Regional Force Surveillance Group

Last updated

Regional Force Surveillance Group
ActiveOctober 2018 – present
CountryAustralia
Branch Australian Army Reserve
TypeInfantry
RoleSurveillance
Part of 2nd Division
Garrison/HQ Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin [1]

The Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) was formally established on 4 October 2018 to command the Australian Army Reserve's three Regional Force Surveillance Units and a training unit. [2] [3] The RFSG forms part of the 2nd Division. [4]

The RFSG is tasked "to provide a littoral surveillance and reconnaissance capability in Australia's north and northwest in order to support whole-of-government efforts to maintain national sovereignty and border security". [5] The three Regional Force Surveillance Units conduct operational patrols as part of Operation Resolute.

Upon formation, the Regional Force Surveillance Group comprised: [2]

The Group headquarters provides a single formation headquarters to formalise command and control arrangements and knowledge sharing between the three units. [2] [6]

The Indigenous Development Wing is responsible for delivering key training programs to Indigenous Australian soldiers across the Army and running the Regional Force Surveillance Group Education and Development Course. It was also established on 4 October 2018. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Air Service Regiment</span> Special forces unit of the Australian Army

The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army. Formed in 1957 as a company, it was modelled on the British SAS with which it shares the motto, "Who Dares Wins". Expanded to a regiment in August 1964, it is based at Campbell Barracks, in Swanbourne, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, and is a direct command unit of the Special Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilbara Regiment</span> Australian Army Reserve unit

The Pilbara Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve and is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed in surveillance and reconnaissance of the remote areas of northern Australia. Most elements of the regiment are stationed in the Pilbara region of north-west Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NORFORCE</span> Infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve

The NORFORCE is an infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. Formed in 1981, the regiment is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSUs) employed in surveillance and reconnaissance of the remote areas of Northern Australia. It consists of a regimental headquarters, four surveillance squadrons, and an operational support squadron and training squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Operations Command (Australia)</span> Special operations command of the Australian Army

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an Australian Defence Force command that was established on 5 May 2003 to unite all of the Australian Army's special forces units and by 2008 was fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Fleet, Forces and Air Commands. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British military forces, and is led by a major general as Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Structure of the Australian Army</span> This article describes the current structure of the Australian Army

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment</span> Australian Army infantry battalion

The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a mechanised infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Kapyong Lines, Townsville as part of the 3rd Brigade. 3 RAR traces its lineage to 1945 and has seen operational service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, South Vietnam, Rifle Company Butterworth, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSUs) are specialised infantry units of the Australian Army Reserve responsible for patrolling northern Australia. Collectively, the RFSUs form the Regional Force Surveillance Group commanded by a Colonel based at the 2nd Division Headquarters in Sydney. The RFSUs conduct regular operational patrols during peacetime, and are composed primarily of Reservists who live within the area of operations. There are currently three battalion-sized RFSUs:

RAAF Base Edinburgh is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military airbase located in Edinburgh approximately 28 km (17 mi) north of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia and forms part of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Army Aviation</span> Administrative corps of the Australian Army

The Australian Army Aviation (AAAvn) is an administrative corps of the Australian Army. It was formed on 1 July 1968. The motto of the Australian Army Aviation corps is Vigilance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Defence Force Parachuting School</span> Training unit of the Australian Army

The Australian Defence Force Parachuting School is an Australian Army unit part of the Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre (DSOTEC) that provides training in parachuting techniques, develops parachute doctrine and techniques and conducts trial-evaluations of parachute systems and associated equipment. The school is based adjacent to HMAS Albatross, Nowra, New South Wales.

The 173rd Special Operations Aviation Squadron is an Australian Army helicopter training squadron that provides support to the Special Operations Command. The squadron is being equipped with UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The squadron is based at Luscombe Airfield, Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney and forms part of the 6th Aviation Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Aviation Regiment (Australia)</span> Australian Army unit

The 6th Aviation Regiment is one of the Australian Army's three Army Aviation regiments and was raised on 1 March 2008 to provide air mobility for the Australian Army Special Operations Command (SOCOMD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Commando Regiment (Australia)</span> Unit of the Australian Army

The 2nd Commando Regiment is a special forces unit of the Australian Army and is part of Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when the 4th Battalion RAR (Commando) was renamed. It is based at Holsworthy, New South Wales. The 2nd Commando Regiment trains and has served with coalition special forces units, and is highly regarded by these units. The regiment has been involved in operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, where it was used in a direct action warfighting role. It has also been involved in domestic security operations including the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit. In 2019, the regiment was made the Command's capability lead for strategic strike.

The 17th Sustainment Brigade currently commands the Australian Army's deployable operational level logistics units. Raised on 20 May 2006, the brigade was formerly known as the Logistic Support Force (LSF), and is made up of varied logistic corps and trades. It encompasses both reserve and full-time units, geographically dispersed throughout Australia. Headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales its primary deployable command element is the Force Sustainment Group. The units of the brigade are responsible for providing third line or 'general' support within an area of operations. The brigade was designated the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade until 1 August 2019, when it was renamed the 17th Sustainment Brigade. The brigade traces its origins back to the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group formed during the Vietnam War.

Forces Command (FORCOMD) is the largest command within the Australian Army responsible for the combat brigades, the enabling and training formations reporting to the Chief of the Army with approximately 85% of the Army's personnel. The Command was formed on 1 July 2009 with the amalgamation of Land Command and Training Command, and is led by a major general as the Commander Forces Command.

The 6th Engineer Support Regiment is a specialised engineer regiment of the Australian Army. Established in early 2003, the regiment was formed by grouping several previously independent engineer squadrons – each providing different engineer support functions – together under a single headquarters. Headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, the regiment's sub-units are also based in Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airborne forces of Australia</span>

Airborne forces raised by Australia have included a number of conventional and special forces units. During the Second World War the Australian Army formed the 1st Parachute Battalion; however, it did not see action. In the post-war period Australia's parachute capability was primarily maintained by special forces units. In the early 1980s a parachute infantry capability was revived which led to the Parachute Battalion Group forming in 1983 based on the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. In 1997, a full time commando regiment was raised that was able to conduct large-scale operations which matured during the 2000s. In 2011, 3 RAR relinquished the parachute role with the Army deciding to opt out of a conventional parachute capability in preference to a special forces large-scale parachute capability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform</span>

The Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform (AMCU) is the combat uniform camouflage pattern for the Australian Defence Force, general issued from 2014 onwards. The AMCU is replacing the previously used Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) and Australian Multicam Pattern - Operational Combat Uniform (AMP-OCU) camouflage patterns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations</span> Training unit of the Australian Army

The Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations is an Australian Army training unit part of the Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre (DSOTEC) responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, education and trade management of all Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) personnel. It is based at Holsworthy Barracks, New South Wales. The school was established on 19 November 2019 following the renaming of the newly formed Special Operations Training and Education Centre.

References

  1. Dougherty, Robert (18 October 2018). "New chief visits Pilbara soldiers". The West Australian. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Beurich, Sebastian (1 November 2018). "Power of three as spears go on parade" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1431 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. ISSN   0729-5685 . Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. The Australian Army Regional Force Surveillance Group 'raising' parade ATV News. Aboriginal TV Channel 4 (Television production). Aboriginal Broadcasting Australia. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  4. "Army Order of Battle". Australian Army. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  5. "Royalty in the Top End – Regional Force Surveillance Group demonstrates unique capability to Prince Charles" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1418 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. 3 May 2018. ISSN   0729-5685 . Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  6. Beurich, Sebastian (31 May 2018). "Patrolling the Strait" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1420 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. ISSN   0729-5685.