2nd General Health Battalion (Australia)

Last updated

2nd Health Battalion
Active2000 - 2022
Country Australia
Branch Army
TypeCombat health support
RoleHealth Support
SizeOne battalion
Part of 2nd Brigade (Australia)
Garrison/HQ Gallipoli Barracks
Mascot(s)Wolf
Insignia
Unit colour patch
The Colour Identification Patch of the 2nd Health Battalion. 2nd Health Battalion Colour Patch.jpg
The Colour Identification Patch of the 2nd Health Battalion.

The 2nd Health Battalion (2HB) is an Australian Army unit of the 2nd Health Brigade. It is based at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, Queensland. The battalion is a rapidly deployable unit to provide field medical support for land-based forces. This included initial wound surgery, resuscitation and medium to high intensity nursing care, (surgical resuscitation) and medium to high intensity nursing care in the area of operations. [1]

The battalion was raised as the 2nd Health Support Battalion on 1 November 2000 from the 2nd Field Hospital, the Dental Unit of the Defence Corporate Support Office in Brisbane and the 4th Preventive Medicine Company. [2] In November 2011, the battalion was renamed the 2nd General Health Battalion. [3]

The battalion consisted of two surgical companies, a logistical support company, a preventative medical company, a dental company, a shock trauma platoon and a battalion headquarters. [1]

In February 2022, following the disbandment of 2GHB as part of the Army's restructure of its health battalions, four new health battalions were formed that were to be placed under the command of the 2nd Health Brigade. [4] [5]

Following the Health restructure, 2nd Health Battalion gained Close Health, and Health Support capability along with existing General Health assessts.

On the 3rd of March, 2023, the 4 Australian Army Health Battlions were placed under the central command of 2nd Health Brigade with the intent to establish a central health command and unify the 4 battalions across Australia. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "2nd General Health Battalion". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012.
  2. Maj General John Pearn (Retd). "History of 2HSB". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 3 May 2003.
  3. Army Headquarters. "The Australian Army in Profile 2011" (PDF). Australian Army. p. 59. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2012.
  4. Chief of Army Lt Gen Richard Burr (3 February 2022). "Chief of Army Order of the Day - the raising of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Health Battalions". Australian Army. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. Richardson, Capt Annie (3 March 2022). "'Centre of excellence' : Health battalions raised to form new brigade" (PDF). Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1503 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 3. ISSN   0729-5685 . Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2023-03-03/new-health-brigade-army