The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Fo ...

command that was established on 5 May 2003 to unite all of the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...

special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

units and by 2008 was fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Fleet, Forces and Air Commands. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

and British military forces, and is led by a

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

as Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST). The origins of SOCOMD began in 1979 with the army creating a small Directorate Special Action Forces—Army. On 13 February 1990, Headquarters Special Forces was established, which was renamed in 1997 to Headquarters Special Operations and in 2003 to Special Operations Headquarters or SOCOMD.

History

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(May 2006 – 2007) *Security for the

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Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

(March 2006) *

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bord ...

(2001–02) (2005–06) (2007–) *

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

(2003–09) (2014–) *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 both the Special Air Service Regiment and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Tactical Assault Groups. In November 2018, the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held in

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Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

had Special Operations Command involvement to enhance the

Papua New Guinea Defence Force The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Papua New Guinea. It originated from the Australian Army land forces of the territory of Papua New Guinea before independence, coming into be ...

's Incident Response Group to provide security as world leaders, including Scott Morrison,

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, Dmitry Medvedev and other government and economic leaders were in attendance. The Incident Response Group had received extensive training to build its capabilities in preparation for the meeting from SOCOMD units and the New Zealand Special Operations Command.

Structure

Order of battle

*Headquarters, Special Operations Command Headquarters (SOHQ) ( GJBC and Russell Offices) ** Headquarters, Special Forces Group *** Special Air Service Regiment ( Swanbourne, WA)
''Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West).'' **** 1 Squadron **** 3 Squadron **** 4 Squadron **** 152 Signals Squadron **** Specialist Support Squadron **** Operational Support Squadron *** 1st Commando Regiment a mixed Regular Army and Army Reserve Unit **** Regimental Headquarters ( Randwick Barracks, Sydney) **** 1 Commando Company ( HMAS Penguin, Sydney) **** 2 Commando Company ( Williamstown, VIC) **** 301 Signals Squadron ( Randwick Barracks, Sydney with elements in the commando companies) ***

2nd Commando Regiment The 2nd Commando Regiment is a special forces unit of the Australian Army and is part of Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when the 4th Battalion RAR (Commando) was renamed. It is based at Holsworthy, ...

( Holsworthy, 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 *** Special Operations Engineer Regiment ( Holsworthy, NSW) **** A Squadron **** B Squadron **** Logistic Support Troop *** Special Operations Logistics Squadron ( Holsworthy, NSW) *** Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre ( Holsworthy, NSW) **** Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations ( Holsworthy, NSW) **** Australian Defence Force Parachuting School ( HMAS ''Albatross'', NSW)

Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)

The Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST) is responsible for the peacetime 'raise, train and sustain' functions of Special Operations Command reporting to the Chief of Army, while the Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for the operational functions of Special Operations Command deployments. The SOCAUST is responsible for the domestic

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that Government, governments, law enforcement, business, and Intelligence agency, intellig ...

deployments of Special Operations Command reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Force. The following have held the position of Special Operations Commander Australia, with the ranks and honours as at the completion of their tenure:

History

Structure

Order of battle

Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)

See also

Notes

Further reading