Facing out: Pte Kane Lukassen, 7RAR, maintains a secure watch with his Minimi during a village assessment mission in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

THE raising of two new battalions rests at the heart of the biggest expansion of the Army since the 1960s. Enhanced Land Force, or ELF, is a $10 billion commitment by Government that, combined with the Hardened and Networked Army initiative, will increase Army’s numbers to 30,000.

Assistant Deputy Chief of Army Brig Wayne Bowen said ELF would allow land forces to deploy longer and more simultaneously.

“The government has identified that it needs more boots on the ground,” Brig Bowen said.

“The Enhanced Land Force is an initiative to provide more capacity within Army to meet our strategic commitments.”

ELF grows on the HNA plan, which delivers greater protection, firepower and communications.

“This will mean we’re networked, we have enhanced survivability and increased combat weight in our primary role of close combat,” Brig Bowen said.

ELF is broken into two stages, the first of which is to increase the size of 7RAR and its combat support elements in Darwin.

“Once we’ve proven that’s on the way then we’ll be given the clearance to go to stage two, the second battalion, and that will be 8/9RAR based in South East Queensland,” Brig Bowen said.

With IETs flowing into 7RAR fast, it is expected Army will reach its target of a full battalion headquarters and two companies by September. The focus will then shift to 8/9RAR.

“There’s a lot of growth to occur over that period. And that’s just in the battalions, not to mention the battle group support mechanisms that need to grow in each of those locations,” Brig Bowen said.

As units expand, some will change from a mixture of full-time and reservists, to completely full-time.

In Townsville, B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt will receive enough Bushmaster IMVs to lift any of the brigade’s three light infantry battalions.

“We could lift a complete battalion in Bushmasters or assign a company’s lift to each of the battalions,” Brig Bowen said. “That’s another great outcome. It gives the brigade commander the ability to mix and match within his brigade and offer combat teams or battle groups protected mobility.”

In 2011, it is expected 7RAR will move to its new facilities in Adelaide.

About the same time, 3RAR will move to new facilities in Townsville. The new facilities, including new married quarters in Adelaide, are all funded under ELF.
The airborne capability, which is under review, may be withdrawn from 3RAR, which is to be re-roled as light infantry.

Additionally, SASR will receive several more positions.

All additional equipment, including weapons and radios, will all be new and funded under ELF.

Brig Bowen said 80 projects had also been given an incremental piece of the funds.

“So your facilities, your enabling support and your training, all those things that make a true capability have all been given a commensurate slice to grow,” he said.