Our history

Since its formation the regiment has deployed to almost every theatre of operations the British Army has been involved in; conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, supporting peace operations in Cyprus, West and North Africa, disaster relief in the Caribbean and giving support to UK Civil Authorities to deal with wild-fire, flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic.  In recent years, SCOTS soldiers have had key roles in NATO Response Forces, partnered US forces in training in the US and Europe.

Young Officers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland are trained and prepared during a 12-month arduous training package at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the soldiers (Jocks) complete their initial 6 month training at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. There are several specialist skills within the infantry – Driver, Physical Training Instructor, Commander, Gunner,Rifleman/Sniper, Team Medic and Musician.

Less for ceremonial occasions, each regular battalion wears a different coloured hackle as a battalion identifier, to distinguish them today and link them to their particular antecedent lineage: 2 SCOTS wear White (as did the Royal Highland Fusiliers), 3 SCOTS wear Red (as did the Black Watch), 4 SCOTS wear Blue (as did the Highlanders), and 5 SCOTS wear Green (to represent the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders). On 1 Dec 21, 1 SCOTS was selected to become the 1^st Battalion of the Army’s new Ranger Regiment (1 RANGER). As a result, the black hackle worn by 1 SCOTS for 16 years became the Regimental hackle and is now worn by all SCOTS officers and soldiers when not assigned to a Regular Battalion or Balaklava Company.