AS Army 2020 becomes a reality, there are big changes to Bulford-based 12 Mechanised Brigade.

Brigade Commander, Brigadier Roly Walker, inset, outlined what will happen in the next few years. The first and most significant change is that the role will change from a mechanised brigade to an armoured infantry brigade, giving the brigade greater mobility and firepower.

“We will get smaller until we are at our steady state of five combat units,” said Brig Walker. “We will be held as one of the three armoured infantry brigades, and once every three years we will be held at high readiness for operations around the world.

“We have three units in the Brigade: 1 Royal Anglian in Bulford, 3 Rifles and 2 Mercian, who are light role infantry and will be leaving us and moving to different brigades.

“We will welcome two new units in 2015; 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment in Warminster and a new unit The Royal Lancers - formed as a result of the amalgamation of 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen’s Royal Lancers who will be based at Catterick.”

He stressed that this year the brigade’s singular purpose is to train so that it is as ready as it can be should it be called upon.