reserves from the Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and 380 MOD civilians. Joint Helicopter Command's largest operation to date has been Operation Telic, the invasion of Iraq. Following the invasion, Joint Helicopter Command maintained units in Iraq, in support of British and coalition forces deployed there. Another detachment was also maintained in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Herrick. Role and operations The majority of the United Kingdom's military helicopters come under JHC, although exceptions include the Royal Navy's anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning helicopters and the Defence Helicopter Flying School. Command Air-Vice Marshal Nigel Colman became commander of Joint Helicopter Command in March 2020. JHC is part of Army Headquarters and has its headquarters at the British Army's Marlborough Lines, Andover in Hampshire. Joint Helicopter Force (US) Since 2009, the US Navy station Naval Air Facility El Centro (NAFEC) in California has been home to Joint Helicopter Force (US), an element of JHC which provides pre-deployment and desert environmental qualification training. The deserts of Southern California have temperatures and terrain closely resembling those of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, where British helicopters have been on operational duty in recent years. Former Deployments Joint Helicopter Force (Northern Ireland) The JHC operation in Northern Ireland in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and military units as part of Operation Banner and later Operation Helvetic was named the Joint Helicopter Force Northern Ireland (JHF(NI)). JHF(NI) consisted of the following units based at JHC Flying Station Aldergrove: 5 Regiment No. 655 Squadron – Westland Lynx AH1 No. 665 Squadron – Gazelle AH1 Reconnaissance, Intelligence and Geographic Centre (Northern Ireland) No. 230 Squadron – Westland Puma HC1 Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq) The JHC operation in Iraq as part of Operation Telic was named Joint Helicopter Force Iraq (JHF(I)). The following aircraft types served with JHF(I): Boeing Chinook HC2s. Westland Sea King HC4s. Westland Lynx AH7/AH9s. Westland Gazelle AH1s. Westland Puma HC1s. Westland Merlin HC3s. Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) The JHC operation in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick was named Joint Helicopter Force Afghanistan (JHF(A)) "Task Force Jaguar". The following aircraft types served with JHF(A): AgustaWestland Apache AH1s. Boeing Chinook HC2s. Westland Lynx AH7, AH9 & AH9As. Westland Merlin HC3s. Westland Puma HC1s. Westland Sea King HC4+ from November 2007 & ASaC7s Organisation An overview of formations from each service under Joint Helicopter Command. British Army Army Air Corps