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ARMY
Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
News
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News Events
The purpose of this section is include information concerning all events, news and vales of Gunners.
Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery Strategic Plan: 2006 - 2011.
See Head of Regiment Section for more information.
Land Command Artillery Disestablishment
After 33 years of contribution to the technical control and development of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, Land Command Artillery will be disestablished on 20th October 2006. Structural changes within the Australian Defence Force, centralisation of the joint operations function and the pressure to introduce new equipment have all created additional demands on Army. Unfortunately, the role of Land Command Artillery was not clear within the Australian Defence Force's revised operational structure, so the difficult decision was taken to close the Branch at the end of the year.
Land Command Artillery was raised in 1973, with the Branch evolving through several role, structure and task changes. A consistent thread though, has been the provision of Artillery technical control for Army. This aspect, most notably exercised through the Army Training and Evaluation Program (ARTEP), has been the core role for the Branch and has directly influenced the technical and tactical development of the Corps.
The role of Land Command Artillery grew further with the disestablishment of Corps Directorates in the late Nineties. The Royal Australian Artillery was fortunate within Army to retain a central organisation, external to the School of Artillery that could continue to provide Artillery command, control and advice. It was at this stage though, that Land Command Artillery would start to struggle with personnel pressures and external tasking, two issues that contributed to the disestablishment of the Branch.
The key task linked to the closure of the Branch has been to develop a transfer plan for the various key Land Command Artillery tasks. First, command of the 16th Air Defence Regiment will pass to the Headquarters of the 1st Division. This is an important step as it will align all of the three branches of the Royal Australian Artillery, Offensive Support, Surveillance and Target Acquisition and Ground Based Air Defence, under the same command unit. Headquarters 1st Division will also assume responsibility for the ARTEP program, reviewing both 1st Division and 2nd Division Royal Australian Artillery units until the function can be effectively managed through the Combat Training Centre in Townsville.
The key capability development function will be retained within Land Headquarters, with an RAA coded position to be maintained within the Development Branch. With six major and eight minor projects providing capability direct to the Royal Australian Artillery over the next ten years, it is essential that the Corps continue to focus in this area to ensure that we deliver the capability needed by Army.
The School of Artillery will be reinforced as the centre of excellence for all Royal Australian Artillery matters by adopting the Artillery technical control and advice function. The School has the subject matter experts for all aspects of Artillery in order to provide this core function for Army. In addition, the School will continue to provide staff support to the Head of Regiment and Regimental Committee.
Although a significant change for the Regiment, the disestablishment of Land Command Artillery has provided the opportunity to align several functions. Outcomes from the ARTEP will directly inform the command chain, whilst our technical and procedural knowledge will be fostered through the School. These changes are also reinforced by the intent outlined in the Royal Australian Artillery Strategic Plan 2006 - 2011. Delivering the operational capability and effects needed by Army is fundamental to the development and viability of the Royal Australian Artillery. We must now adapt to the changed Artillery structure, and concentrate on the capability, skills, lessons and experience that will allow us to remain as a fundamental system in the complex battlespace.
Colonel Simon (Don) Roach, as the twelfth and last Commander Land Command Artillery, remains deployed on Operation Astute, but has asked me to pass on his thanks and kind regards to the Royal Regiment. The disestablishment of Land Command Artillery on 20th October 2006 closes a 33 year chapter in the history of the Corps. But with the investment in the Defence Capability Plan and the ongoing operational focus in Army, it is an exciting and challenging time to serve with the Royal Regiment. As outlined in the Regiments' Strategic Plan, it is now up to us to realise the potential.
