History
The Corps traces its history back to federation where General Edward Hutton started the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. The Corps gained its Royal prefix for its work during theStructure
Members of the ordnance corps will be found serving in most Army units and headquarters. The primary Regular Army units manned by RAAOC soldiers are:Combat Service Support units
* 1 Field Supply Company 1 Combat Service Support Battalion (Darwin), * 3 Field Supply Company 3 Combat Service Support Battalion (Townsville), * 6 Field Supply Company, 7 Combat Service Support Battalion, Enoggera (Brisbane).Force-level units
* 2 Field Supply Company (FSC) as part of 10 Force Support Battalion (Townsville) * 37 FSC as part of 9 Force Support Battalion (Ipswich). * 1 Petrol Company (Reserve) as part of 2 Force Support Battalion (Melbourne) * 6 Supply Platoon (Reserve) as part of 2 Force Support Battalion (Hobart) However, many Regular Army RAAOC trades are posted to units of all Regular and Reserve units throughout the Australian Defence Force as clerks, storemen(-persons) and other administrative and support roles.RAAOC BOSCs
The Army Reserve element of the Corps used to also consist primarily of Supply Companies, with 4, 5, 8, 11, 13 Supply Company of each Combat Service Support Battalion (CSSB) of the respective numbered brigades in each state. As part of Project FOCUS (Project Director Colonel Allan A Murray), these supply companies have been replaced by Brigade Operations Support Companies (BOSCs) in each Reserve brigade. This implementation has centralised supply support to Army Reserve units, and as such, has been witness to a change of trade for Army Reserve members from warehousing (as in the old reserve Supply Companies) to Q-store streams. CSSB still exist in the Reserve brigades, the BOSC replaces Admin Company, Supply Company and Catering Company. The BOSC is Controlled by the CO of the CSSB of that brigade. Some positions will be replaced by APS, and other positions will not be replaced once ARA staff are posted out in the future. The old Supply Companies will make a limited return, but the APS civilians will run them as Brigade Operational Support Companies (BOSC). The CSSB will have their own Q store manned by ARes members.RAAOC trades
Supply Coordinator
The Supply Coordinator (also known as "Storeman", "OP SUP", "Yardies" or "Queeies"), formerly Operator Supply - can be employed as Unit Q-store staff or in Warehousing - also has sub-specialities: Food Inspector, MILIS system managers, etc. Broadly speaking it is divided into Operator Unit Supply (Quieees) and Operator Supply Chain (Yardies). The OP SUP is a soldier who has knowledge of the defence supply chain, and under supervision, has a key role in the provision of logistic Supply support within the formation. The OP SUP is a multi skilled soldier, and conducts duties relating to Supply support, Supply systems and unit Supply. The range of tasks includes inventory control, warehousing and distribution, Supply management processes, operator equipment maintenance and specialised packaging tasks related to dangerous goods. The OP SUP is required to drive and maintain a variety of Army vehicles and operate Mechanical Handling Equipment. The OP SUP may be required to operate in combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support roles. An OP SUP is to undertake the demand, receipt, storage, security, maintenance, inspection, internal issue, accounting for and disposal of all types of equipment and stores for, or held by the unit. OP SUP may be recruited or selected for the additional AMMO SUP course and specialise in ammo supply (see AT/ATO trade details below).Operator Administration
The Operator Administration (also known as an OP ADMIN or "Clerk") conducts General administrative roles e.g. filing, typing and records. The OP ADMIN is a soldier who is responsible for the provision of first line personnel management support and resource management to units and members of the Australia Defence Organisation. The OP ADMIN has the skill sets to fill the role of Resource Manager or Career Manager and may also be employed within the training environment as an Instructor, Assessor, Trade Manager or Training Developer. As an OP ADMIN progresses through the trade and ranks, they gain a great deal of useful administrative skills including personnel management, public administration, financial management and concepts of government procedures.Rigger Parachute
The Rigger Parachute Rigger (also known as RIGGER) is qualified to pack, repair and maintain parachutes and associated equipment for personnel, cargo and helicopter lift equipment for the Army. All Parachute Riggers are to be Basic Parachute Course qualified and as a Corporal are to be free fall qualified. The Rigger Parachute is a soldier who performs a wide range of technical functions on Aerial Delivery Equipment (ADE) including personnel and cargo inspection, repack, repair, modification, malfunction analysis, sentencing, procurement and fleet management of ADE.Petroleum Operator
The Petroleum Operator (also known as a PET OP or OP PETRL) organise bulk fuel shipping and storage (tankers, big rubber bladders etc.). The OP PETRL is a soldier who is responsible for the deployment, construction, operation and maintenance of a range of petroleum, oils and lubricants (POL) storage and handling facilities. The function of an OP PETRL is to operate and manage POL equipment and products. This includes the operation of field and static POL equipment, the laboratory testing and analysis of POL products, and the storage, packaging and disposal of Dangerous Goods (DG), include hazardous materials, but excluding DG Class 1 (Ammunition and Explosives).Ammunition Technical Officer/Ammunition Technician
The Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) andAmmunition Supplier
The Ammunition Supplier (Ammo Sup) is an OP SUP soldier specialising in and responsible for ammunition supply and accounting within units across the entire Army. An ammunition supply specialist performs a range of duties from stores accounting, electronic ledger entry, to warehousing duties including receiving and issuing ammunition. As Ammo Sup progress, they have the opportunity to become an Ammunition Technician.Conductors
One Conductor appointment per RAAOC trade was reintroduced into the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps for selected Warrant Officers Class 1 in 2006. A conductor is considered to be senior WO1.Customs and traditions
Colours
The colours of the Ordnance Corps are scarlet, in reference to their link with the combat Corps, and royal blue. Unit colour patches consist of a large scarlet square on a dark blue background, with a dark blue geometric shape in the middle.Motto
In 1928 the British War Office in London gave approval for the then AAOC to adopt the same motto as the British RAOC taken from the Ancient Board of Ordnance being the Latin phrase SUA TELA TONANT! (Normally translated to as 'To the warrior his arms').Sovereign's Banner
The RAAOC Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty The Queen bestowed a Sovereign's Banner on the RAAOC. The Governor General of Australia Sir Zelman Cowen presented this banner to RAAOC at a parade held at Bandiana on 4 December 1981.Corps Badge
The RAAOC badge design was developed from the badge of the now disbanded British RAOC and consists of four elements: the Crown, Garter, Riband and Shield. The shield depicts three field cannons and three cannonballs and forms part of the Coat of Arms granted to the Board of Ordnance in 1823. The motto of the Order of the Garter 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' is inscribed on the Garter. The motto can be translated from middle French as either 'Evil to he who evil thinks' or similarly 'shame upon him who evil thinks'. Order of the GarterTraining
RAAOC training and Corps HQ is based at Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC) atOrder of precedence
See also
*References
Further reading
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