Permanent Joint Headquarters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Permanent Joint Headquarters
Active	1996–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy  British Army  Royal Air Force
Type	Joint command
Part of	Strategic Command
Location	Northwood Headquarters, Hertfordshire, England
Nickname(s)	PJHQ
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Gen Charles Stickland

The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) building at Northwood.

The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) is the main control center for all of the United Kingdom's military operations happening overseas. It's where the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force work together. They plan and manage missions around the world from this one place. You can find this important headquarters at Northwood Headquarters in Northwood, London. The person in charge of PJHQ is called the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO). Right now, that's Lieutenant General Charles Stickland.

How the PJHQ Started

A team led by Major General Christopher Wallace began setting up this headquarters in 1994. At first, some senior officers weren't sure about this new idea. But Major General Wallace worked hard to show everyone how important it would be.

The Permanent Joint Headquarters officially started on 1 April 1996. Its goal was to make UK military operations better and more effective. This included missions where different parts of the UK military worked together. It also helped with international missions led by other countries. Major General Wallace became the first CJO. The PJHQ took full control of military operations worldwide on 1 August 1996. The Northwood Headquarters site, where PJHQ is located, has been used by the Royal Air Force since 1938.

By 1998, a special team called the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) was created within PJHQ. This team could be sent out very quickly if needed. The JFHQ was designed to deploy into the field at very short notice. Its first commander, Brigadier David Richards, helped expand this idea. He also worked on the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces (JRRFs). These JRRFs were a group of highly trained forces kept ready for quick action. The UK would use them for any urgent situations.

In 2010, the PJHQ and its 600 staff members moved into a new, modern building in Northwood. This was the first time all PJHQ staff were together under one roof.

The PJHQ has overseen many important operations. These include Operation Veritas in Afghanistan in 2001. They also managed Operation Telic during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Other missions include Operation Herrick in Afghanistan from 2006. More recently, they supervised Operation Pitting in 2021. This operation helped evacuate UK citizens and people at risk from Kabul.

What the PJHQ Does

The main job of the PJHQ is to lead UK forces in military operations overseas. It also gives military advice to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This advice helps the UK government achieve its goals during these operations.

PJHQ also works on cyber operations. They do this in coordination with the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). GCHQ is another important UK intelligence and security agency.

There are some areas where the PJHQ is not involved:

• The UK's nuclear weapons.
• Defending the UK's home territory, waters, and airspace.
• Operations in Northern Ireland.
• Counter-terrorism efforts inside the UK, which are handled by the Home Office.
• Large-scale wars under NATO's Article V. These are managed by NATO's own military command.

As of November 2022, about 567 military and civilian staff worked at PJHQ.

Who Leads the PJHQ

The Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) is the officer who leads the PJHQ. This person holds a high rank, usually a Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral, or Air Marshal.

Date of Appointment	Rank	Name	Branch
April 1996	Lieutenant General	Sir Christopher Wallace	British Army
February 1999	Vice Admiral	Sir Ian Garnett	Royal Navy
August 2001	Lieutenant General	Sir John Reith	British Army
26 July 2004	Air Marshal	Sir Glenn Torpy	Royal Air Force
March 2006	Lieutenant General	Sir Nicholas Houghton	British Army
13 March 2009	Air Marshal	Sir Stuart Peach	Royal Air Force
December 2011	Lieutenant General	Sir David Capewell	Royal Marines
January 2015	Lieutenant General	Sir John Lorimer	British Army
June 2017	Vice Admiral	Tim Fraser	Royal Navy
April 2019	Vice Admiral	Sir Ben Key	Royal Navy
November 2021	Lieutenant General	Charles Stickland	Royal Marines

See also

• Northwood Headquarters