Special Operations Command (Australia)

Special Operations Command
Active	2002—Present
Country	Australia
Type	Special forces
Part of	Australian Defence Force
Headquarters location	Potts Point, New South Wales
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Gus Gilmore

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is a command within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Special Operations Command (SOCOM) was established in May 2003, to unite all of the ADF special forces units. As of 2007 Special Operations Command is fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Maritime, Land and Air Commands. All its constituent units are drawn from the Australian Army. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British militaries.

History

A Special Operations Task Group patrol in Afghanistan in October 2009

• East Timor (May 2006–)
• Security for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (March 2006)
• Afghanistan (2001– )
• Iraq (2003–2009)
• Security for the 2003 Rugby World Cup (October–November 2003)
• Security for President George W. Bush's visit to Canberra (October 2003)

While Special Operations Command had not formally commenced operations at the time, it appears that the headquarters may have overseen the boarding of the North Korean freighter MV Pong Su in April 2003 which involved elements of the both the SASR and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Tactical Assault Groups.

In 2007, the APEC Summit hosted in Sydney had Special Operations Command involvement regarding security as world leaders, including John Howard, George W. Bush and other government and economic leaders were in attendance.

Structure

Order of battle

Soldiers from Special Operations Command during a demonstration held for the Media in May 2003

Special Operations Headquarters or SOHQ (Canberra and Sydney)

• Units under direct control of SOHQ:
  • Special Operations Logistic Squadron (Sydney)
• Special Air Service Regiment (Swanbourne, WA)
  Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West).
  • 1 Squadron
  • 2 Squadron
  • 3 Squadron
  • 152 Signals Squadron
  • Base Squadron
  • Training Squadron
• 1st Commando Regiment a mixed Regular Army and (Army Reserve) Unit (Sydney)
  • 1 Commando Company (Sydney)
  • 2 Commando Company (Williamstown, Vic)
  • 301 Signals Squadron (elements in both Sydney and Melbourne with the commando companies)
• 2nd Commando Regiment (Sydney, NSW)
  Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (East).
  • A Company
  • B Company
  • C Company
  • D Company
  • 126 Signals Squadron
  • Operations Support Company
  • Logistics Support Company
• Incident Response Regiment (Sydney, NSW)
  • Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron
  • Emergency Response Squadron
  • Scientific and Technical Organisation

Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)

• Major General Duncan Lewis AO, DSC, CSC (May 2002 – October 2004)
• Major General Mike Hindmarsh AO, CSC (October 2004 – February 2008)
• Major General Tim McOwan DSC, CSM (February 2008 – January 2011)
• Major General Gus Gilmore DSC, AM (January 2011 – Incumbent)

See also

• Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
• United Kingdom Special Forces
• United States Special Operations Command

References

• Australian Defence Minister Press Release, 29 October 2005. New Special Operations Commander Appointed
• Australian Defence Minister Press Release, 5 May 2003. New Special Operations Command
• Australian Defence Minister Press Release, 25 September 2003 Defence Support To World Cup Security
• David Horner (2002). SAS : Phantoms of War. A History of the Australian Special Air Service. Allen and Unwin. Sydney.
• Ian Kuring (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788 to 2001. Loftus in association with the Australian Army Historical Unit. Sydney.
• Captain Jason Logue (2003). Tartan TAG

External links

• Australian special forces in Afghanistan – September 2006