LIGHT INFANTRY

Light Infantry battalions operate with minimal transport and sometimes almost entirely on foot. They are equipped with the full range of small arms, mortars, anti tank weaponry and sureveillence equipment. The Light Role Infantry battalion is a versatile organisation that can work in support of Armoured and Mechanised manoeuvre brigades to dominate urban areas or control mountainous terrain and forests/jungle. They are employed in all major UK operations.

MECHANISED INFANTRY

Mechanised Infantry use the Bulldog APC as a form of protected mobility to move around the battlefield. BULLDOG offers protection against small arms and artillery fire and provides good strategic and  cross-country mobility. However, Mechanised Infantry operate on foot in the area of the Close Battle, much like Light Role Infantry. 

ARMOURED INFANTRY

The Armoured Infantry are equipped with the Warrior IFV. The high levels of protection, firepower, ground mobility and sustainability enjoyed by Armoured Infantry make them well suited to providing both shock action and the endurance element of any operational force. The Warrior is armed with a 30mm Rarden Cannon, capable of engaging vehicle and dismounted targets out to 2000m. It carries a crew of 10: driver, commander, gunner and 7 dismounts.

AIR ASSAULT INFANTRY

Air Assault Infantry are Light Infantry, specialised for the Air Assault role. They provide a hard hitting and versatile force that can be delivered by air, aviation or by land in support of Apache Attack Helicopter Regiments. The high speed of reaction makes such forces very useable and must be "light, lean and lethal". There are 4 battalions of Air Assault Infantry within 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army's High Readiness expeditionary formation.

SPECIAL FORCES

Whilst the UK's Special Forces are not part of the Infantry, the vast majority of soldiers selected for service with the Special Forces are Infantrymen.  For those aspiring to a career with the Special Forces then the Infantry is the place to start.