Aussie Airborne?

[Ex-Dragoon]

Don't have time to verify but a friend said he saw and article on 3RAR being disbanded. Anyone else hear anything? Will try and verify tonight.

 

[frank1515]

The search on google indicate that they might be losing their "para" designation, although offical websites say nothing about them losing that designation. Wait and see, I guess, until the official channels come out with the announcement, I suppose.

 

[MikeL]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?203173-Aussie-Airborne-Battalion-ends 

Only thing I've seen on it.  Going by the comments there, it seems like it was pretty last minute, and most didn't know untill they showed up at work. 

 

[The Bread Guy]

Nothing on the news yet, either.

In April of this year, the Aussie Liberal Party opposed the idea - guess they didn't win that one.

 

[Infanteer]

I can't find the reference, but it was part of the Adaptive Army program.

Essentially, the Australian Army was formed into a Regular Force Division (1 Div) with 3 Brigades (one light, one mech, one motorized), a Forces Command with Res Bdes and Training Institutions and a Special Operations Forces Command.

As part of this, some Infantry units with unique capabilities (3 RAR Para and 4 RAR Commando) saw those skillsets (or, in the case of 4 RAR, the whole unit) migrate to the SOF Command.  As the Regular Brigades were rounded out, new units were created (5/6 RAR were de-linked into two Bns and 7/9 RAR was stood up).

The Aussies really "transformed", with a Div, a Territorial "owner" of Res/Tng and a SOF Command.  Their reg strength is 3 Brigades with mech, MBTs, attack helos, and avn.  Not bad; maybe we could take a page from them for our Force 2013?

 

[Journeyman]

Going by the comments there, it seems like it was pretty last minute, and most didn't know until they showed up at work.

Gee, I know of some people in a similar Canadian Regiment that had the same experience.

Mind you, the Aussies have a Labour government, we had a Liberal one -- I'm sure there's no similarities.

 

[The Bread Guy]

A tiny bit more....

Yesterday (31 Aug 11) was a sad day for paratroopers everywhere. Our brothers in Australia’s 3RAR officially lost their parachute role and will be a Mechanized Infantry unit from here on out. To add insult to injury they are scheduled to move in December from Sydney to Townsville. When you see an Australian Soldier wearing the distinctive wings of 3RAR know that he was a part of something special. Buy that man a beer.

soldiersystems.net, 1 Sept 11

 

[The Bread Guy]

Here's what the AUS MoD has to say about the change:

The responsibility for maintaining the Airborne Insertion (Parachute) Capability has transfered from Army Forces Command to Special Operations Command.

The transfer marks a significant milestone in the history of Army’s parachute capability.

The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison recognised that the Army has raised, developed and maintained a conventional parachute capability over the past 31 years.

“I acknowledge the fine efforts of all those who have served as part of, and in support of the parachute capability,” Lieutenant General Morrison said.

Initially raised and based on a company in the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) in 1980, the parachute capability was enhanced and the responsibility transferred to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) in 1983. During its time as a Parachute Battalion, 3 RAR was ably supported by a wide range of units from the 1st and 3rd Brigades, the Parachute Training School and 176th Air Dispatch Squadron.

“I also acknowledge the ongoing support of the Royal Australian Air Force in maintaining the parachute capability.”

“The parachute capability has been important part of the ADF’s contingency force since its inception, and will continue to be into the future. However, times have changed and there is a need to re-balance Army to meet the challenges of the future,” Lieutenant General Morrison said.

“3RAR now faces many new challenges including the move to Townsville, deployment to Afghanistan and playing its part in Army’s future.”

The transfer of the parachute capability to Special Operations Command means that the ADF maintains a robust and flexible entry capability while ensuring that Army is better able to meet the challenges of the future.

AUS MoD news release, 9 Sept 11

Special thanks to the Security Scholar blog for pointing this one out to me.

 

[downinOZ]

It's been a long year for 3 RAR.  Lost the beret, (so did everyone else, minus SOF), lost the capability/responsibility, moved homes.     
We just bought the T-11.  Not sure how they will now be employed.  They are unlikely to be used in a mass drop of commandos.  Anybody at CPTC used them?