What challenges will the RAAC have to face next?

Will it be a matter of the 1st Armoured Regiment experimentation unit having to continue on as is, or will its combat role be returned to it?  

Rumours suggest the latter, but wise men know better than to hope that the Chief of Army might change her mind.

Surely the RAAC cannot continue as dictated by present circumstances, i.e. 1 Armd Regt a non-combatant experimentation unit and 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a dual-role unit with incompatible roles of close fire support and intelligence gathering.

If this is to be the penalty for keeping 2/14 Light Horse Regiment (QMI) as an ARA unit, it is totally unacceptable.

When the faceless mandarins who control manpower ceilings, realised that the infantry were to become responsible for armoured mobility with mechanised infantry fighting vehicles, Army lost a unit (in manpower terms).

It seems that a lot of lobbying went on, before those in favour of 2 Cav Regt and 2/14 LHR (QMI) won out.  

Despite being the most senior RAAC unit by far, with a 75year heritage, 1 Armd Regt was effectively removed from the ORBAT; being designated as an experimentation unit, one without even an RAAC role. 

The Armoured Corps has been failed by its leaders who should have argued hard and convincingly for the RAAC to remain a corps of three ARA units.  

While vehicle platforms are available, they’re just not being utilised.

As a consequence, 3 Brigade in Townsville, is short a tank squadron, a cavalry squadron, and a battle-group (i.e. unit) headquarters.

This is a cost saving in terms of operating costs for those who focus on such matters, but what of the shortfall in terms of training and military readiness?  Both suffer as a direct consequence.

There is no doubt whatsoever, that the ARA RAAC should comprise 1 Armd Regt and 2 Cav Regt in Townsville and 2/14 LHR (QMI) in Brisbane.

Only when this is achieved, will the Armoured Corps be one in which its members can, once more, be proud.

There is a place in the Army’s ORBAT for an experimentation unit, however, there is no place for it as an RAAC unit.  

The role of the RAAC being: “to locate, identify, capture, and destroy the enemy by day or night, in combination with other arms, using fire and manoeuvre”.

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

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