Troop boost
Volume 11, No. 51, September 07, 2006
By Sgt Damian Griffin
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Looking forward: The upsizing of the Army heralds an exciting new era for the organisation and its soldiers – such as Pte Thomas Savage, 2RAR, shown on duty in Iraq.
Photo by Cpl Rob Nyffenegger. |
5/7RAR will split into two mechanised infantry battalions, 8/9RAR will be re-raised, 3RAR will be re-roled to light infantry and Army will get a further 2600 soldiers – all before 2008.
The Government announcement on August 24 reads like a Christmas wish list come true for Army.
CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy said the Government’s decision to increase numbers and capabilities followed its decision last December to increase Army by 1500 in support of changes brought under the Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) initiative, which had increased Army’s protection, mobility, firepower, communications and networking.
“On the basis of that consideration, [the Government’s] own strategic assessment and Defence planning guidance, they determined that because of strategic volatility both regionally and globally, there was a requirement for a larger Army in addition to the HNA,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.
He said the recent personnel and capability increases recognised the increased range of activities Defence had been involved in, and was likely to be involved in the future, including disaster relief, humanitarian operations, peacekeeping, peace support, counter-terrorism and the defence of Australia.
Additionally, Lt-Gen Leahy said the main types of operations the Army had recently been involved in involved failed or failing states and that in these situations “what we need is boots on the ground”.
“With the decreased likelihood of conventional military activities in the defence of Australia, we find ourselves in complex environments among the population [of failing states] in cities, in culture, in different languages … if you’re going to protect and support and persuade populations you simply need boots on the ground because cities chew up people,” he said.
Under the new announcement, 5/7RAR will split into two battalions, both mechanised, M113-mounted and under the command of 1 Bde. Both are projected to be fully-manned by 2008 and deployable within two years.
5RAR will remain in Darwin, and 7RAR will be located in Adelaide in the new barracks being built adjacent to RAAF Edinburgh.
Lt-Gen Leahy said added advantages of this were genuine posting options for mechanised infantry and the opportunity to use the rail link during the NT wet season to conduct exercises at SA’s Cultana and Woomera training areas.
3RAR, which had been earmarked last December to be re-roled as the second mechanised battalion under HNA, will now be re-roled as a light infantry battalion and will eventually move to Townsville under command of 3 Bde.
“When we learnt that there would be two additional battalions it made sense that with the mechanised culture resident in 5/7RAR, rather than completely re-role 3RAR we would split 5/7RAR,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.
Townsville would then have three light infantry battalions, with B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt providing a Bushmaster capability and 5 Avn Regt an air mobile capability.
Once significant progress has been achieved with 5RAR and 7RAR, Lt-Gen Leahy said attention would turn to 7 Bde where 8/9RAR would be re-raised and brigade elements might be motorised with an Infantry Mobility Vehicle-styled capability.
“Hopefully what we can do is redress the gradual reduction in 7 Bde. The focus there will be not only on the regular personnel, but in reinvigorating the integrated nature of the brigade, particularly in the combat support and combat services support areas,” he said.
The location of 8/9RAR is yet to be decided with the options of Enoggera and the expanded base at RAAF Amberley both being considered.
