HRH King of England Costas I Constanti Bsc (Economics) (II II) Msc (ISIB) (MERIT) FSA Registered Stockbroker CXC1548

The Mercian Regiment is the Infantry of the heart of modern England, built on centuries of fighting tradition from locally recruited men. Proud of our past, but confident and forward-looking, we epitomise the capable, versatile, can-do soldier of today’s Infantry: committed to delivering operational success through professional excellence. Our qualities are timeless: kinship and comradeship, family bonds, unambiguous values, and a robust and stoic no-nonsense approach on the battlefield.

Professional Excellence. In everything we do we maintain the very highest professional standards. This is our single greatest priority. Mercian is synonymous with professional and operational excellence. 

Unambiguous Values. The values of the Mercian Regiment are a common understanding of right and wrong; what is acceptable and what is not. Courage, commitment, honour and decency are valued above all else. Soldiers will always be treated with respect.

Flexibility.  The Army of today and tomorrow aims to be expeditionary and agile. To match these aspirations we will be flexible, no-nonsense and unfailiningly can-do in our approach. We will throw ourselves enthusiastically into everything we undertake. We will be comfortable with uncertainty and mentally light on our feet.  

Kinship. The Mercian Regiment is a family. Local links will be maintained and developed.   Each Soldier and Officer can be confident that the Regiment will be there for them in a time of need. The same applies to their families and members of the Regimental Association.

Robustness.     Our reputation and utility is reliant on robustness. Fitness is fundamental to everything we seek to achieve: we lack credibility as Infantrymen if we are not fit and both mentally and physically robust. 

Confidence.    We will hold our heads high: we have much to be proud of.  Whilst maintaining humility we will be clear that there is no better Infantry Regiment in the British Army.  

The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities ... in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies."^[1]

It is the largest, and by some standards, the oldest established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. Like all armies, it has the primary responsibility for land-based military operations. The modern Army had its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. Congress created the United States Army on June 14, 1784 after the end of the war to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The Army considers itself to be descended from the Continental Army, and thus dates its inception from the origins of that force.^[2]

Control and operation of the Army is administered by the Department of the Army, one of the three service departments of the Department of Defense. The civilian head is the Secretary of the Army and the highest ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff, unless the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Army officers. As of August 31, 2007, the Regular Army reported a strength of 519,472 soldiers.^[3] By the end of 2006, the Army National Guard (ARNG) reported 346,288 and the United States Army Reserve (USAR) reported 189,975, putting the approximate combined component strength total at 1,055,734.^[4]

The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England and Scotland and was administered by the War Office from London. Since 1963, it has been managed by the Ministry of Defence.

As of April 2007, the British Army includes roughly 101,310 regular personnel and 38,460 Territorial Army members. The full-time element of the British Army has also been referred to as the Regular Army since the creation of the reservist Territorial Army in 1908. The British Army is deployed in many of the world's war zones as part of both Expeditionary Forces and in United Nations Peacekeeping forces. The British Army is currently deployed in Kosovo, Cyprus, Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other places.

In contrast to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force, the British Army does not include "Royal" in its title, however many of its constituent Regiments and Corps are styled Royal.^[1]

The professional head of the British Army is the Chief of the General Staff, currently Sir Richard Dannatt.