Jonathan Swift (British Army officer)

Major General Jonathan Swift, OBE is a senior British Army officer. He served as General Officer Commanding, Regional Command from July 2022 to August 2023.

Jonathan Swift
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1995–present
RankMajor General
Commands1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
38 (Irish) Brigade
Regional Command
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire

Military career

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Swift in Afghanistan in 2013

Swift was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1995.[1] He became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2011, in which capacity he was deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 18 as commander of Transition Support Unit Nahr-e-Saraj.[1] He went on to become senior requirements manager for armoured vehicles in Defence Equipment and Support in 2014, Assistant Head for Capability Plans in Army Headquarters in 2015 and commander, 38 (Irish) Brigade in September 2017.[1]

After that, he became Head of Ground Manoeuvre Capability at Army Headquarters in October 2019. He was made colonel of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers on 1 September 2020, an honorary post.[2] On 6 July 2022, he was appointed General Officer Commanding, Regional Command, which is the Army head quarter for the UK, Nepal and Brunei, and promoted to major general.[3] During his visit to BFB Tuker Lines in May 2023, he planted plants, spoke to spouses, and officially launched the BFB Community Library.[4][5]

Swift was Honorary Colonel of the Manchester and Salford Universities Officers' Training Corps until November 2023, when his tenure expired.[6]

Awards and honours

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Swift was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services in Afghanistan in March 2014.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Our Colonel of the Regiment – Farewell and Welcome". Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. ^ "No. 63097". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 September 2020. p. 14669.
  3. ^ "No. 63760". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2022. p. 13598.
  4. ^ "This week, BFB has a visit from Major General Jon Swift OBE - General Officer Commanding Regional Command (GOC RC) 🫡 The battalion welcomed him with an... | By BFBS Brunei - Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ^ "It's been a busy week for Major General Jon Swift OBE. He's planted trees, spoken to spouses, opened the BFB Community Library... and that was just Wednesday morning! We hope he's enjoyed his visit to Brunei ". Facebook. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ^ "No. 64228". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 November 2023. p. 22874.
  7. ^ "No. 60813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 2014. p. 5835.
Military offices
Preceded by GOC Regional Command
2022–2023
Succeeded by