Harman Patil (Editor)

Special Operations Command (Australia)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Active
  
2003–Present

Role
  
Special operations

Country
  
Australia

Size
  
2,050 (Active) 750 (Reserve)

Part of
  
Australian Defence Force

Headquarters location
  
Potts Point, New South Wales

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is a command within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Special Operations Command was established on 5 May 2003 to unite all of the Australian Army Special forces units and by 2008 was fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Maritime, Land and Air Commands. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British militaries. Led by a Major General (Special Operations Commander Australia, SOCAUST).

Contents

SOCOMD origins begin in 1979 with the Army creating a small Directorate Special Action Forces—Army (DSAF-A), on 13 February 1990 Headquarters Special Forces (HQSF) was established which was renamed in 1997 to Headquarters Special Operations (HQSO) and in 2003 to Special Operations Headquarters (SOHQ) in SOCOMD.

History

  • East Timor (May 2006–2007)
  • Security for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (March 2006)
  • Afghanistan (2001–02) (2005–06) (2007–)
  • Iraq (2003–09) (2014–)
  • Security for the 2003 Rugby World Cup (October – November 2003)
  • Security for President George W. Bush's visit to Canberra (October 2003)

    • While Special Operations Command had not formally commenced operations at the time, it appears that the headquarters may have overseen the boarding of the North Korean freighter MV Pong Su in April 2003, which involved elements of both the SASR and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Tactical Assault Groups.

    In 2007, the APEC Summit hosted in Sydney had Special Operations Command involvement regarding security as world leaders, including John Howard, George W. Bush and other government and economic leaders were in attendance.

    Order of battle

    Special Operations Headquarters or SOHQ (Canberra and Sydney)

  • Units under direct control of SOHQ:
  • Special Operations Logistics Squadron (Sydney)
  • Special Forces Training Centre (Singleton, NSW) – established on 1 December 1998 to conduct selection courses for the SASR, 1st Commando Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment.
  • Parachute Training School
  • Special Air Service Regiment (Swanbourne, WA)
    Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West).
  • 1 Squadron
  • 2 Squadron
  • 3 Squadron
  • 4 Squadron (existence has never been publicly acknowledged)
  • 152 Signals Squadron
  • Base Squadron
  • Training Squadron
  • 1st Commando Regiment a mixed Regular Army and Army Reserve Unit
  • Regimental Headquarters (Randwick Barracks, Sydney)
  • 1 Commando Company (HMAS Penguin, Sydney)
  • 2 Commando Company (Williamstown, VIC)
  • 301 Signals Squadron (Randwick Barracks, Sydney with elements in the commando companies)
  • 2nd Commando Regiment (Holsworthy, NSW)
    Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (East).
  • A Company
  • B Company
  • C Company
  • D Company
  • 126 Signals Squadron
  • Operations Support Company
  • Logistics Support Company
  • Special Operations Engineer Regiment (Sydney, NSW)
  • A Squadron
  • B Squadron
  • Logistic Support Troop

    • Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)

    The following have held the position of Special Operations Commander Australia, with the ranks and honours as at the completion of their tenure:

    References

    Special Operations Command (Australia) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA