squadron is responsible for all engineer tasks in the Brigade forward area.

          Combined Ops

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