Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)

The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board; he is also the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Army Board. Prior to 1964, the title was Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). Since 1959, the post has been immediately subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the post held by the professional head of the British Armed Forces.

Chief of the General Staff

CGS

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Not to be confused with Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom).

The current Chief of the General Staff is General Sir Patrick Sanders, who succeeded his predecessor, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, in June 2022. In 2024, he will be replaced by Lieutenant General Sir Roland Walker, who is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.^[1]

Maintains the institutional health of the Army by exercising Full Command responsibility for all Army personnel

Ensures the efficient and effective governance of the service

Chairs the Executive Committee of the Army Board and the Army Command Group

Contributes to the conduct of defence higher level business, with a particular responsibility for providing specialist advice on Army matters

Develops future Army capability within the context of Defence strategic direction and resource allocation

Roles[edit]

The Chief was responsible for commanding the entire British Army. During the Second World War, General Brooke focused on grand strategy, and his relationships, through the Combined Chiefs of Staff with his American counterparts. He was also responsible for the appointment and evaluation of senior commanders, allocation of manpower and equipment, and the organisation of tactical air forces in support of land operations of field commanders; he also had primary responsibility for supervising the military operations of the Free French, Polish, Dutch, Belgian, and Czech units reporting to their governments in exile in London. Brooke vigorously allocated responsibilities to his deputies, and despite the traditional historical distrust that had existed between the military and the political side of the War Office, he got along quite well with his counterpart, the Secretary of State for War, first David Margesson and later, Sir James Grigg. ^[4]

The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is the professional head of the Army, with responsibility for developing and generating military capability from an integrated Army (Regular and Reserve) and for maintaining the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Service. The CGS reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and, as a Service COS, has a right of direct access to the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister. The CGS is a member of the Defence Council and the Army Board, the Armed Forces Committee, the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Senior Appointments Committee. Responsibile for:

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Chief of the Defence Staff

First Sea Lord / Chief of the Naval Staff

Chief of the Air Staff

Deputy Chief of the General Staff

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Leads the senior management team of the British Army

[2]

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Defence Council
Army Board
Chiefs of Staff Committee

Chief of the Defence Staff

Secretary of State for Defence

The Monarch
On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council

No fixed length

Commander-in-Chief of the Forces

1904, 1964

Sir Neville Lyttelton

Deputy Chief of the General Staff

Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)