Permanent Joint Headquarters - Mission and Duties

Mission and Duties

The PJHQ’s mission can be summarised as follows:

• As part of the Defence Crisis Management Organisation, provide politically aware military advice to the MOD to inform the strategic commitment of UK forces to overseas Joint and Combined operations.
• When directed by the Chief of the Defence Staff, exercise operational command of UK forces assigned to overseas Joint and Combined operations, either led by the UK or another nation, such as Operation Telic, in order to achieve MOD UK’s strategic objectives.
• In conjunction with the Front Line Commands and MOD, develop the UK’s Joint war-fighting capability.

PJHQ also directs British forces in Gibraltar, Cyprus (Sovereign Base Areas), the Falkland Islands (British Forces South Atlantic Islands) and Diego Garcia.

There are certain areas that the headquarters was not and will not be involved in:

• Strategic Nuclear Deterrent (submarines commanded through CINCFLEET)
• Defence of the UK Home Base, Territorial Waters and Airspace
• Northern Ireland (HQ Northern Ireland until disestablishment)
• Counter-terrorism in UK (Home Office)
• NATO Article V (General War) (NATO command structure)