Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

A candidate for Special Forces grimaces during the pain of the endurance test during the entry test at SFTC at Singleton. All images provided by SOCOMD

Soldiers who join under the SFDRS are doing well so far during their accelerated training.

Special by name, special by nature
Direct recruiting on track, on target

The Special Forces Direct Recruiting Scheme (SFDRS) is on track to reach its targets for this year as four SFDRS platoons of 48 personnel commence training followed by a further two platoons in 2005.

It is anticipated, subject to a formal review of the trial, that by 2006 the SFDRS will reach a steady state of about a platoon per year.

OC Selection Group Maj Glyn Davidson, SFTC, said the first platoon, which commenced training at ARTC in January and has now started IET at the School of Infantry, Singleton.

“The platoon is currently doing well and is conducting the same training as standard ARA infantry soldiers, which will provide them with a solid foundation prior to moving into the Special Forces community,” he said.

“On successful completion of training at the School of Infantry, the soldiers will be posted to 4RAR(Cdo) but will remain at Singleton for a further eight weeks.”

During this next phase of training the soldiers will complete the Advanced Infantry Training program coordinated by the Special Forces Training Centre (SFTC) which culminates in the Special Forces Entry Test (SFET).

SOCOMD is confident that the SFDRS will greatly assist in the building of 4RAR(Cdo) and may also have some potential for SASR as the SFDRS has been successfully trialed through 1 Cdo Regt with direct-to-unit recruiting.

The innovative scheme, which seeks to draw civilians directly into SOCOMD units after an accelerated program of training, is proving an attractive career option because of the challenges and clear goals it offers.

Now at Singleton, Pte Taniela Taumoepeau, a former NSW police officer and Eastern Suburbs rugby union player, said he was impressed by the scheme when he first read about it.

“I thought it sounded good and it had a definite goal that I wanted to achieve at the end of it,” he said.

“Kapooka was the first step, but there’s still lots of hard work ahead at the infantry centre.”

Former Arts and Law student at the University of Queensland Pte Evan Donaldson said he was attracted to the SFDRS because he was frustrated with university life.

“When I read about the SFDRS, I couldn’t believe it, as it was exactly what I’d been looking for, because I was bored with uni life and needed more of a challenge,” he said.

Pte Donaldson had already received the “drum” about what lay ahead of him from a brother already serving in Special Forces.

“I’m excited but under no illusions. It’s going to be tough, so I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

“This is only the first step, we still have a long way to go, but I’m now focused on infantry training at Singleton.”

Pte Mark Vickers whose hobbies include ultra marathons, endurance sports and Tae Kwondo, was a former recruitment consultant who said he was attracted to the SFDRS because he too was bored with civilian life.

“I tried the commercial world of sitting behind a desk and computer, but I wanted to be pushed and challenged in a new way,” he said.

“The SFDRS enables me to use all my physical and mental skills, it’s an excellent idea.

“It’s also a great opportunity to become part of a highly respected organisation.”

Maj Davidson said that the rapid expansion of SOCOMD means there was now a requirement to fill almost 250 Special Forces vacancies.

“In addition to the recruitment of reinforcements through the SFDRS, SOCOMD still aims to recruit the majority of reinforcements from “in-service” that is, members already serving in Army and other ADF units,” he said.

Changes to SF entry test requirements

In addition to the recruitment of reinforcements through the Special Forces Direct Recruiting Scheme (SFDRS), SOCOMD still aims to recruit from “in-service”, that is members already serving in Army and other ADF units.

The SOCOMD in-service recruiting program began in April with an information tour of eastern region areas, along with a series of lectures in major western regional base locations.

The concept for the in-service recruiting program this year is to conduct four regional information tours and three SFET tours in each area.

OC Selection Group Maj Glyn Davidson, SFTC, said the conduct of regional Special Forces Entry Test (SFET) marks a departure from the practice of recent years where SFETs were conducted centrally at Singleton or Holsworthy.

“The conduct of SFETs regionally, in Brigade areas, will make it easier for soldiers and officers to attend. Additionally, the format of the SFET has changed,” he said.

“It is intended that the in-service recruiting plan will be a rolling program, whereby each time a particular area is visited by representatives from SFTC, 4RAR(Cdo) and SASR, candidates move one step further along the selection process.

“For example, a soldier who attends an information brief in Townsville in April, will then undergo an SFET in Townsville in June.

“He may then be panelled for the SAS Selection Course in September providing plenty of time to prepare both physically and mentally.”

Another example is that a soldier may have attended an information lecture at CATC in April and then undergo the SFET conducted at Puckapunyal in September.

He may then be panelled for the Commando Training Course in November.

Maj Davidson said wherever possible it is intended that soldiers undergo the SFET when it is conducted in their respective areas, however, there is a flexibility to move candidates to other locations, in order to meet the deadlines imposed by course start dates.

“An applicant who attends the information brief at CATC in April, but wishes to do the SAS Selection Course in September, would be moved to Sydney to undergo the SFET in June,” he said.

1 Cdo Regt meets the challenge

By Cpl Sean Burton

The ADF’s premier reserve unit is being kept on its toes this year. For 1 Cdo Regt, 2004 has already shaped up to be challenging with operational deployments, domestic security exercises, courses and overseas exchange exercises.
Those toes recently got wet when commandos conducted Ex Strike Anchor in Sydney.

The aim of Ex Strike Anchor was for Sydney and Melbourne-based commandos to maintain currency in their war-fighting skills.
In this case, commandos conducted a four-day activity revising airborne and amphibious skills and urban operations in and around Sydney Harbour.

1 Cdo Regt conducted more than 150 parachute jumps including over the horizon Parachute Load Follows (PLF) which is a specific skill used when, for tactical reasons, Special Forces can’t get close enough to the coastline.

PLF involves parachuting into the sea behind bundled deflated Zodiacs which are assembled in the water in preparation for their team’s arrival soon after also by parachute.

In addition to specialised insertion skills, 1 Cdo Regt personnel are proficient in all commando skill-sets including static line parachuting, commando amphibious operations, airborne rappelling and military roping, along with advanced infantry skills, specialist communications, demolitions and combat first aid skills.

CO Lt-Col Anthony John agreed with the description that 1 Cdo Regt were the “ADF’s premier reserve unit” and said there were a number of reasons why.

“What makes this unit special are its people. Like all reserve units, we place great demands on our reserve soldiers to give up what would otherwise be their leisure time,” he said.

“What sets us aside are those extra demands that service in a Special Forces unit makes and our commandos rise to that challenge.

“For example, 1 Cdo Regt is about 1 per cent of the strength of the Army Reserve yet provides about 15 percent of the High Readiness Reserve.”

“Service in 1 Cdo Regt, like service in any Special Forces unit, is not for everybody. You don’t, however, have to be a qualified commando to be part of this unit.

“Like all units, we require a skilled and dedicated support base, we have positions for signallers, clerks, storemen and medics are always sought and are a valued part of the commando team.”

1 Cdo Regt, like its brother units in SOCOMD, SASR, 4RAR (Cdo), IRR, SOCSSC, 126, 152 and 301 Sig Sqns, continue to play an important role in the domestic security by fulfilling the role of commando Reserve Response Force (RRF). 1 Cdo Rgt is the only unit that provides an entire RRF from within its own resources.

To qualify as an ARA commando with 4RAR(Cdo) is a demanding process but to become a qualified member of 1 Cdo Regt requires a lot of time and dedication from someone probably trying to hold down a “day job”.

Lt-Col John said he is realistic about loosing potential commandos during the long training process

“To qualify as a commando, parading at 50 days a year, which is the average commando commitment, would take about three years to become commando qualified.”

“This is a long time to remain focused and committed and yes, many find that road too rocky.

“We are fortunate, however, that those who do make that journey generally stay with the unit.”

1st Cdo Regt has a separation rate about half the reserve average, but the unit’s biggest loss of qualified commandos is to the regular units of SOCOMD, as 25 per cent of soldiers who successfully completed commando training were from 1 Cdo Regt.

Having to think outside the square in a bid to nurture and encourage its greatest asset over the long commando training program, 1 Cdo Regt raised a full-time direct recruiting platoon called Simpson Platoon, named after Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Commando WO2 Ray Simpson VC.

Simpson Platoon involves the identification, testing and training of a civilian to commando in five months.

Lt-Col John said there were obvious advantages in providing qualified commandos in five months as opposed to three years.

“The platoon builds a strong cohort group within the unit and adds to the already strong ethos and group cohesion of being a commando,” he said.

The first gate on selection’s long road

Before embarking on the long winding road to a coveted sandy or Sherwood green beret, potential SF applicants should understand the difference in service does not effect the level of training and preparation required to successfully complete the Special Forces Entry Test (SFET).

OC Selection Group, Maj Glyn Davidson, SFTC, said that regardless of whichever unit an individual has applied for, all applicants must ensure they are physically and mentally prepared for the selection into Special Forces.

“Candidates must understand that the SFET is simply a gate, on the long road that is the SF selection continuum,” he said.

“I strongly recommended that applicants follow the 13-week physical preparation process distributed by SFTC staff and contained on the SFTC website.

“Officers must also be competent in applying the Individual Military Appreciation Process and demonstrate a high standard of leadership.”

“Obviously, applicants need to pass the SFET, however the focus of training should be on preparation for the greater physical and mental demands of the SASR and Commando courses.”

Commando operations are normally conducted at platoon and company level and closely aligned with infantry operations.

Aside from CT operations, one of the essential differences between infantry and commando operations are that commandos operate beyond the range of conventional forces.

This operational capability requires commandos to be trained and equipped differently to conventional infantry soldiers.

SOCAUST Maj Gen Duncan Lewis said that SOCOMD stable-mates, commandos and SASR are different animals.

The commandos are major muscle movers. They are heavily armed, operate in large numbers and are designed to fight. They are deployed to reach out and apply a great deal of concentrated military force and then return home,” he said.

“SASR are different. They are an organisation designed for a more surgical approach to warfare. They operate in a more discreet fashion compared to commandos because there is nothing discreet about a commando operation – which is an act of extreme force.”

ARA applicants who pass the SFET and choose commando training, will, at the discretion of Commandant SFTC and in consultation with SCMA, be posted directly to 4RAR(Cdo) where they will then be panelled for the next Commando Training Course (CTC)

Maj Davidson said that while this early posting plan mainly relates to infantry personnel, it could be applied to non-infantry personnel on a case-by-case basis.

“The intent here is not to create critical shortages in other trades by such early posting action, rather, it is to allow trainees to generate the greatest chance of success on the CTC,” he said.

“By becoming part of 4RAR(Cdo) as soon as possible, trainees will be able to participate in relevant training opportunities within the unit.

“They will have focussed preparation for the CTC and where necessary, non-Infantry and other services personnel can attend training activities such as the AIT to assist them in preparation.”