Special Operations Engineer Regiment (Australia)
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2011) |
| Special Operations Engineer Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | May 2002 to Present |
| Country |  Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Counter-Terrorism, Counter-CBRNE and Engineer support to Special Operations |
| Motto | Inter Hastas Et Hostes ("Between Spears and Enemies") |
The Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER) is a specialised unit of the Australian Army. The Regiment forms part of the Special Operations Command. The unit was formed in 2002 as the Incident Response Regiment (IRR) and had responsibility for respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incidents. In 2010 and 2011 its role changed to supporting the army's special forces units, and it was renamed accordingly.[1]
[edit] History
The Incident Response Regiment can trace its history to a number of specialist Royal Australian Engineers organisations - The Emergency Response Squadron was initially formed in 1999 from the existing Army Fire Service in response to the 1996 Blackhawk Helicopter disaster in the Townsville High Range training area. The Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response (CBRR) Squadron was formed in 1999 by expanding the existing Chemical Radiological Response Team.
The Incident Response Regiment is based on the Joint Incident Response Unit (JIRU) which was established in 2000 as part of the Australian Defence Force's security arrangements for the Sydney Olympic Games. The JIRU incorporated the CBRR Squadron and also included a High Risk Search Squadron. When the JIRU was disbanded in March 2001 the CBRR Squadron was retained as an independent squadron.
Following the 11 September terrorist attacks the CBRR Squadron was incorporated into the newly established Incident Response Unit (IRU). The IRU was expanded and redesignated to form the Incident Response Regiment in May 2002. This expansion involved the Emergency Response Squadron(ERS) joining the Regiment, though this sub-unit was disbanded in 2006. A specialist Scientific and Technical Support Organisation staffed by civilian and military scientists was also formed and attached to the IRR.
Elements of the IRR have seen combat in Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper.
Teams of SOER personnel are integrated into the Australian Army's two tactical assault groups.[2] The regiment also includes an emergency response section which provides emergency services to Special Operations Command and the remainder of the Army.[3]
[edit] References
- Footnotes
- Bibliography
- Corrigan, Scott (2010). "Incident Response Regiment". Australian Sapper 2010: p. 37. ISSN 1449414. http://www.army.gov.au/rae/docs/Aust_Sapper_10.pdf.
- Corrigan, Scott (2011). "Special Operations Engineer Regiment". Australian Sapper 2011: pp. 48-49. ISSN 14494140.
- The Australian Journal of Emergency Management, Vol. 20 No. 2, May 2005 The Incident Response Regiment
|
|||||
