Jon Swift

After Commissioning into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1995, Major General Jon Swift deployed as a Platoon Commander to Bosnia and Northern Ireland. After further time in Province as a company operations officer, he moved to 2RRF as an armoured infantry company second in command. This was followed by two memorable years as an instructor at the RMA Sandhurst.

On returning to 1RRF Major General Jon Swift completed tours as the Operations Officer and Officer Commanding the Recce Group in 2002, deploying in that role for Op TELIC1. Moving from one desert to another, this was followed by a year as the British exchange officer at the US Army National Training Centre in California. He was awarded the US Meritorious Service Medal in 2004.

In 2006 he was posted to Afghanistan to command A Company 2RRF on Op HERRICK 4 and was Mentioned in Despatches in 2007. Company command was followed by two appointments in capability development in the MOD, including as Military Assistant to the Master General of the Ordnance and Director Battlespace Manoeuvre.

On promotion in 2010, Major General Jon Swift was deployed to Afghanistan as Commander of the BASTION Training Centre. Subsequent command of 1RRF included Op HERRICK 18 in 2013, deploying as Transition Support Unit Nahr-e-Saraj for which he was awarded the OBE. In 2014 Major General Jon Swift returned to capability development, first as the Senior Requirements Manager for Armoured Vehicles in the DE&S and then as the Assistant Head for Capability Plans in Army HQ. He commanded 38 (Irish) Brigade from 2017-2019 and was appointed Head of Military Capability Plans in Army HQ in October 2019.