The ultimate authority for the deployment of Australian special forces rests with the National Security Committee through consultation with the Chief of the Defence Force, the Secretary of Defence, and the Australian Intelligence Community. The Special Operations Command is the command responsible for Army special forces, including the Special Air Service Regiment, 1st Commando Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment. The Chief of Joint Operations and joint task force commanders are responsible for the operational functions of Special Operations Command whilst the Chief of Army is responsible for "raise, train, sustain" functions.[7] The Special Operations Commander Australia reports directly to the Chief of the Defence Force for domestic counter terrorism incidents.[7] The Australian Army definition of special operations is "highly specialised and focused operations performed by specially selected, trained and prepared individuals and teams imbued with a creative mindset capable of producing solutions beyond conventional approaches" and that "these activities are designed to achieve tailored operational, military and national strategic effects beyond those of conventional forces."[7]
Functions and units
All the Australian Army special forces units have been grouped together under the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) since December 2002.[8] Clearance divers are under the command of the Navy unless seconded to SOCOMD or joint task forces of the Joint Operations Command and the Air Combat Controllers are under the command of the Air Force unless operational when they are attached to SOCOMD units or joint task forces of the Joint Operations Command.
Direct action, Hostage rescue and Advanced force operations
The main roles of the 2nd Commando Regiment is to conduct strategic large scale strike and recovery operations beyond the scope and capability of other Australian Defence Force units domestically and abroad. Army doctrine specifies that the role of commando units is to "span the gap between conventional infantry operations and unconventional operations", focusing on advanced force operations and direct action missions. Commando personal can also be inserted via various means including, by air (either by helicopter, Free-Fall or Static Line), land (vehicles, including motorbikes and ATVs) or water (including by submarine, boats and diving).
Long range reconnaissance
Australian special forces trace their lineage to the long-range reconnaissance units such as the M Special Unit and Z Special Unit and the British Long Range Desert Group for long-range special reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence and sabotage operations during the Second World War. The SASR is specialist in long-range reconnaissance and SASR typically operates in small patrols of between five and six operators with the task of infiltrating enemy-held territory and providing intelligence on enemy activities and capabilities. During such tasks the SASR seeks to evade rather than confront the enemy. SASR soldiers also direct fire support including air strikes to destroy enemy installations and disrupt or kill enemy forces whenever possible. SASR reconnaissance patrols can be inserted by air (either by helicopter, parachute or high altitude parachute), land (on foot or by vehicle) or water (including by submarine, small boats, kayaks or diving) and have proved capable of covering long distances and staying concealed in jungle, desert and mountain terrain. SASR patrols may also conduct sabotage and short-duration raids on high-value targets, including headquarters, airfields and communications nodes.
The Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER) (previously called the Incident Response Regiment) provides Special Operations Command with CBRNE response capabilities, combat engineering, mobility and survivability, and ordnance disposal both domestically and on operations overseas.[8]
The Special Operations Logistics Squadron (SOLS) provides Special Operations Command with diverse logistic support both domestically and on operations overseas.[8]
On 1 January 2014, the ADF removed the restriction on currently serving women applying for special forces combat roles and on 1 January 2016 direct entry to combat roles was opened to women.[19] Prior to the change women had served in special forces in non-combat roles. Women have passed the selection course for the Army Reserve 1st Commando Regiment and been awarded a Green Beret. In 1981, Army Reserve signaller Kerri Hiam of 126th Signal Squadron became the first woman to attempt selection, pass selection and be awarded a Green Beret.[20][21] In 1997, three Army women officers, including intelligence officer Lieutenant Fleur Froggatt, became the first women to complete the 1st Commando Regiment officer selection course with one of the officers awarded a Green Beret.[22][23] The women were barred from serving in combat roles.[22] A 2012 federal government report stated that female medics had been serving in Afghanistan on patrols with special forces units (the Special Operations Task Group) providing health clinics for local women and girls.[24]
Former units
Covert Action Directorate
In 1983, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australia's civilian national foreign intelligence agency, established a special forces unit, named the Covert Action Directorate, to develop a special recovery capability.[25][26] The SASR had recently developed a domestic counter terrorism capability establishing the Tactical Assault Group.[27] The Directorate covertly recruited civilians, who were required to maintain a 'cover', to receive part-time training, including from the ADF and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), to conduct overseas counter terrorism operations.[25][28][29] The Directorate consisted of members with either a nactive role or a support role and included a female operative Alexandra Smith a former Royal Australian Air Force intelligence officer.[26] Part-time training was estimated to take two to three years to complete.[29] Training began in March and continued through to November culminating in a three-week exercise held in Sydney and Melbourne.[30] On 30 November 1983, the Directorate held a bungled hostage rescue training exercise at the Sheraton Hotel in Melbourne without proper approvals, including the carriage of firearms, culminating in the public exposure of the unit.[25][30][31] The ASIS covert military function approval was subsequently revoked in June 1985, ASIS subject to a Royal Commission investigation and the special recovery role assigned to the SASR.[25][27][30][31]
^The 2nd Command Regiment was previously called the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando). 1st Commando Regiment is an Army Reserve regiment.[6]
^Linton and Donohue., Commander E.W. (Jake) and Commodore H.J (Hec) (2015). United and undaunted : the first 100 years : a history of diving in the Royal Australian Navy 1911–2011. Queanbeyan, New South Wales: Grinkle Press Pty Ltd. ISBN9780980282153.
^O'Brien, Hugh (2014). Undaunted: From Clearance Diver to Mercenary: An Australian Man's Life on the Edge. North Sydney, NSW: Random House Australia. ISBN9780857983480.
^Air Power Development Centre (June 2014). "Combat Control in the RAAF". Pathfinder: Air Power Development Centre Bulletin (224). Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^Collins, Peter (2005). Strike Swiftly: The Australian Commando Story. Sydney: Watermark Press. ISBN978-0949284709.
^ ab"End of the Long Peace"(PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1225 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. 12 November 2009. ISSN0729-5685. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
^ abcdToohey, Brian; Pinwill, William (1989). Oyster: the Story of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. Melbourne: Heinemann. ISBN9780855612504.
^ abSmith, Alexandra (14 January 1989). "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". The Canberra Times. p. B1. Retrieved 16 March 2021 – via Trove – National Library of Australia.
^Mannix, Teresa (7 December 1983). "Army members involved in ASIS exercise". The Canberra Times. p. 3. Retrieved 16 March 2021 – via Trove – National Library of Australia.
^ abSmith, Alexandra (15 January 1989). "Door to the Secret Service". The Canberra Times. p. 17. Retrieved 16 March 2021 – via Trove – National Library of Australia.
^ abcSmith, Alexandra (16 January 1989). "Bungle: only part of the exercise". The Canberra Times. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2021 – via Trove – National Library of Australia.
^ abWright, Tony (16 January 1989). "Hotel fiasco dooms the ASIS hit squad". The Canberra Times. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2021 – via Trove – National Library of Australia.
References
Blaxland, John (2014). The Australian Army from Whitlam to Howard. Port Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9781107043657.
Horner, David (2002). SAS: Phantoms of War. A History of the Australian Special Air Service (Second ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN1-86508-647-9.
Kuring, Ian (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Historical Publications. ISBN1876439998.
Lord, Cliff; Tennant, Julian (2000). ANZAC Elite: The Airborne and Special Forces Insignia of Australia and New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: IPL Books. ISBN0-908876-10-6.
RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Volume 4 Maritime and Transport Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN0-644-42796-5.
Macklin, Robert (2015). Warrior Elite: Australia's Special Forces – From Z Force and the SAS to the Wars of the Future. Sydney, New South Wales: Hachette Australia. ISBN9780733632914.
