Editing Standby High-Readiness Brigade

{{cleanup reorganize|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Standby High-Readiness Brigade
|image=SHIRBRIG logo.svg
|image_size=200px
|caption= Standby High-Readiness Brigade logo
|dates= 1996 - June 30, 2009
|country= 
|allegiance= [[United Nations]]
|branch= 
|type= 
|role= International standby force for peacekeeping
|size= 4,000-5,000
|command_structure= 
|current_commander= 
|notable_commanders= 
{{unbulleted list
|Maj. Gen. [[Patrick Cammaert]] (The Netherlands) 
|Brig. Gen. Sten Edholm (Sweden)
|Brig. Gen. Greg Mitchell (Canada)
}}
|garrison= [[Høvelte]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= SHIRBRIG
|patron=
|motto=''Rapid, Flexible, Prepared''
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
}}
The '''Standby High-Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG)''' was a Danish-led initiative associated with the [[United Nations]] that aimed to create a standby force ready for peacekeeping.  It was formed largely as a result of the genocide in Rwanda and other atrocities. Its permanent headquarters were in Garderkasernen (Garder barracks), [[Høvelte]] 30 kilometres north of [[Copenhagen]] in [[Denmark]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/webArticles/022807_shirbrig.htm |date=February 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315130250/https://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/webArticles/022807_shirbrig.htm |title=UN Chronicle - SHIRBRIG: In Service for the United Nations |archive-date=March 15, 2007 |website=web.un.org }}</ref> It was declared ready for operations on January 1, 2000, and deployed to the [[Horn of Africa]] in November 2000 to form the core of the UN Mission in [[Ethiopia]] and [[Eritrea]] ([[UNMEE]]) under the command of [[Royal Netherlands Marine Corps]] Major General [[Patrick Cammaert]].  The Brigade returned from that mission six months later and began a training cycle.  It announced that it would again be ready for action as of January 1, 2002.  Cammaert's appointment expired in November, 2002, but was extended  at least once. Later commanders included Brig. Gen. Sten Edholm (Sweden), and Brig Gen Greg Mitchell (Canada).<ref name=JDWSHIR>Robin Hughes, 'New commander for SHIRBRIG,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 7 January 2004, p.7</ref>

The Brigade comprised a number of troops varying between four and five thousand, drawn from units pledged by eleven countries: [[Argentina]], [[Austria]], [[Canada]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Italy]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Norway]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Spain]]<ref>{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619120019/http://www.mde.es/contenido.jsp?id_nodo=4456&&&keyword=&auditoria=F |url=http://www.mde.es/contenido.jsp?id_nodo=4456&&&keyword=&auditoria=F |title=Presidencia española de la SHIRBRIG |archive-date=June 19, 2006 |publisher=Ministerio de Defensa de España }}</ref> and [[Sweden]].

The nations that contributed to SHIRBRIG had the right to opt out of any operation.  For example, when the UNMEE was formed, [[Argentina]] and [[Romania]] opted out for financial reasons.

The Brigade expected to operate independently at a considerable distance from support for up to 60 days.  It stood ready for deployment from point of embarkation at 15 to 30 days' notice.  Its deployment will be limited to six months duration, after which the mission will either be terminated or other forces will replace the Brigade.

Other operations the Brigade took part in were planning ECOWAS's operation in [[Côte d'Ivoire]], and forming the Interim Headquarters of the [[United Nations Mission in Liberia]].<ref name=JDWSHIR />

The Brigade ceased all operational activities on June 30, 2009 and closed down the organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shirbrig.dk/html/public_statement_shirbrig.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.shirbrig.dk/html/public_statement_shirbrig.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Public Statement on Shirbrig |website=www.shirbrig.dk}}</ref>
The Brigade's files were given to the U.S. Army's Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) at Carlisle Barracks, PA and are located at the adjacent Army Heritage Education Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA. <ref>Interview, Dr. Karen Finkenbinder, PKSOI, Director of Research in 2009.</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.shirbrig.dk/ Official website]
*[http://www.gppi.net/fileadmin/gppi/Koops_Varwick__2008__SHIRBRIG_GPPi_RP_11.pdf Ten Years of SHIRBRIG-Research Paper]
*[http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo8/no2/doc/army-amree-eng.pdf SHIRBRIG: The Future of Canada's Contribution to UN Peace Operations?], Canadian Forces Journal, 8, 2.
*[https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/publications/yir/2006/shirbrig.htm UN website - SHIRBRIG: Ready to deploy]

[[Category:Multinational army units and formations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in the 2000s]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Military units involved in UN peacekeeping missions]]