The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is the oldest regiment in the British Army, possessing a history that dates back to a Royal Charter in 1537. Based at the historic Armoury House in the City of London, it is an elite Army Reserve unit with a dual role: it serves operationally as a Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) regiment, and ceremonially as the official bodyguard to the Lord Mayor of London. In its fighting capacity, the HAC supports the 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team, deploying small, highly skilled patrols equipped with covert sensors and observation devices to locate high-value enemy targets deep behind the front lines. Despite being reservists, HAC soldiers must pass a rigorous, bespoke selection course—the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Patrols Course—to ensure they meet the high physical and technical standards required for their specialized work.
