Australian Army
Active	1 March 1901 – Present
Country	Australia
Allegiance	HM The Queen
Type	Army
Size	30,235 (Regular) 16,900 (Active Reserve) 12,496 (Standby Reserve)
Part of	Australian Defence Force
Engagements	Second Boer War World War I World War II Korean War Malayan Emergency Indonesian Confrontation Vietnam War War in Somalia East Timor Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Commanders
Chief of the Defence Force	GEN David Hurley AC, DSC
Chief of Army	LTGEN David Morrison AO
Deputy Chief of Army	MAJGEN Angus J. Campbell AM
Commander Forces Command	MAJGEN Mick Slater AM, DSC, CSC
Notable commanders	FM William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood GEN Sir John Monash GEN Sir Henry Chauvel GEN Sir Brudenell White FM Sir Thomas Blamey GEN Peter Cosgrove
Insignia
Australian Army badge
Army Roundel

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence (CDF) commands the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA). The CA is therefore subordinate to the CDF, but is also directly responsible to the Minister for Defence.^[1] Although Australian soldiers have been involved in a number of minor and major conflicts throughout its history, only in World War II has Australian territory come under direct attack.

The Australian Army's mission is to provide a potent, versatile, and updated army to promote the security of Australia and protect its people.^[2][3][4] Further, the army's key doctrine publication, The Fundamentals of Land Warfare, states that "the Army’s mission is to win the land battle".^[5]

History[link]

The history of the Australian Army can be divided into two periods:

• 1901–1947, when limits were set on the size of the regular army, the vast majority of peacetime soldiers were in reserve units of the Citizens Military Force (also known as the CMF or Militia), and Australian Imperial Forces were formed to serve overseas, and
• Post-1947, when a standing peacetime regular infantry force was formed and the CMF (known as the Army Reserve after 1980) began to decline in importance.

Soldiers of the Australian 39th Battalion in September 1942

During its history the Australian Army has fought a large number of major wars, including: Second Boer War (1899–1902), First World War (1914–1918), the Second World War (1939–1945), Korea War (1950–1953), Malayan Emergency (1950–1960), Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation (1962–1966), Vietnam War (1962–1973) and more recently in Afghanistan (2001 – Present) and Iraq (2003 – 2009). However, since 1947 it has also been involved in many peacekeeping operations, usually under the auspices of the United Nations. The largest one began in 1999 in East Timor. Other notable operations include peacekeeping on Bougainville and in the Solomon Islands, which are still ongoing to this day. Humanitarian relief after 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake in Aceh Province, Indonesia, Operation Sumatra Assist, ended on 24 March 2005.^[6]

Current deployments[link]

As of 2010^[update] the Australian Army had significant forces deployed in three major operations:^[7]

• Operation Slipper – Australia's commitment to the War on Terror. The army contribution is primarily concentrated in Afghanistan, including the Mentoring Task Force attached to the US-led Combat Team Oruzgan in Oruzgan Province, consisting of an infantry battalion with attached cavalry, engineer and artillery force elements. Other forces include the Special Operations Task Group which includes SASR and Commando force elements operating in Oruzgan and Kandahar provinces.

ASLAVs in Iraq in 2006.

• Operation Astute – Approximately 400 Australian personnel and 140 New Zealand personnel operate in East Timor as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) that works in support of the Government of East Timor and the United Nations to maintain peace and stability.
• Operation Anode – Australia's commitment to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Consists of a 160-strong Combined Task Force. The ADF contributes around 80 to 120 troops to this Task Force
• Operation Mazurka – Australia's commitment to Multinational Force and Observers (MFO). From 1982–1986, the RAAF provided rotary wing aviation support. Since 1994 the Australian Army has maintained a presence within the organisation. Currently 25 personnel rotate twice a year, being employed in key HQ, operations and logistics positions.
• Operation Paladin – is the army's longest ongoing operation, where Australian personnel have served since 1956. Operation Paladin is Australia's contribution to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation that was established in 1948 to supervise the truce agreed at the conclusion of the first Arab/Israeli War.

Current organisation[link]

The Australian Army's structure in 2010

The 1st Division takes responsibility for the majority of the regular army, while 2nd Division under the command of Forces Command is the main home defence formation, containing army reserve units. Only the 1st Division's headquarters is deployable, however, as the 2nd Division's headquarters only performs administrative functions. The Australian Army has not deployed a divisional sized formation since 1945 and does not expect to do so in the future.^[8]

1st Division[link]

1st Division is currently based on regular army brigades containing a total of 10 deployable Battlegroups

• 1 Brigade – Mechanised brigade based in Darwin.

• 1 Armoured Regiment (M1A1 Abrams AIM)
• 1 Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (ASLAV)
• 2 Mechanised Infantry Battalions (M113AS3/4)
• 1 Medium Artillery Regiment (M777)
• 1 Reconnaissance Squadron (Aviation) (Tiger ARH)

• 3 Brigade – Light infantry brigade based in Townsville.

• 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron (Bushmaster PMV)
• 3 Light Infantry Battalions
• 1 Field Artillery Regiment (M777)

• 7 Brigade – Motorised brigade based in Brisbane.

• 1 Armoured Cavalry Regiment (ASLAV)
• 2 Motorised Infantry Battalions (Bushmaster PMV)
• 1 Field Artillery Regiment (M777)

Special Forces[link]

Special Operations Command is a command formation of equal status to the other commands in the ADF. It is a brigade-sized formation responsible for all of Australia's special forces assets.

• 1 Special Air Service Regiment
• 2 Commando Regiments
• 1 Special Operations Engineer Regiment
• 1 Aviation Squadron (Blackhawk)

Forces Command[link]

2nd Division[link]

2nd Division is the main home defence formation, consisting mainly of reserve forces, with its headquarters located in Sydney. It is divided into 6 brigades.

• 4 Brigade – based in Victoria.
• 5 Brigade – based in New South Wales.
• 8 Brigade – based in New South Wales.
• 9 Brigade – based in South Australia and Tasmania.
• 11 Brigade – based in Queensland.
• 13 Brigade – based in Western Australia.

Planned restructuring[link]

Under a restructuring program known as Plan Beersheba announced in late 2011, the 1st, 3rd and 7th Brigades will be reformed as combined arms multi-role manoeuvre brigades with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (part of the 3rd Brigade) as the core of a future amphibious force^[9] similar to the U.S. Marine Corps.^[10]

Colours, standards and guidons[link]

Infantry, and some other combat units of the Australian Army carry flags called the Queen's Colour and the Regimental Colour, known as 'the Colours'. Armoured units carry Guidons – flags smaller than Colours traditionally carried by Cavalry, Lancer, Light Horse and Mounted Infantry units. Artillery units' guns are considered to be their Colours, and on parade are provided with the same respect. Non-combat units (combat service support corps) do not have Colours, as Colours are battle flags and so are only available to combat units. As a substitute, many have Standards or Banners.^[11] Units awarded battle honours have them emblazoned on their Colours, Standards and Guidons. They are a link to the unit's past and a memorial to the fallen. Artillery do not have Battle Honours; their single Honour is "Ubique" which means "Everywhere".

The army is the guardian of the National Flag and as such, unlike the Royal Australian Air Force, does not have a flag or Colours. The army, instead, has a banner, known as the Army Banner. To commemorate the centenary of the army, the Governor General Sir William Deane, presented the Army with a new Banner at a parade in front of the Australian War Memorial on 10 March 2001. The Banner was presented to the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, WO1 Peter Rosemond.

The Army Banner bears the Australian Coat of Arms on the obverse, with the dates "1901–2001" in gold in the upper hoist. The reverse bears the 'rising sun' badge of the Australian Army, flanked by seven campaign honours on small gold-edged scrolls: South Africa, World War I, World War II, Korea, Malaya-Borneo, South Vietnam, and Peacekeeping. The banner is trimmed with gold fringe, has gold and crimson cords and tassels, and is mounted on a pike with the usual British royal crest finial.^[12]

Personnel[link]

Strength[link]

In the 2010–11 financial year the army had an average strength of 47,135 personnel: 30,235 permanent (regular) and 16,900 active reservists (part-time).^[13] In addition there are another 12,496 members of the Standby Reserve.^[14] The regular Army is targeted to expand to 31,000 personnel by 2014–15.^[13]

Rank and insignia[link]

The ranks of the Australian Army are based on the ranks of the British Army, and carry mostly the same actual insignia. For officers the ranks are identical except for the shoulder title "Australia". The Non-Commissioned Officer insignia are the same up until Warrant Officer ranks, where they are stylised for Australia (for example, using the Australian, rather than the British coat of arms). The ranks of the Australian Army are as follows:

1. Private (Abbreviated: PTE). - E2
2. Private Proficient (Abbreviated: PTE(P)). Also used within the Private equivalent ranks - E3
3. Lance Corporal or Lance Bombardier (Abbreviated: LCPL or LBDR) - E4
4. Corporal or Bombardier (Abbreviated: CPL or BDR) - E5
5. Sergeant (Abbreviated: SGT) - E6
6. Staff Sergeant (Abbreviated: SSGT) - E7
7. Warrant Officer Class Two (Abbreviated: WO2) - E8
8. Warrant Officer Class One (Abbreviated: WO1) - E9
9. Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Abbreviated: RSM-A) - E10
10. Second Lieutenant (Abbreviated: 2LT) - O1
11. Lieutenant (Abbreviated: LT) - O2
12. Captain (Abbreviated: CAPT) - O3
13. Major (Abbreviated: MAJ) - O4
14. Lieutenant Colonel (Abbreviated: LTCOL) - O5
15. Colonel (Abbreviated: COL) - O6
16. Brigadier (Abbreviated: BRIG) - O7. Like the United Kingdom, prior to 1922 Australia used the rank Brigadier General
17. Major General (Abbreviated: MAJGEN) - O8
18. Lieutenant General (Abbreviated: LTGEN) - O9
19. General (Abbreviated: GEN) - O10
20. Field Marshal (Abbreviated: FM) - O11. This rank is generally reserved for wartime and ceremonial purposes; there are no regular appointments to the rank. Sir Thomas Blamey is the only Australian-born officer promoted to the rank. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is currently the only living holder of the rank of Field Marshal in the Australian Army. The Duke, however, does not have any active role in the Australian command structure.

Equipment[link]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	Number in service[20]	Notes
Helicopters
OH-58 Kiowa	United States	OH-58A Scout helicopter	206B	27 of 56 still in service	To be replaced by the Eurocopter Tiger.
Boeing CH-47 Chinook	United States	Transport helicopter	CH-47D	7	One lost in Afghanistan on 30 May 2011. From an initial fleet of six; two additional CH-47Ds were ordered in December 2011 as attrition replacement and to boost heavy lift capabilities until the delivery of seven CH-47Fs, which will replace the CH-47Ds.[21]
Eurocopter Tiger	European Union	Attack helicopter	Tiger ARH	22	Delivery completed early July 2011
Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk	United States	Utility helicopter	S-70A-9	35	To be eventually replaced by the MRH 90
MRH 90	European Union	Utility helicopter	TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter	15(40)	As of 2011, used for testing and training purposes. Total of 46 on order (including 6 for Royal Australian Navy)

Australian Army Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk  A NH90 mockup in Australian Army colours  Australian Army Tiger ARH  Australian Army Beech King Air 200

Army bases[link]

The army's operational headquarters, Land Command, is located at Victoria Barracks in Sydney. The Australian Army's three regular brigades are based at Robertson Barracks near Darwin, Lavarack Barracks in Townsville and Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane. The Deployable Joint Force Headquarters is also located at Gallipoli Barracks.

Other important army bases include the Army Aviation Centre near Oakey, Queensland, Holsworthy Barracks near Sydney, Lone Pine Barracks in Singleton, New South Wales and Woodside Barracks near Adelaide, South Australia. The SASR is based at Campbell Barracks Swanbourne, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

Puckapunyal north of Melbourne, Victoria houses the Australian Army's Combined Arms Training Centre, Land Warfare Development Centre, and three of the five principal Combat Arms schools. Further barracks include Steele Barracks in Sydney, Keswick Barracks in Adelaide, and Irwin Barracks at Karrakatta in Perth. Dozens of Australian Army Reserve depots are located across Australia.

See also[link]

• Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia
• List of Australian military memorials
• Conscription in Australia
• Australian military slang

References[link]

External links[link]

Media related to Australian Army at Wikimedia Commons

• Australian Army website

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Australian people
Australians

Donald Bradman · Hugh Jackman · Heath Ledger Kylie Minogue · Angus Young · Leigh Whannell · Nicole Kidman
Total population
23,400,000
Regions with significant populations
Australia 23,203,000
Greece 135,000+[1]  United Kingdom 96,900[2]  United States 89,210  Netherlands 78,927  New Zealand 62,700  China 51,900  Canada 42,000  Italy 30,000  Lebanon 25,000  Chile 23,305[citation needed]  El Salvador 18,000[citation needed]  Argentina 11,369  Uruguay 9,376  Brazil 7,491  Peru 6,322  Colombia 5,706

Australian people, or simply Australians, are the citizens of Australia. Australia is a multi-ethnic nation, and therefore the term "Australian" is not a racial identifier. Aside from the Indigenous Australian population, nearly all Australians or their ancestors immigrated within the past 230 years. Colloquial names used to refer to Australians include Aussies, and Antipodeans.^[3][4]

The mainstream Australian culture (occasionally defined as the Anglo-Celtic culture), is a Western culture largely derived from the traditions of Western European migrants beginning with the early settlers from England, Scotland, and Ireland. The populations of Sydney, Melbourne and the other major cities are different from the demographics of rural Australia as a result of the differing migration patterns.

Australian people can refer to:

• The citizens of Australia, as defined by Australian nationality law
• People whose ancestors lived in Australia

Indigenous Australians[link]

The earliest accepted timeline for the first arrivals of indigenous Australians to the continent of Australia places this human migration to at least 40,000 years ago most probably from the islands of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.^[5]

These first inhabitants of Australia were originally hunter-gatherer peoples, who over the course of many succeeding generations diversified widely throughout the continent and its nearby islands. Although their technical culture remained static—depending on wood, bone, and stone tools and weapons—their spiritual and social life was highly complex. Most spoke several languages, and confederacies sometimes linked widely scattered tribal groups. Aboriginal population density ranged from one person per square mile along the coasts to one person per 35 square miles (91 km²) in the arid interior. Food procurement was usually a matter for the nuclear family, requiring an estimated 3 days of work per week. There was little large game, and outside of some communities in the more fertile south-east, they had no agriculture.

Australia may have been sighted by Portuguese sailors in 1701, and Dutch navigators landed on the forbidding coast of modern Western Australia several times during the 17th century. Captain James Cook claimed the east coast for Great Britain in 1770, the west coast was later settled by Britain also. At that time, the indigenous population was estimated to have been between 315,000 and 750,000,^[6] divided into as many as 500 tribes^{[citation needed]} speaking many different languages. In the 2006 Census, 407,700 respondents declared they were Aboriginal, 29,512 declared they were Torres Strait Islander, and a further 17,811 declared they were both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.^[7] After adjustments for undercount, the indigenous population as of end June 2006 was estimated to be 517,200, representing about 2.5% of the population.^[6]

Since the end of World War II, efforts have been made both by the government and by the public to be more responsive to Aboriginal rights and needs. Today, many tribal Aborigines lead a settled traditional life in remote areas of northern, central, and western Australia. In the south, where most Aborigines are of mixed descent, most live in the cities.

Australian diaspora[link]

There is an estimated 1 million Australians (approximately 5% of the population) residing outside Australia. Hundreds of thousands of young Australians traditionally spend time living in Europe, but most return to Australia. The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement facilitates open migration to and from New Zealand. Key factors affecting the Australian Diaspora are rise of a global labour market, more accessible and economical international transport, and increasingly sophisticated communication technologies along with a growing interest in broader global community.

Population[link]

The current Australian population is estimated at 23,203,000 (26 June 2012).^[8] This does not include an estimated 1 million Australians living overseas (see above), but it includes the estimated 24% of Australians born overseas (in various nations, but predominantly the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italy, China, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, and Greece).^[9]

Historical[link]

The data in the table is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics^[10][11] Note that population estimates in the table below do not include the Aboriginal population before 1961. Estimates of Aboriginal population prior to European settlement range from 300,000 to one million, with archaeological finds indicating a sustainable population of around 750,000.^[12]

Ancestry[link]

For generations, the vast majority of both colonial-era settlers and post-Federation immigrants came from the United Kingdom and Ireland, although the gold rushes also drew migrants from other countries. Since the end of World War II, Australia's population more than doubled, spurred by large-scale European immigration during the immediate post-war decades. At this time, the White Australia Policy discouraged non-European immigration.

Abolition of the White Australia Policy in the mid-1970s led to a significant increase in non-European immigration, mostly from Asia and the Middle East. About 90% of Australia's population is of European descent. Over 8% of the population is of Asian descent (predominantly Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino and Indian).^[13] The total indigenous population is estimated to be about 520,000 individuals, including people of mixed descent.^[6] The population of Queensland also includes descendants of South Sea Islanders brought over for indentured servitude in the 19th century.

In the 2006 Australian Census residents were asked to describe their ancestry, in which up to two could be nominated. Proportionate to the Australian resident population, the most commonly nominated ancestries were:^[13]

At the 2006 Census 455,026 people (or 2.3% of the total Australian population) reported they were of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.^[7]

Languages[link]

English, a West Germanic language, is the de facto national language of Australia and is spoken by the majority of the population, regardless of other languages spoken. Most Australians speak Australian English, however Australian Aboriginal English and Torres Strait English, along with various creoles and pidgins, are spoken by some Indigenous Australians. Australia is home to a great number of unique but endangered Indigenous Australian languages, as well as Australian Aboriginal sign languages. Australia's hearing-impaired community primarily uses Auslan, a member of the BANZSL language family.

The diverse backgrounds of Australians lead to a great number of community languages being spoken:

Religion[link]

Australians have various religions and spiritual beliefs. The Australian Bureau of Statistics gathers information on religious belief in the national census.^[14] As in many Western countries, the level of active participation in church worship is lower than would be indicated by the proportion of the population identifying themselves as Christian; weekly attendance at church services is about 1.5 million, or about 7.5% of the population.^[15]

Nationality[link]

Australians share Australian nationality, which is governed by Australian nationality law. Since there is no national identification card, commonly accepted proofs of Australian citizenship are the Australian passport, an Australian birth certificate (prior to 1986, when jus soli was abolished), or an Australian citizenship certificate. Australia permits dual citizenship with no restriction, but a more restricted qualification is imposed on people wishing to enter Parliament (see Sue v Hill).

References[link]

See also[link]

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