Colonel's Welcome

Welcome to the home page of the 1st Armoured Regiment, the Army's only Tank Regiment.

For those members marching into the unit, click on the link below to find further information and instructions regarding your arrival. This page can only be viewed on the Intranet.

'Paratus'

LTCOL D.L. Hayward

Marching In Administration and Instructions

Abrams on Parade

Commanding Officer's Biography

Commanding Officer

LTCOL Duncan Hayward graduated from the Royal Military College (RMC) in 1988 to the RAAC. His first posting was to 1st Armoured Regiment (Puckapunyal) as a tank troop leader for 2 years followed by a year as a recruit Platoon Commander at Kapooka.

On promotion to Captain he was posted to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Darwin, where he served as a Cavalry Squadron Second-in-Command and as the Adjutant. In 1995 he returned to RMC for a three year posting, as a field training instructor, tactics wing instructor and Officer Commanding Alamein Company.

In 1997 he was promoted to Major and posted to the Middle East with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation serving as a military observer on the Golan Heights and in Southern Lebanon. On return to Australia he served for a year as a Squadron Commander at the School of Armour followed by two years of Tank Squadron command at 1st Armoured Regiment. In 2002 he attended Australian Command and Staff College in Canberra. Immediately following Staff College he served as the Staff Officer to the Director General Preparedness and Plans in Army Headquarters.

In mid 2003 he was promoted and deployed to Iraq, serving with US forces as the G3 for the Coalition Military Training Team in Baghdad and the Kurdish regions, responsible for rebuilding the Iraqi Army. In March 2004 he returned to Army Headquarters as the SO1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle Capability Implementation Team, responsible for ensuring a smooth introduction into service of the M1A1 AIM Abrams tank by July 2007. In 2007 LTCOL Hayward assumed command of 1st Armoured Regiment.

LTCOL Hayward holds a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Studies, a Masters of Management in Defence Studies, and has recently completed a Master of Strategic Affairs through the Australian National University. LTCOL Hayward has a daughter, Holly (10 years old) who resides in Melbourne. He is married to Virginia. They have a son, Xavier (19 months old). LTCOL Hayward's personal interests include cycling, kayaking, reading, travel and house renovating. Commanding Officer Lt Col D. L. Hayward

Regimental Sergeant Major's Biography

RSM photo

Warrant Officer Class One Peter Swinfield was educated at the Seymour Technical High School, Victoria and completed secondary school in 1980.

Warrant Officer Swinfield commenced his Recruit Training in April 1981 and was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. After completing Initial Employment Training he was posted to the 1st Armoured Regiment as a tank driver/loader.

Warrant Officer Swinfield has progressed through 1st Armoured Regiment from tank driver in 1981 to tank commander in 1986. From 1991 to his promotion to Warrant Officer Class Two in 2000, Warrant Officer Swinfield held a number of Troop Sergeant positions within 1st Armoured Regiment. Outside from 1st Armoured Regiment, Warrant Officer Swinfield has been posted to the Australian Defence Force Academy as a Sergeant instructor from 1997 to 2000. He was the Training Warrant Officer at 10 Light Horse in Perth from 2000 - 2001 and the Squadron Sergeant Major of C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment from 2002 - 2003. Warrant Officer Swinfield on return from active service in Iraq was posted as an instructor at the Royal Military College Duntroon from 2004 - 2005.

In December 2005, Warrant Officer Swinfield was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One and in January 2006 Warrant Officer Swinfield was posted as the Regimental Sergeant Major, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment. In January 2008, Warrant Officer Swinfield was posted as the position of Regimental Sergeant Major, 1st Armoured Regiment.

Warrant Officer Swinfield has received the AASM, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Army Combat Badge for service in Iraq 2003/2004, the ASM for service in Malaysia, and the DFSM with 2 Clasps. In October 2005 Warrant Officer Swinfield received a Chief of the Defence Force Commendation for his services in Iraq and in December 2005 Warrant Officer Swinfield was awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in training the New Iraqi Army. In July 2006 Warrant Officer Swinfield received the Australian Defence Medal.

Warrant Officer Swinfield has had a number of overseas tours which include Malaysia, Germany, Turkey, Greece and Iraq.

Warrant Officer Swinfield enjoys a healthy appetite for Australian Rules Football, Rugby and also attempts to play Golf in his spare time. He is also a keen reader of Military History of the 20th Century. Warrant Officer Swinfield is married; he and his wife Karen have two children, Samantha aged 11 and Callum aged 9.

RSM WO1 P. B. Swinfield

Enquiries / Contact:

1st Armoured Regiment Orderly Room: (08) 8935 6019