Structure of the Australian Army

Two Bushmasters operated by the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment during an exercise in 2010

This article describes the current structure of the Australian Army. It includes the army's order of battle and the headquarters locations of major units. Members of the Australian Army also serve within joint units of the Australian Defence Force which fall outside the direct command of the Australian Army.

Overview

The Australian Army is organised into three main elements which report to the Chief of Army, the Headquarters of the 1st Division, Special Operations Command and Forces Command.[1] Headquarters 1st Division is responsible for high-level training activities and is capable of being deployed to command large scale ground operations. It does not have any combat units permanently assigned to it, though it commands units during training activities and the Land Combat Readiness Centre reports to the divisional headquarters.[2][3]

Most of the Army's units report to Forces Command, which is responsible for overseeing their readiness and preparing them for operations. This organisation came into effect during January 2011. Before this time the Army's three regular brigades were permanently assigned to the Headquarters 1st Division.[4][3]

Organisation

Australian Army organisation 2023

The following order of battle describes the Army's organisational structure at the battalion and independent company/squadron level at the end of April 2023. It does not take into account changes to units' structure and command arrangements associated with operational deployments.

Chief of Army

  • Chief of Army[5]
    • Forces Command[5]
    • 1st Division
    • 2nd Division
    • Special Operations Command
    • Army Aviation Command[6]

Forces Command

2nd Health Brigade
  • 2nd Health Brigade[9][10]
    • Headquarters, 2nd Health Brigade (Victoria Barracks, NSW)
    • 1st Health Battalion (Robertson Barracks, NT)
    • 2nd Health Battalion (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
    • 3rd Health Battalion (Keswick Barracks, SA)
    • 4th Health Battalion (Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
6th Combat Support Brigade
  • 6th Combat Support Brigade[11]
    • Headquarters, 6th Brigade (Victoria Barracks, NSW)
    • 1st Intelligence Battalion (Victoria Barracks, NSW)
    • 1st Military Police Battalion (HQ at Victoria Barracks, NSW)
    • 6th Engineer Support Regiment (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
    • 7th Signal Regiment (Borneo Barracks, Qld)[12]
    • 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Woodside Barracks, SA)[13]
    • 19th Chief Engineer Works (Randwick Barracks, NSW)
    • 12th Chief Engineer Works (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
    • 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (Gallipoli Barracks, Qld)
9th Brigade
  • 9th Brigade[14]
    • Headquarters, 9th Brigade (Keswick Barracks, SA)[15]
    • 1st Armoured Regiment (armoured cavalry regiment) (Horseshoe Lines, Edinburgh Defence Precinct, South Australia)
      • A Squadron – 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) (Reserve)
    • 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment (HQ at Keswick Barracks, SA)
    • 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (mechanized infantry) (Edinburgh Defence Precinct, South Australia)[16]
    • 3rd Field Squadron (HQ at Warradale Barracks, SA)
    • 144th Signal Squadron (HQ at Keswick Barracks, SA)
    • 9th Combat Service Support Battalion (HQ at Warradale Barracks, SA)
17th Sustainment Brigade
  • 17th Sustainment Brigade[17][18]
    • Headquarters, 17th Sustainment Brigade (Randwick Barracks, NSW)
    • 145 Signals Squadron (Holsworthy Barracks, NSW)
    • 2nd Force Support Battalion (HQ at Derwent Barracks, Tasmania)
    • 9th Force Support Battalion (HQ at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland)[19]
    • 10th Force Support Battalion (HQ at Ross Island Barracks, Queensland)[20]

1st (Australian) Division

1st Brigade
3rd Brigade
7th Brigade

2nd (Australian) Division

  • 2nd (Australian) Division[5][27][14]
    • Headquarters, 2nd Division (Randwick Barracks, NSW)
    • 8th Signal Regiment (HQ at Randwick Barracks, NSW)[28]
      • 108th Signal Squadron (HQ at Simpson Barracks, Victoria) - 4th Brigade
      • 109th Signal Squadron (HQ at Irwin Barracks, WA) - 13th Brigade
      • 141st Signal Squadron (HQ at Lavarack Barracks, Qld) - 11th Brigade
      • 142nd Signal Squadron (HQ at Holsworthy Barracks, NSW) – 5th Brigade
      • 143rd Signal Squadron (HQ at HMAS Harman Canberra) – 2nd Division + 5th Brigade
      • Operational Support Squadron (HQ at Randwick Barracks, NSW) - 2nd Division Sydney
    • 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, (HQ at Kogarah Barracks, NSW)[29]
      • 2nd/10th Light Battery (HQ in Melbourne, Vic)
      • 5th/11th Light Battery (HQ at Lavarack Barracks, Qld)
      • 6th/13th Light Battery (HQ at Keswick Barracks, SA)
      • 7th Light Battery (HQ in Dee Why, NSW)
      • 23rd Light Battery (HQ at Kogarah Barracks, NSW)
4th Brigade
5th Brigade
8th (Training) Brigade
11th Brigade
13th Brigade
Regional Force Surveillance Group

Special Operations Command

Army Aviation Command

Land Combat College

Geographic distribution

Structure of the Australian Army is located in Australia
1st Division
1st Division
7th Brigade 16th Aviation
7th Brigade
16th Aviation
Structure of the Australian Army
1st Brigade
1st Brigade
3rd Brigade
3rd Brigade
11th Brigade
11th Brigade
4th Brigade
4th Brigade
9th Brigade
9th Brigade
13th Brigade
13th Brigade
Special Ops.
Special Ops.
2nd Division
2nd Division
5th Brigade 6th Brigade
5th Brigade
6th Brigade
8th Brigade 17th Sustain.
8th Brigade
17th Sustain.
Structure of the Australian Army
Structure of the Australian Army
class=notpageimage|
Australian Army division and brigade headquarters 2020
(Army Reserve headquarters in Italic)

Corps and Regiments

Corps in the Australian Army, are administrative groupings of soldiers with a common function to promote pride and esprit de corps.[42]

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ "The Australian Army – Modernisation from Beersheba and Beyond" (PDF). Australian Army. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  2. ^ Australian Army (2008), pp. 5–8
  3. ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (2011), p. 223
  4. ^ Australian Army (2008), pp. 5–8
  5. ^ a b c d e Australian Army (2008), p. 7
  6. ^ Burr, Burr (7 December 2021). "Chief of Army Address - Aviation Command | Army.gov.au". Australian Army. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Forces Command Raised as Adaptive Army Flies the Flag". Department of Defence. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Commands, divisions adjusted". Army. Department of Defence. 20 July 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  9. ^ "New brigade combines capability" (PDF). Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1530 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. 16 March 2023. p. 9. ISSN 0729-5685. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. ^ Chief of Army Lt Gen Richard Burr. "Chief of Army Order of the Day - the raising of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Health Battalions". Australian Army. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  11. ^ Gaze, Jillian (18 March 2010). "Key to Adaptability". Canberra: Australian Department of Defence. Australian Army. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  12. ^ a b Department of Defence (2011), p. 2
  13. ^ Hetherington, Andrew (2 February 2012). "Tying air and land together". Army. Canberra: Australian Department of Defence. p. 24. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Brigades and Formations". 2nd Division. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  15. ^ "HQ 9th Brigade". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Seventh Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  17. ^ Khosa (2011), p. 26
  18. ^ Flint, Clark. "17th Combat Service Support Brigade" (PDF). Australian Military Medicine Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  19. ^ "9 Force Support Battalion". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  20. ^ "Defence Community Organisation: Welcome to Townsville" (PDF). Department of Defence. p. 11. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  21. ^ Khosa (2011), p. 24
  22. ^ "HQ 1st Brigade". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  23. ^ Kennedy, Mitch; Doran, Mark (3 March 2011). "Changes in Artillery". Army. Canberra: Australian Department of Defence. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  24. ^ a b Khosa (2011), p. 25
  25. ^ "Defence Community Organisation: Welcome to Townsville" (PDF). Department of Defence. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  26. ^ Department of Defence. "3RAR Arrive in Townsville". Media release. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  27. ^ a b Khosa (2011), p. 27
  28. ^ "Signals Corps Officer : Employment Location". Defence Jobs. Department of Defence. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  29. ^ "Formation of 9th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery". Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  30. ^ "HQ 4th Brigade". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  31. ^ "Adelaide Universities Regiment". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  32. ^ "Western Australian University Regiment". Australian Army. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  33. ^ "Structure". HQ 11th Brigade. Australian Army. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  34. ^ Beurich, Sebastian (1 November 2018). "Power of three as spears go on parade" (PDF). Army. Department of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  35. ^ "RHQ". North West Mobile Force. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  36. ^ "Unit History". The Pilbara Regt. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  37. ^ "Special Operations Command Information Booklet" (PDF). Australian Army. p. 3. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  38. ^ Burr, Burr (7 December 2021). "Chief of Army Address - Aviation Command | Army.gov.au". Australian Army. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  39. ^ Blenkin, Max (8 December 2021). "Australian Army established new Aviation Command". ADBR. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  40. ^ Department of Defence (2011), p. 3
  41. ^ "Royal Military College of Australia". Australian Army. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  42. ^ "Organisation structure". Australian Army. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
Works consulted
  • Australian Army (2008). "Adaptive Army Public Info Paper" (PDF). Canberra: Australian Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  • Department of Defence (2011). "Australian Defence Force Major Bases and Disposition In Australia" (PDF). Department of Defence. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2011). The Military Balance 2011. London: Routledge. ISSN 1479-9022.
  • Khosa, Raspal (2011). Australian Defence Almanac 2011–2012 (PDF). Canberra: Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
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