Media Room: Media Releases

CHANGE IN COMMAND FOR TIGER BATTALION

The New Year was roared-in with a change in command for the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment – the Tiger Battalion.

Lieutenant Colonel Darren Huxley took command of 5RAR and East Timor Battle Group 5 during a small ceremony in Dili, East Timor where the Battalion is serving as part of Operation Astute.

The handover of Battalion command consisted of the entrustment of the commanding officer’s sword, a dinner to commemorate the formalities of the change in command and an extensive tour of the area of operations.

Lieutenant Colonel Huxley came to the battalion’s command after occupying the position of Deputy Director Regional and Domestic Commitments in Canberra for the past three years.

He replaces Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood, who has been 5RAR’s Commanding Officer since December 2006. Lieutenant Colonel Ellwood commanded the Battalion as East Timor Battle Group 5 and in Iraq as Overwatch Battle Group West 3 in 2007/08.

About 600 Australian and New Zealand soldiers make up East Timor Battle Group 5. The soldiers come from Darwin-based 1 Brigade, Adelaide-based 16 AD Regiment and New Zealand (Linton)-based 16 Field Regiment.

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664