3RAR’s new task

By Cpl Damian Shovell

3RAR will move to Adelaide and be re-roled as a mechanised infantry battalion structured similarly to 5/7RAR to form part of 1 Bde’s second mechanised battlegroup under the Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) strategy.

Under HNA, Army’s parachute capability will be maintained by 4RAR (Cdo), while 1200 personnel from Sydney-based 3RAR and supporting elements from A Fd Bty, Sydney, and Darwin’s 1CER and 1CSSB, will relocate to Adelaide by 2011 when facility construction is completed.

The announcement late last year by the Government to re-role 3RAR and arm it with M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers and Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles came with the assurance that there would be no net loss in the numbers of personnel in Darwin as other units would expand as part of HNA strategy.

The decision to locate the battlegroup in Adelaide follows an examination of basing options undertaken by Defence, which determined that Adelaide provided the best capability benefits of access to transport, training facilities and deep maintenance.

CA Lt-Gen Leahy said having mechanised battalions in both northern and southern Australia would allow rotations from tropical conditions during a soldier’s service and would also allow a greater range of locations for soldiers to be posted to around Australia.

He said the decision to re-task 3RAR followed considering the modern strategic and operational environment to determine the requirement for entry from the air and sea, which was influenced by the recent limited requirement for parachute insertion and the proliferation of threat weapons.

“Protected mobility is an absolute requirement to be able to conduct effective operations in the new type of security environment,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.

“Since we established 3RAR, we haven’t used them in their para role and we’ve established 4RAR who have a capability for both parachuting and amphibious operations. We’ve had a look at the ADF’s ability to support the amount of parachuting required at the moment, and we’ve determined that our capacity to support over 2400 parachuters is limited.”

Reactions to the news among 3RAR soldiers has varied as the realisation that increased deployability and posting options has come at the expense of their cherry berets. Understanding that there are mixed emotions at the prospect of the changes, Lt-Gen Leahy had a message for 3RAR soldiers.

“I ask them to focus on the fact that they continue in service to the nation as very proud members of the Royal Australian Regiment, and that this is about recognising the changing nature of warfare and what we need to be able to deliver options to Government in the future,” he said.

“3RAR is one of the foundation regiments of the RAR, they have a very proud history and this new task will be yet another chapter in their history with a new role and new location. It will be another chapter in their history of service.

“I’m proud of what they have achieved as a parachute battalion and I look forward to them in their mechanised role being an integral part of the capability of 1 Bde.”

.