This article describes the current structure of the Australian Army. It includes the army's order of battle and the headquarters locations of major units. Members of the Australian Army also serve within joint units of the Australian Defence Force which fall outside the direct command of the Australian Army.
Overview
editThe Australian Army is organised into three main elements which report to the Chief of Army, the Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command and Forces Command.[1] Headquarters 1st Division is responsible for high-level training activities and is capable of being deployed to command large scale ground operations. It does not have any combat units permanently assigned to it, though it commands units during training activities and the Land Combat Readiness Centre reports to the divisional headquarters.[2][3]
Most of the Army's units report to Forces Command, which is responsible for overseeing their readiness and preparing them for operations. This organisation came into effect during January 2011. Before this time the Army's three regular brigades were permanently assigned to the Headquarters 1st Division.[4][3]
Organisation
edit
Australian Army organisation 2023
The following order of battle describes the Army's organisational structure at the battalion and independent company/squadron level at the end of April 2023. It does not take into account changes to units' structure and command arrangements associated with operational deployments.
Chief of Army
editForces Command
edit- Forces Command[5]
- Headquarters, Forces Command (Victoria Barracks, NSW)[7]
- Army Logistic Training Centre
- Defence Combat Support Training Centre
- 39th Operational Support Battalion (Sydney)[8]
- Combat Training Centre (Lavarack Barracks)[8]
2nd Health Brigade
edit- 2nd Health Brigade[9][10]
- Headquarters, 2nd Health Brigade (Victoria Barracks, NSW)
- 1st Health Battalion (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 2nd Health Battalion (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Health Battalion (Keswick Barracks, SA)
- 4th Health Battalion (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
6th Combat Support Brigade
edit- 6th Combat Support Brigade[11]
- Headquarters, 6th Brigade (Victoria Barracks, NSW)
- 1st Intelligence Battalion (Victoria Barracks, NSW)
- 1st Military Police Battalion (HQ at Victoria Barracks, NSW)
- 6th Engineer Support Regiment (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 7th Signal Regiment (Borneo Barracks, Qld)[12]
- 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Woodside Barracks, SA)[13]
- 19th Chief Engineer Works (Randwick Barracks, NSW)
- 12th Chief Engineer Works (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
9th Brigade
edit- 9th Brigade[14]
- Headquarters, 9th Brigade (Keswick Barracks, SA)[15]
- 1st Armoured Regiment (armoured cavalry regiment) (Horseshoe Lines, Edinburgh Defence Precinct, South Australia)
- A Squadron – 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) (Reserve)
- 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment (HQ at Keswick Barracks, SA)
- 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (mechanized infantry) (Edinburgh Defence Precinct, South Australia)[16]
- 3rd Field Squadron (HQ at Warradale Barracks, SA)
- 144th Signal Squadron (HQ at Keswick Barracks, SA)
- 9th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at Warradale Barracks, SA)
17th Sustainment Brigade
edit- 17th Sustainment Brigade[17][18]
- Headquarters, 17th Sustainment Brigade (Randwick Barracks, NSW)
- 145 Signals Squadron (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
- 2nd Force Support Battalion (HQ at Derwent Barracks, Tasmania)
- 9th Force Support Battalion (HQ at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland)[19]
- 10th Force Support Battalion (HQ at Ross Island Barracks, Queensland)[20]
1st (Australian) Division
edit- 1st (Australian) Division[8]
- Headquarters, 1st Division (Gallipoli Barracks)[5]
- Amphibious Task Group (Brisbane)
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (amphibious infantry) (Lavarack Barracks)
- 1st Signal Regiment (Enoggera)
- 2/30th Training Group (RMAF Butterworth, Malaysia)
1st Brigade
edit- 1st Brigade[21][22]
- Headquarters, 1st Brigade (Robertson Barracks, Northern Territory)
- 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (motorised infantry) (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (M777 howitzer)[23] (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 1st Combat Signal Regiment (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 1st Combat Service Support Battalion (Robertson Barracks, NT)
3rd Brigade
edit- 3rd Brigade[24][25][12]
- Headquarters, 3rd Brigade (Lavarack Barracks, Queensland)
- 2nd Cavalry Regiment (armoured cavalry regiment) (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (motorised infantry) (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (mechanized infantry) (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)[26]
- 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (M777 howitzer) (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Combat Signal Regiment (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
7th Brigade
edit- 7th Brigade[27]
- Headquarters, 7th Brigade (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (mechanized infantry) (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (motorised infantry) (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (M777 howitzer) (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 7 Combat Signal Regiment (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 7th Combat Service Support Battalion (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
2nd (Australian) Division
edit- 2nd (Australian) Division[5][27][14]
- Headquarters, 2nd Division (Randwick Barracks, NSW)
- 8th Signal Regiment (HQ at Randwick Barracks, NSW)[28]
- 108th Signal Squadron (HQ at Simpson Barracks, Victoria) - 4th Brigade
- 109th Signal Squadron (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA) - 13th Brigade
- 141st Signal Squadron (HQ at Lavarack Barracks, Qld) - 11th Brigade
- 142nd Signal Squadron (HQ at Holsworthy Barracks, NSW) – 5th Brigade
- 143rd Signal Squadron (HQ at HMAS Harman Canberra) – 2nd Division + 5th Brigade
- Operational Support Squadron (HQ at Randwick Barracks, NSW) - 2nd Division Sydney
- 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, (HQ at Kogarah Barracks, NSW)[29]
- 2nd/10th Light Battery (HQ in Melbourne, Vic)
- 5th/11th Light Battery (HQ at Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 6th/13th Light Battery (HQ at Keswick Barracks, SA)
- 7th Light Battery (HQ in Dee Why, NSW)
- 23rd Light Battery (HQ at Kogarah Barracks, NSW)
4th Brigade
edit- 4th Brigade[14]
- Headquarters, 4th Brigade (Simpson Barracks, Victoria)[30]
- 4th/19th Prince of Wales' Light Horse (HQ at Simpson Barracks, Victoria)
- 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment (HQ at Hawthorn, Victoria)
- 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment (HQ at Ballarat, Victoria)
- 12th/40th Battalion, Royal Tasmania Regiment (HQ at Anglesea Barracks, Tasmania)
- 22nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Australian Engineers (HQ at Ringwood East, Victoria)
- 4th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at Broadmeadows, Victoria)
5th Brigade
edit- 5th Brigade[14]
- Headquarters, 5th Brigade (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
- 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers (Lancer Barracks, NSW)
- 1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (HQ at Orange, New South Wales)
- 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (HQ at Pymble, New South Wales)
- 4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (HQ at Sutherland, New South Wales)
- 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (HQ at Lismore, New South Wales)
- 5th Engineer Regiment (HQ at Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
- 5th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
- 8th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at Timor Barracks, NSW)
8th (Training) Brigade
edit- 8th (Training) Brigade[14]
- Headquarters, 8th Brigade (Timor Barracks, NSW)
- Adelaide Universities Regiment (HQ at Hampstead Barracks, SA)[31]
- Melbourne University Regiment (HQ at Carlton, Victoria)
- Queensland University Regiment (HQ at St Lucia, Qld)
- Sydney University Regiment (HQ at Darlington, New South Wales)
- University of New South Wales Regiment (HQ at Kensington, New South Wales)
- Western Australia University Regiment (HQ at Leeuwin Barracks, WA)[32]
11th Brigade
edit- 11th Brigade[14][33]
- Headquarters, 11th Brigade (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers (Bushmaster PMV)(HQ at Tamworth, New South Wales)
- 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (HQ at Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (HQ at Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (HQ at Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
- 11th Engineer Regiment (HQ at Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 11th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
13th Brigade
edit- 13th Brigade[14]
- Headquarters, 13th Brigade (Irwin Barracks, Western Australia)
- 10th Light Horse Regiment (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA)
- 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA)
- 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment (amphibious infantry) (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA)
- 13th Engineer Regiment (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA)
- 13th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA)
Regional Force Surveillance Group
edit- Regional Force Surveillance Group[34]
- Headquarters, Regional Force Surveillance Group
- 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (HQ at Cairns, Queensland)
- North-West Mobile Force (HQ at Larrakeyah Barracks, NT)[35]
- Pilbara Regiment (HQ at Taylor Barracks, WA)[36]
- Indigenous Development Wing
Special Operations Command
edit- Special Operations Command[37]
- Special Operations Headquarters (Headquarters Joint Operations Command, NSW)
- Headquarters, Special Forces Group
- Special Air Service Regiment (Campbell Barracks, WA)
- 1st Commando Regiment (HQ at Randwick Barracks, NSW)
- 2nd Commando Regiment (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
- Special Operations Engineer Regiment (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
- Special Operations Logistics Squadron (Banksmeadow, NSW)
- Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre (Holsworthy, NSW)
- Headquarters, Special Forces Group
- Special Operations Headquarters (Headquarters Joint Operations Command, NSW)
Army Aviation Command
edit- Army Aviation Command[38]
- Headquarters, Army Aviation Command (Canberra)[39]
- Army Aviation Training Centre, (Oakey, Qld)
- 16th Aviation Brigade[24][40]
- Headquarters, 16th Aviation Brigade (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
- 1st Aviation Regiment (Tiger ARH helicopters), (Robertson Barracks, NT)
- 5th Aviation Regiment (MRH 90 Taipan and Chinook helicopters) (RAAF Base Townsville, Qld)
- 6th Aviation Regiment (MRH 90 Taipan helicopters) (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
Land Combat College
edit- Royal Military College of Australia (Duntroon Garrison, ACT)[41][8]
- Royal Military College, Duntroon (Duntroon Garrison, ACT)
- Army Recruit Training Centre (Blamey Barracks, NSW)
- Land Warfare Centre (HQ at Kokoda Barracks, Qld)[8]
- Combined Arms Training Centre
Geographic distribution
edit
Australian Army division and brigade headquarters 2020
(Army Reserve headquarters in Italic)
(Army Reserve headquarters in Italic)
Corps and Regiments
editCorps in the Australian Army, are administrative groupings of soldiers with a common function to promote pride and esprit de corps.[42]
See also
editReferences
edit- Citations
- ^ "The Australian Army – Modernisation from Beersheba and Beyond" (PDF). Australian Army. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Australian Army (2008), pp. 5–8
- ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (2011), p. 223
- ^ Australian Army (2008), pp. 5–8
- ^ a b c d e Australian Army (2008), p. 7
- ^ Burr, Burr (7 December 2021). "Chief of Army Address - Aviation Command | Army.gov.au". Australian Army. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Forces Command Raised as Adaptive Army Flies the Flag". Department of Defence. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Commands, divisions adjusted". Army. Department of Defence. 20 July 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "New brigade combines capability" (PDF). Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1530 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. 16 March 2023. p. 9. ISSN 0729-5685. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ Chief of Army Lt Gen Richard Burr. "Chief of Army Order of the Day - the raising of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Health Battalions". Australian Army. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Gaze, Jillian (18 March 2010). "Key to Adaptability". Canberra: Australian Department of Defence. Australian Army. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ a b Department of Defence (2011), p. 2
- ^ Hetherington, Andrew (2 February 2012). "Tying air and land together". Army. Canberra: Australian Department of Defence. p. 24. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Brigades and Formations". 2nd Division. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "HQ 9th Brigade". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Seventh Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Khosa (2011), p. 26
- ^ Flint, Clark. "17th Combat Service Support Brigade" (PDF). Australian Military Medicine Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "9 Force Support Battalion". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Defence Community Organisation: Welcome to Townsville" (PDF). Department of Defence. p. 11. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Khosa (2011), p. 24
- ^ "HQ 1st Brigade". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Kennedy, Mitch; Doran, Mark (3 March 2011). "Changes in Artillery". Army. Canberra: Australian Department of Defence. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ a b Khosa (2011), p. 25
- ^ "Defence Community Organisation: Welcome to Townsville" (PDF). Department of Defence. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Department of Defence. "3RAR Arrive in Townsville". Media release. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ a b Khosa (2011), p. 27
- ^ "Signals Corps Officer : Employment Location". Defence Jobs. Department of Defence. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Formation of 9th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery". Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ "HQ 4th Brigade". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Adelaide Universities Regiment". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Western Australian University Regiment". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Structure". HQ 11th Brigade. Australian Army. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Beurich, Sebastian (1 November 2018). "Power of three as spears go on parade" (PDF). Army. Department of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ "RHQ". North West Mobile Force. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Unit History". The Pilbara Regt. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ "Special Operations Command Information Booklet" (PDF). Australian Army. p. 3. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ Burr, Burr (7 December 2021). "Chief of Army Address - Aviation Command | Army.gov.au". Australian Army. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ Blenkin, Max (8 December 2021). "Australian Army established new Aviation Command". ADBR. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ Department of Defence (2011), p. 3
- ^ "Royal Military College of Australia". Australian Army. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Organisation structure". Australian Army. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- Works consulted
- Australian Army (2008). "Adaptive Army Public Info Paper" (PDF). Canberra: Australian Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- Department of Defence (2011). "Australian Defence Force Major Bases and Disposition In Australia" (PDF). Department of Defence. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2011). The Military Balance 2011. London: Routledge. ISSN 1479-9022.
- Khosa, Raspal (2011). Australian Defence Almanac 2011–2012 (PDF). Canberra: Australian Strategic Policy Institute.