How to get the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Back on track!

Is there an answer?  If so, what is it?  

Let’s face it … the Chief of Army is the only one who holds the key.

But, is there another way of fixing the problem?   

Which is … how to get 1st Armoured Regiment returned to its combat role (and relocated to Townsville).  

It follows, that if this happens, 2nd Cavalry Regiment would return to being a ‘normal’ cavalry regiment as part of 3 Brigade in Townsville.  

The final part of the equation … whether or not, 2/14 Light Horse Regiment (QMI), will be able to remain an ARA unit?  

These were all parts of the ‘deals’ that were concocted and which led to where we are now.    

Sadly, it makes no difference whether or not, ‘Right’, is on our side.  

Which it is in heaps, after the unholy ‘deals’ that were done between the various ‘factions’ backing individual units.  

Sadly, 1 Armd Regt didn’t realise the need for supporters to be ‘lobbied’.  Why would it? 

It was the senior Regiment of the RAAC, surely its role as the nation’s leading exponent of manoeuvre warfare wasn’t in doubt … but it was.  There were factions plotting behind the scenes!

The fact that it was taken by surprise, is evidenced by its relegation to being a non-combatant experimentation unit (helped considerably by the deviousness of the then CA).

It really makes you wonder about the extent to which some people will go, to achieve the outcome they seek.

Although it’s very much in the hands of the CA and pending her decision, is there anything that the RAAC can do to ‘help itself’ (rather than relying completely on others)?

The HOC won’t resign, as supporting the CA is the only way forward for him.  I’m led to believe that the RAAC Representative Honorary Colonel doesn’t have long left in his tenure and his successor will be ‘in for the long haul’.  

The resignation of the 1 Armd Regt Hon Col could make a difference, but as he hasn’t done so already, it’s unlikely to happen now.  

Handing back my Military Cross might be able to be managed in such a way as to create publicity on a national scale.  (The ‘hand back’ would have to be managed on a professional basis, drawing together all media outlets.) 

The aim would be to embarrass the government into acknowledging the enormous failures in the Defence portfolio, i.e. after 75year’s service, Australia’s only tank regiment has been stripped of its tanks and turned into a non-combatant … completely losing its heritage.

Furthermore … instead of an armoured brigade in Townsville, the units there are now without a battlegroup headquarters, a tank squadron, and a cavalry squadron.  

Not only that, 3 Brigade’s armour has to operate on a dual-role basis, with incompatible roles for close fire support for infantry and intelligence gathering.

Will we be able to make a big enough difference … or will our efforts all come to nothing?

Unfortunately, there might not be enough of us who care!  

The RAAC has got itself into this mess, and has to get itself out.  

But who was it that connived behind the scenes to create the situation in the first place?

Sadly, those representing the RAAC and 1 Armd Regt, are the ones left holding the baby!

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

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