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Special Operations Command (Australia)

{{Short description|Special operations command of the Australian Army}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=Special Operations Command

|image=Special Operations Command (Australia) Logo.png

|image_size=160px

|caption=

|dates=2003–present

|country=Australia

|allegiance=

|branch=

|type=

|role=Special operations

|size=2,050 (active in 2014){{cite report|title=The Australian Army – Modernisation from Beersheba and Beyond|url=https://www.army.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1846/f/army_101_brief_ver_7_-_modernising_from_beersheba_and_beyond_v4.pdf|publisher=Australian Army|date=26 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709165941/https://www.army.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1846/f/army_101_brief_ver_7_-_modernising_from_beersheba_and_beyond_v4.pdf|archive-date=9 July 2017|url-status=dead}}
750 (reserve in 2014)

|command_structure=Australian Defence Force

|garrison=General John Baker Complex, Bungendore{{cite web |title=The Australian Army: An Aide-Memoire |url=https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/aide_memoire.pdf |website=Australian Army |publisher=Directorate of Plans – Army |page=53|date=April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116122620/https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/aide_memoire.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2020|url-status=dead}}

|garrison_label=Headquarters location

|nickname=

|patron=

|motto=Acies Acuta
(The Cutting Edge)

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|battles=

|anniversaries=

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|battle_honours=

|commander1= Major General Garth Gould

|commander1_label=

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|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=

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}}

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an Australian Defence Force command that was established on 5 May 2003 to unite all of the Australian Army's special forces units and by 2008 was fully operational.{{cite press release|url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=2689|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602112926/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=2689|title=New Special Operations Command|author=Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence|publisher=Department of Defence|date=5 May 2003|archive-date=2 June 2011|access-date=25 September 2015}}{{cite press release|author=Prime Minister John Howard|title=Expansion of Special Forces Counter Terrorist Capability and new Special Operations Command|url=http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/2002/media_release2043.htm|publisher=Prime Minister of Australia|date=19 December 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030223102647/http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/2002/media_release2043.htm|archive-date=23 February 2003}}{{cite thesis|last1=Goh|first1=Puay Hock (Francis)|title=How should SOF be organized?|url=http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a547828.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816152402/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a547828.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=16 August 2016|access-date=28 July 2016|degree=Master's|publisher=U.S. Navy Postgraduate School|date=June 2011|oclc=743235192}} 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 and British military forces, and is led by a major general 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.{{cite news|last1=Grant (Ret.)|first1=Brigadier William 'Mac'|title=Reserve Commandos inherit a remarkable legacy|url=http://www.defencereserves.com/cms_resources/documents/yearbook_31_40.pdf|work=Defence Reserves Yearbook 2004–2005|agency=Australian Defence Force|publisher=Executive Media Pty Ltd|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602002655/http://www.defencereserves.com/cms_resources/documents/yearbook_31_40.pdf|archive-date=2 June 2011}}{{cite book|last1=Davies|first1=Andrew|last2=Jennings|first2=Peter|last3=Scheer|first3=Benjamin|title=A Versatile Force: The Future of Australia's Special Operations Capability|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ad-aspi/import/Special_operations_capability.pdf?P0FPQ4lfDCoqMEs3Pg7P2BCLJIsuEwKO|year=2014|publisher=Australian Strategic Policy Institute|location=Barton, Australian Capital Territory|isbn=9781921302978|access-date=7 September 2017}}

History

File:Australian SOTG patrol Oct 2009.jpg

  • East Timor (May 2006 – 2007)
  • Security for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (March 2006)
  • Afghanistan (2001–02) (2005–06) (2007–2021){{cite news|last1=Boer|first1=Cpl Corinne|title=Back into fray|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1164/topstories/story1.htm|work=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper|edition=1164|date=19 April 2007|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra, Australia|issn=0729-5685|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321205611/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1164/topstories/story1.htm|archive-date=21 March 2011}}
  • 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.{{cite news|last=Logue|first=Jason|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1073/topstories/story01.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707181134/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1073/topstories/story01.htm|title=Tartan TAG|newspaper=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper|edition=1073|date=8 May 2003|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra|archive-date=7 July 2013|issn=0729-5685|url-status=dead}}

In November 2018, the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea had Special Operations Command involvement to enhance the Papua New Guinea Defence Force's Incident Response Group to provide security as world leaders, including Scott Morrison, Mike Pence, Xi Jinping, Dmitry Medvedev and other government and economic leaders were in attendance.{{cite press release |author1=Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne |title=Defence supports PNG security effort for APEC 2018 |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/cpyne/media-releases/defence-supports-png-security-effort-apec-2018 |website=Department of Defence |access-date=31 December 2019 |date=12 October 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Andrew |title=Australian Special Forces to protect world leaders at APEC meeting in Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/special-forces-to-png/10234058 |access-date=31 December 2019 |work=ABC News |date=12 September 2018}} 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 Component Command.{{cite news|last1=Benson|first1=CAPT Dean|title=Training for success|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1432/1432.pdf|work=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper|edition=1432|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra|issn=0729-5685|date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231183534/https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1432/1432.pdf |archive-date=31 December 2019|url-status=dead}}

Organisation

File:Aust SOC.jpg

As of 2020, the Special Operations Command comprised the following units:{{cite web|author=Australian Army |title=Special Operations Command Information Booklet |date=November 2020|url=https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-11/20703%20Defence%20-%20Special%20Operations%20Command%20Booklet-accessible_0.pdf |publisher=Australian Army |page=3 |access-date=26 April 2023}}

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 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:

class="wikitable sortable"

! Rank

NamePost-nominalsTerm beganTerm endedNotes
Major General{{sortname|Duncan|Lewis}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|DSC|CSC}}{{dts|May 2002}}{{dts|October 2004}}
Major General{{sortname|Mike|Hindmarsh}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|AO|CSC}}{{dts|October 2004}}{{dts|February 2008}}
Major General{{sortname|Tim|McOwan}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|DSC|CSM}}{{dts|February 2008}}{{dts|January 2011}}
Major General{{sortname|Gus|Gilmore}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|AO|DSC}}{{dts|January 2011}}{{dts|September 2013}}
Brigadier{{sortname|Daniel|McDaniel}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|DSC|DSM}}{{dts|September 2013}}{{dts|December 2014}}Acting{{cite press release|title=Chief of Army Announces Changes to Army Senior Leadership|url=https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/chief-army-announces-changes-army-senior-leadership|website=Department of Defence|date=19 September 2013|accessdate=25 March 2021}}
Major General{{sortname|Jeff|Sengelman}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|DSC|AM|CSC}}{{dts|December 2014}}{{dts|June 2017}}
Major General{{sortname|Adam|Findlay}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|AM}}{{dts|June 2017}}{{dts|November 2020}}{{cite web|title=Special Operations Commander Australia |url=http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Leaders/Special-Operations-Commander-Australia |work=Australian Army: Our leaders|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=9 August 2017}}
Major General{{sortname|Paul|Kenny|Paul Kenny (general)}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|DSC|AM|DSM}}{{dts|November 2020}}{{dts|12 July 2024}}{{cite web|title=Special Operations Commander Australia: Major General Paul Kenny, DSC, DSM|url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/our-leaders/special-operations-commander-australia|work=Our Leaders|publisher=Australian Army|date=26 November 2020}}
Major General{{sortname|Garth|Gould}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|CSC|DSM}}{{dts|12 July 2024}}Incumbent{{cite web |title=Major General Garth Gould |url=https://www.army.gov.au/about-us/leadership/special-operations-command |publisher=Australian Army |access-date=6 September 2024}}

See also

Notes

{{Reflist|30em}}

Further reading

{{Commons category|Special forces of Australia}}

  • {{cite press release|url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=3144|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602113514/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=3144|title=Defence Support To World Cup Security|author=Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence|publisher=Department of Defence|date=25 September 2003|archive-date=2 June 2011|access-date=25 September 2015}}
  • {{cite press release|url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=4294|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602105516/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=4294|title=New Special Operations Commander Appointed|author=Senator Robert Hill, Minister for Defence|publisher=Department of Defence|date=29 October 2005|archive-date=2 June 2011|access-date=25 September 2015}}
  • {{cite book|last=Horner|first=David | author-link=David Horner |title=SAS: Phantoms of War. A History of the Australian Special Air Service|edition=Second|year=2002|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=Sydney, New South Wales|isbn=1-86508-647-9}}

{{Aust SF}}

{{Australian Defence Force}}

{{Australian Army}}

Category:Commands of the Australian Defence Force

Category:Military units and formations of the Australian Army

Category:Special forces of Australia

Category:Leadership of the Australian Defence Force

Category:Military of Australia

Category:Australian Defence Force

Category:Military units and formations established in 2003