Special Operations Command (Australia)

Special operations command of the Australian Army

Special Operations Command

Active| 2003–present
Country| Australia
Role| Special operations
Size| 2,050 (active in 2014)[1]
750 (reserve in 2014)[1]
Part of| Australian Defence Force
Headquarters location| General John Baker Complex, Bungendore[2]
Motto(s)| Acies Acuta
(The Cutting Edge)
Commanders
Current
commander| Major General Garth Gould

Military unit

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.[3][4][5] Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Fleet, Forces and Air Commands.[3] 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).

The origins of SOCOMD began in 1979 with the army creating a small Directorate Special Action Forces—Army. On 13 February 1990, Headquarters Special Forces was established, which was renamed in 1997 to Headquarters Special Operations and in 2003 to Special Operations Headquarters or SOCOMD.[5][6][7]

## History

[edit]

A Special Operations Task Group patrol in Afghanistan in October 2009

* East Timor (May 2006 – 2007)
* Security for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (March 2006)
* Afghanistan (2001–02) (2005–06) (2007–2021)[8]
* 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 Special Air Service Regiment and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Tactical Assault Groups.[9]

In November 2018, the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea had Special Operations Command involvement to enhance the Papua New Guinea Defence Force's Incident Response Group to provide security as world leaders, including Scott Morrison, Mike Pence, Xi Jinping, Dmitry Medvedev and other government and economic leaders were in attendance.[10][11] The Incident Response Group had received extensive training to build its capabilities in preparation for the meeting from SOCOMD units and the New Zealand Special Operations Component Command.[12]

## Organisation

[edit]

Soldiers from Special Operations Command during a media demonstration in May 2003

As of 2020, the Special Operations Command comprised the following units:[13]

* Headquarters, Special Operations Command Headquarters (SOHQ) (GJBC and Russell Offices)[14][2]
* Headquarters, Special Forces Group[15]
* Special Air Service Regiment (Swanbourne, WA)
Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West).
* 1 Squadron
* 2 Squadron
* 3 Squadron
* 4 Squadron
* 152 Signals Squadron
* Specialist Support Squadron
* Operational Support 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 (Holsworthy, NSW)
* A Squadron
* B Squadron
* Logistic Support Troop
* Special Operations Logistics Squadron (Holsworthy, NSW)
* Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre (Holsworthy, NSW)[16]
* Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations (Holsworthy, NSW)
* Australian Defence Force Parachuting School (HMAS Albatross, NSW)

## Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)

[edit]

The Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST) is responsible for the peacetime 'raise, train and sustain' functions of Special Operations Command reporting to the Chief of Army, while the Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for the operational functions of Special Operations Command deployments.[7] The SOCAUST is responsible for the domestic counter-terrorism deployments of Special Operations Command reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Force.[7]

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

Rank | Name | Post-nominals | Term began | Term ended | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Major General | Duncan Lewis | DSC, CSC | May 2002 | October 2004 |
Major General | Mike Hindmarsh | AO, CSC | October 2004 | February 2008 |
Major General | Tim McOwan | DSC, CSM | February 2008 | January 2011 |
Major General | Gus Gilmore | AO, DSC | January 2011 | September 2013 |
Brigadier | Daniel McDaniel | DSC, DSM | September 2013 | December 2014 | Acting[17]
Major General | Jeff Sengelman | DSC, AM, CSC | December 2014 | June 2017 |
Major General | Adam Findlay | AM | June 2017 | November 2020 | [18]
Major General | Paul Kenny | DSC, AM, DSM | November 2020 | 12 July 2024 | [19]
Major General | Garth Gould | CSC, DSM | 12 July 2024 | Incumbent | [20]

## See also

[edit]

* Special Operations Command (New Zealand)
* United States Special Operations Command Pacific
* Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b The Australian Army – Modernisation from Beersheba and Beyond (PDF) (Report). Australian Army. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2017.
2. ^ a b "The Australian Army: An Aide-Memoire" (PDF). Australian Army. Directorate of Plans – Army. April 2014. p. 53\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2020.
3. ^ a b Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence (5 May 2003). "New Special Operations Command" (Press release). Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
4. ^ Prime Minister John Howard (19 December 2002). "Expansion of Special Forces Counter Terrorist Capability and new Special Operations Command" (Press release). Prime Minister of Australia. Archived from the original on 23 February 2003.
5. ^ a b Goh, Puay Hock (Francis) (June 2011). How should SOF be organized? (PDF) (Master's thesis). U.S. Navy Postgraduate School. OCLC 743235192. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
6. ^ Grant (Ret.), Brigadier William 'Mac'. "Reserve Commandos inherit a remarkable legacy" (PDF). Defence Reserves Yearbook 2004–2005. Executive Media Pty Ltd. Australian Defence Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2011.
7. ^ a b c Davies, Andrew; Jennings, Peter; Scheer, Benjamin (2014). A Versatile Force: The Future of Australia's Special Operations Capability (PDF). Barton, Australian Capital Territory: Australian Strategic Policy Institute. ISBN 9781921302978. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
8. ^ Boer, Cpl Corinne (19 April 2007). "Back into fray". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1164 ed.). Canberra, Australia: Department of Defence. ISSN 0729-5685. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011.
9. ^ Logue, Jason (8 May 2003). "Tartan TAG". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1073 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. ISSN 0729-5685. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013.
10. ^ Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne (12 October 2018). "Defence supports PNG security effort for APEC 2018". Department of Defence (Press release). Retrieved 31 December 2019.
11. ^ Greene, Andrew (12 September 2018). "Australian Special Forces to protect world leaders at APEC meeting in Papua New Guinea". ABC News. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
12. ^ Benson, CAPT Dean (15 November 2018). "Training for success" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1432 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. ISSN 0729-5685. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2019.
13. ^ Australian Army (November 2020). "Special Operations Command Information Booklet" (PDF). Australian Army. p. 3. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
14. ^ "Special Operations Command". Australian Army. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
15. ^ "Special Forces Group". Australian Army. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
16. ^ "Defence Special Operations Training & Education Centre". Australian Army. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
17. ^ "Chief of Army Announces Changes to Army Senior Leadership". Department of Defence (Press release). 19 September 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
18. ^ "Special Operations Commander Australia". Australian Army: Our leaders. Department of Defence. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
19. ^ "Special Operations Commander Australia: Major General Paul Kenny, DSC, DSM". Our Leaders. Australian Army. 26 November 2020.
20. ^ "Major General Garth Gould". Australian Army. Retrieved 6 September 2024.

## Further reading

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special forces of Australia.

* Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence (25 September 2003). "Defence Support To World Cup Security" (Press release). Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
* Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence (29 October 2005). "New Special Operations Commander Appointed" (Press release). Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
* Horner, David (2002). SAS: Phantoms of War. A History of the Australian Special Air Service (Second ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-647-9.

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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

* v
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* e

Australian Defence Force

Australian Defence Organisation (Headquarters: Russell Offices)

Services|

* Royal Australian Navy
* Australian Army
* Royal Australian Air Force

Leadership|

* Governor-General
* Prime Minister
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* Minister for Defence Personnel
* Minister for Defence Industry
* National Security Committee of Cabinet
* Secretary of Defence
* Chief of the Defence Force
* Vice Chief of the Defence Force
* Chief of Army
* Chief of Navy
* Chief of Air Force
* Chief of Joint Operations
* Senior Positions
* Senior Personnel
* Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force

Structure|

* Australian Defence Organisation
* Australia's Federation Guard
* Force Element Group
* Special Forces
* Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group
* Joint Operations Command (Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Northern Command, Maritime Border Command)
* Joint Capabilities Group (Joint Logistics Command, Joint Health Command, Australian Defence College, Australian Defence Force Academy, Joint Military Police Unit)
* Judge Advocate General
* Fleet Command
* Forces Command
* Air Command
* Aviation Command
* Defence Space Command
* Special Operations Command
* 1st Division (Deployable Joint Force Headquarters)
* Navy Strategic Command

Personnel
and training|

* Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia
* Australian Defence Force Reserves (Royal Australian Naval Reserve, Australian Army Reserve, Royal Australian Air Force Reserve)
* Australian Defence Force Cadets (Australian Navy Cadets, Australian Army Cadets, Australian Air Force Cadets, National Cadet Advisory Council)
* Women in the Australian military
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* Conscription
* Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
* Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School
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* Department of Veterans' Affairs
* Veterans' Review Board

Intelligence|

* Defence Intelligence Organisation
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* Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group

Strategy|

* Australian–US Alliance
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* Defence of Australia policy
* Review of Australia's Defence Capabilities Report
* Australian Strategic Policy Institute
* Australian National University Strategic and Defence Studies Centre

Equipment|

* Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group
* Army equipment
* Army artillery
* Naval ships
* Air Force Weaponry
* Air Force aircraft

Installations|

* Military Installations
* Naval Installations
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Culture|

* Australian War Memorial
* Anzac spirit
* Weary Dunlop
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History|

* History of the Royal Australian Navy
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* Frontier Wars
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* World War I
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* Korean War
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* Official Histories (Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, Australia in the War of 1939–1945, Australia in the Korean War 1950–53, The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975, Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations)
* Australian military involvement in peacekeeping

Australian Defence Force Military history of Australia

* v
* t
* e

Australian Army

Australian Defence Force

Command|

* Chief of Army (CA)
* Deputy Chief of Army (DCA)
* Commander Forces Command (COMD FORCOMD)
* Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)
* Commander 1st Division
* Commander 2nd Division
* Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A)

Structure|

| Forces Command|

* 1st Brigade
* 3rd Brigade
* 6th Brigade
* 7th Brigade
* 9th Brigade
* 17th Sustainment Brigade

|

2nd Division|

* 4th Brigade
* 5th Brigade
* 8th Brigade
* 11th Brigade
* 13th Brigade

Special Operations
Command|

* Special Forces Group
* Special Air Service Regiment
* 1st Commando Regiment
* 2nd Commando Regiment
* Special Operations Engineer Regiment
* Special Operations Logistics Squadron
* Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations

Aviation Command|

* 16th Aviation Brigade
* Oakey Army Aviation Centre
* Aviation Units

* 1st Division (Deployable Joint Force Headquarters)
* Army Reserve
* Army Cadets
* Special Forces
* Airborne Forces
* Brigades
* Directorate of Army Research and Analysis

Installations|

* Russell Offices
* Royal Military College, Duntroon
* Land Warfare Centre
* Holsworthy Barracks
* Enoggera/Gallipoli Barracks
* Army Aviation Centre
* Campbell Barracks
* Army Recruit Training Centre
* Army Logistic Training Centre

Materiel|

* Weaponry
* Historical weaponry
* Aircraft
* Tanks
* Armoured vehicles
* Artillery

Personnel|

* Officer rank insignia
* Enlisted rank insignia
* Uniforms
* Colours, standards and guidons
* Australian Army Memorial, Canberra
* Field marshals
* Generals

Culture|

* Rising Sun
* Slouch Hat
* Digger
* Australian military slang
* Anzac spirit
* Army newspaper

History|

* First Australian Imperial Force
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* I ANZAC Corps
* II ANZAC Corps
* Desert Mounted Corps
* Australian Corps
* Second Australian Imperial Force
* Battle and theatre honours of the Australian Army
* Australian Army during World War I
* Australian Army during World War II

Corps and
Regiments|

| Infantry|

| Regular|

* Royal Australian Regiment

|

Special
Forces|

* Special Air Service Regiment
* 1st Commando Regiment
* 2nd Commando Regiment

Reserve|

* Royal Queensland Regiment
* Royal New South Wales Regiment
* Royal Victoria Regiment
* Royal South Australia Regiment
* Royal Western Australia Regiment
* Royal Tasmania Regiment
* Sydney University Regiment
* Melbourne University Regiment
* Queensland University Regiment
* Adelaide Universities Regiment
* Western Australia University Regiment
* University of New South Wales Regiment

RFSU|

* North-West Mobile Force
* Pilbara Regiment
* Far North Queensland Regiment

Armour|

| Regular|

* 1st Armoured Regiment
* 2nd Cavalry Regiment
* 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment
* 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment

|

Reserve|

* 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers
* 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
* 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse
* 3rd/9th Light Horse
* 10th Light Horse Regiment

Aviation|

* 1st Aviation Regiment
* 5th Aviation Regiment
* 6th Aviation Regiment

Artillery|

* 1st Regiment
* 4th Regiment
* 8th/12th Regiment
* 9th Regiment
* 16th Regiment
* 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment

Engineers|

| Regular|

* 1st Combat Engineer Regiment
* 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment
* 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment
* 6th Engineer Support Regiment

|

Special
Forces|

* Special Operations Engineer Regiment

Reserve|

* 5th Engineer Regiment
* 11th Engineer Regiment
* 22nd Engineer Regiment

Combat
support|

* Royal Australian Corps of Signals (1st Signal Regiment, 1st Combat Signal Regiment, 3rd Combat Signal Regiment, 7th Combat Signal Regiment, 7th Signal Regiment, 8th Signal Regiment)
* Australian Army Intelligence Corps (1st Intelligence Battalion)

Combat
service
support|

* Chaplains
* Medical
* Dental
* Nursing
* Psychology
* Transport
* Ordnance
* Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
* Legal
* Military Police
* Pay
* Education
* Public Relations
* Catering
* Band
* Staff Cadets

* Category
* Commons

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