Special Forces Group (Australia)

Special operations formation of the Australian Army

Special Forces Group

Active| December 2015 - present[1]
Country| Australia
Branch| Australian Army
Type| Headquarters
Size| Brigade
Part of| Special Operations Command

Military unit

Special Forces Group (SFG) is an Australian Army formation command that forms part of the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD). The group is a brigade-level formation that commands all of the units assigned to Special Operations Command.[2][1] The Special Forces Group reports to the Special Operations Command.[2]

In October 2015, the Chief of Army's Senior Advisory Committee (CASAC) recommended as part of a review of SOCOMD that a formation command be established within SOCOMD responsible for the command and control of SOCOMD units.[3] The Special Forces Group was subsequently established in December 2015.[1][4]

Brigadier Craig Shortt was appointed Commander Special Forces Group (COMO SFG) in December 2018.[5]

## Structure

[edit]

As of 2020, the Special Forces Group comprised the following units:[2]

* 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)
* Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations (Holsworthy, NSW)
* Australian Defence Force Parachuting School (HMAS Albatross, NSW)

The Special Forces Group is supported by the 6th Aviation Regiment from the 16th Aviation Brigade.[2][6] The 6th Aviation Regiment is under the operational command of SOCOMD for "directed special operations tasking".[7]

## References

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Citations

1. ^ a b c "Special Forces Group". Australian Army. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019.
2. ^ a b c d Australian Army 2020, p. 3.
3. ^ Chief of Army's Senior Advisory Committee 2015, p. 13.
4. ^ Findlay 2020, pp. 12–13.
5. ^ "Board of Trustees". Commando Welfare Trust. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
6. ^ Grevat, Jon (6 December 2021). "Update: Australian Army launches aviation command". Janes. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
7. ^ Irvine 2018, p. 5.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Australian Army (November 2020). "Special Operations Command Information Booklet" (PDF). Australian Army. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
* Chief of Army's Senior Advisory Committee (16 October 2015). SOCOMD Command Review and Restructure (PDF) (Report). Australian Army. Submission 05/15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2022.
* Findlay, Special Operations Commander Australia MAJGEN Adam (1 September 2020). Report to CA: Transformation of Special Operations Command Since 2015 (PDF) (Report). Special Operations Command. BQ17309479. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
* Irvine, David (31 August 2018). Review of Special Operations Command - Australian Army (PDF) (Report). Australian Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2022.

* v
* t
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Special Forces of Australia of the Australian Defence Force

Leadership|

* Chief of the Defence Force
* Chief of Joint Operations
* Minister for Defence
* National Security Committee of Cabinet
* Special Operations Commander Australia

Australian Army|

| Special Operations
Command|

* Special Forces Group
* 1st Commando Regiment
* 2nd Commando Regiment
* ADF Parachuting School
* ADF School of Special Operations
* Special Air Service Regiment
* Special Operations Engineer Regiment
* Special Operations Logistics Squadron
* Tactical Assault Group (East and West)

|

* 6th Aviation Regiment
* 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron
* 173rd Special Operations Aviation Squadron

Royal Australian Navy|

* Clearance Diving Branch

Royal Australian Air Force|

* No. 4 Squadron, B Flight

Related|

* 1st Intelligence Battalion
* 7th Signal Regiment
* Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Historical units|

* Coastwatchers
* Independent and Commando Companies
* No. 200 Flight RAAF
* RAN Beach Commandos
* Services Reconnaissance Department
* M Special Unit
* Z Special Unit
* Far Eastern Liaison Office

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