Commander European Support Group and Rheindahlen Garrison
Brigadier Jonathan Watson MBE

With units in such diverse locations as Stavanger in Norway to the North, Lisbon in Portugal to the West and Izmir in Turkey to the East the Rhine and European Support Group is one of the largest Garrison areas in the British Army.

ESG is Tri- Service in its make up with Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force Personnel serving both in the Headquarters and across the European continent.

The Rhine and European Support Group (RESG) was established on 1 Apr 04 under VCDS’s direction, taking command of all UK Tri-Service Support Units (UKSU) within Europe, including Turkey.  These Support Units look after the UK servicemen and women and their families in NATO appointments, in Europe either in large HQ organisations or in smaller isolated detachments (ISODETS). 

ESG was created from the existing HQ Rhine Garrison and reinforced by a Tri-Service staff,to deliver the European support function.  The formation of RESG has enabled Defence, for the first time, to take a clear Tri-Service overview of support across the UK’s NATO and broader commitments within Europe.

ESG Mission Statement is to: