4TH BATTALION, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT

The '4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment', is one of the battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment and is one of three combat capable groups within the Australian Special Operations Command (the other two being the SASR and 1st Commando Regiment). It is the only battalion of the Australian Army which requires members to undergo a three day entrance test prior to gaining entry. Training for 4RAR upon completion of the commando training course consists of several more specialist school including urban and Commando amphibious operations courses, climbing, special forces weapons, Special Forces parachute course as well as other specialist courses.

Contents

History

The raising of a regular battalion

From infantry battalion to special forces

Current Role

Organisation

Alliances

See also

Sources

History

The raising of a regular battalion

On 18 January 1952, a Royal Australian Regiment Depot was raised as a training unit for special establishment on the Order of Battle. The Depot was later renamed 4 RAR on 10 Mar 52. This renaming was necessary because Government approval had been given to raise a Battalion and not a ‘Depot’. The primary function of 4 RAR at the time was to train and hold infantrymen for service in Korea. On 24 March 1960, the unit was incorporated into the School of Infantry as ‘Depot Company, Royal Australian Regiment’. The two units comprised resulted in the formation of the Infantry Centre [1].
The political decision to raise the fourth battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment was made in 1963 [2]. Consequently, instructions for the raising of the Battalion were issued on 13 January 1964. The official raising of 4 RAR on 1 February 1964 was the first time a regular infantry Battalion had been raised on Australian soil. Additionally, it was stated that this battalion was a new battalion and not a resurrection of the old 4 RAR.
With the reorganisation of the Army during 1973 due to the cessation of National Service, 2 RAR and 4 RAR were linked on 15 August 1973, to form 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2/4 RAR).[3]
2/4 RAR was charged with the task of preserving the traditions, associations, museums and proprietorship of the two original battalions from which it was formed until such time as the linking was annulled. Because of this, all ranks of 2/4 RAR were aware of the history of both 2 RAR and 4 RAR and jealously preserved these traditions, whilst working hard to establish a distinctive image for their Battalion.
Between 1977 and 1979 2/4 RAR concentrated on conventional warfare including night and mounted operations. On 1 July 1980, the unit was re-organised on light scales and trained as part of the Operational Deployment Force (ODF) in close country and conventional warfare operations.
On 1 Feb 82, with the official replacement of the title 'Task Force' with 'Brigade', 2/4 RAR became a unit of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. The Battalion was placed on operational readiness in 1987 and 1990. On each occasion the Battalion was prepared to evacuate Australian citizens from Pacific region countries experiencing civil disturbance.
From 1990 to 1993 many individual soldiers from the Battalion served with the United Nations in Cambodia. In 1993, 54 soldiers from the Battalion were detached to 1RAR for operational service in Somalia as part of Operation Solace. In May 1993, 2/4 RAR was tasked to provide a Rifle Platoon for Operation Gemini in Cambodia. 12 Platoon Delta Company, deployed to Cambodia tasked with providing local security for Australian Army Aviation Assets.
It was during the Battalion's deployment to Rwanda on Operation Tamar in 1994, that the Government made the decision to unlink the 2nd/4th Battalion. This was a result of the 1994 Defence White Paper that identified the need for an additional Infantry Battalion to enhance the Army's capability to meet strategic guidance requirements [4]. The 2nd/4th Battalion was unlinked by the Chief of the General Staff, LTGEN J.C. Grey, AO on a parade at Samichon Lines, Lavarack Barracks, Townsville at 1500 hrs on 1 February 1995.

From infantry battalion to special forces

In 1996, a decision was made to convert the Battalion to a Special Forces unit and on 1 February 1997 was re-rolled to 4 RAR (Commando). Regular serving members were given the opportunity to undertake special forces training or elect a posting to a conventional forces unit. General Reserve positions existed in the new structure and reserve members discharged or posted to GRes units.
The initial years were busy creating a structure and recruiting members suitable for commando training. Bravo Company was raised first followed by Charlie Company in 1999, both taking 2-3 years to reach full maturity. The pace of battalion life during these development years was hectic with capability development, equipment acquisition and training, focussing every member’s attention [5].

Current Role

Some tasks a commando may be required to perform include but are not limited to:

★ Accurately employ a range of advanced weapon systems (including night aiming devices);

★ Fight at close quarters with weapons;

★ Participate in a Commando fighting patrol in both urban and rural operations;

★ Destroy targets using explosives;

★ Parachute onto land or into water;

★ Participate in Tactical Air Land Operations from both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft;

★ Embark and disembark from Commando amphibious insertion craft in surf (beach and rocky landings) and from parent craft;

★ Ascend and descend vertical obstacles using military roping and caving ladder climbing techniques;

★ Operate intra-platoon communications equipment;

★ Conduct manual entry to urban structures;

★ Comply with the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC), Rules of Engagement (ROE) and adhere to Orders for Opening Fire (OFOF);

★ Conduct airborne rappelling and fast roping (including suspended extraction); and

★ Operate Commando amphibious boats as coxswain / bowman as part of a flotilla.

★ Conduct cordons for Direct Action Assaults in support of SASR operations

Organisation

4RAR(Cdo)

★ Battalion HQ

★ A Company

★ B Company

★ C Company (Tactical Assault Group (East))

★ D Company

★ 126 Signal Squadron

★ Operations Support Company

★ Logistics Support Company

Alliances

★ - Irish Guards

See also

★ 1st Commando Regiment

★ Australian Special Air Service Regiment

★ UK SFSG

★ United States Army Rangers

★ Canadian Special Operations Regiment

★ 4RAR complete unit history

★ Australian Army Commando Employment information

Sources

★ Official Website of the 4RAR (under construction as of 13/3/2006)

★ Australian SF Community

★ Defence Jobs Website

★ Commando operations in Afghanistan - September 2006