3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Badge of the Royal Australian Regiment
Active	12th October 1945-Present
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Parachute Infantry
Part of	Australian 3rd Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Holsworthy
Nickname	Old Faithful
Motto	Duty First
March	Our Director (Band); Heilan Laddie (Pipes and Drums)
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	HM The Queen (Australian Infantry Corps)
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch
Tartan	Royal Stewart (pipes and drums)

Soldiers from 3 RAR during an exercise in 2004.

The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) is an Australian parachute battalion based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the Australian 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam and East Timor. 3 RAR will convert to a light infantry battalion and relocate to Townsville by 2011. Image File history File links Royal_Australian_Regiment_Badge. ... (Redirected from 12th October) October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Australian 3rd Brigade is an infantry brigade. ... Holsworthy Barracks is located in the outer south-western suburbs of Sydney. ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... Image File history File links 3RAR_UCP.PNG‎ Unit Colour patch of 3RAR I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x908, 407 KB) Summary Australian Department of Defence Photo JPAU19SEP04JO258 Sourced from: http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x908, 407 KB) Summary Australian Department of Defence Photo JPAU19SEP04JO258 Sourced from: http://www. ... Airborne Military parachuting form of insertion. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of over 4. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... Townsville redirects here. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

Formation

3 RAR was initially formed on 20 October 1945 as the 67th Battalion. The Battalion was intended for occupation duties in Japan and was formed from volunteers from the 3rd, 6th, 7th and 11th Australian Divisions. The battalion was redesignated the 3rd Battalion of the Australian Regiment upon the Regiment's formation in November 1948. The 'Royal' prefix was appended in March 1949. October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the main regular infantry formation in the Australian Army. ...

The 67th Battalion arrived in Japan as part of the Australian 34th Brigade in February 1946. As with the rest of the occupation force, the Battalion did not encounter any significant resistance or civil unrest. The Australian force in Japan was gradually downsized, with 3 RAR being the only Australian battalion left in the country at the outbreak of the Korean War. The Australian 34th Brigade was an Australian Army brigade. ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea  Australia  Belgium Canada  Colombia Ethiopia  France Greece  Netherlands  New Zealand  Philippines South Africa  Thailand  Turkey  United Kingdom United States Medical staff:  Denmark  India  Italy  Norway  Sweden Communist states: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China  Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee...

Korea

3 RAR was rapidly committed as Australia's main land force contribution to the United Nations forces in the Korean War. After a period of intensive training and reinforcement in Japan, the battalion arrived in South Korea in late September 1950. The battalion formed part of the 27th Commonwealth Brigade and took part in the United Nations offensive into North Korea and the subsequent retreat into South Korea following the Chinese offensive in the winter of 1950-51. It was one of three units to receive the Presidential Unit Citation (US) after the Battle of Kapyong. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on... The Battle of Kapyong was waged during the Korean War. ...

Malaya

South Vietnam

3 RAR served 2 tours in Vietnam, the first 1967 to 1968 saw the battalion stationed in Phuoc Tuy Province. The battalion took part in several operations and was involved in mine clearing, counter mortar and rocket tasks and reconnaissance in force operations. During 26 and 28 May 1968, 3 RAR, while stationed at FSPB Balmoral in a battalion defensive position, withstood two determined assaults by regimental sized units of the North Vietnamese Army. In 1971 the battalion returned to Phuoc Tuy Province. During the second tour the battalion took part in several minor actions. The battalion returned home by the end of 1971. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... (Redirected from 26 May) May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... knulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din mammaknulla din... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

East Timor

3 RAR played a key role in the Australian-lead intervention into East Timor in 1999. The Battalion arrived in Dili by sea and was initially responsible for the city. The battalion later secured the enclave of Oecussi. 3 RAR returned to Australia in February 2000 and served a second 6-month tour of East Timor in 2002. In May 2006 the 3 RAR Battalion Group was deployed to restore order to East Timor as part of Operation Astute. INTERFET (standing for INTERnational Force East Timor) was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999-2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers. ... Dili, also spelled Díli, Dilli or Dilly, is the capital of East Timor. ... Oecussi-Ambeno (also variously Ocussi, Oekussi, Oekusi, Okusi, Oé-Cusse) is a province of East Timor. ... It has been suggested that Timeline of Operation Astute be merged into this article or section. ...

Solomon Islands

3RAR deployed to the Solomon Islands on Monday 24 January to reinforce the military component of RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands) RAMSI. The 3RAR company of Soldiers consisted of approximately 100 personnel to provide added support to the local and Australian Federal Police in enforcing the rule of law and restoring order in the Solomon Islands. [1] Map of the Solomon Islands Operation Helpem Fren, also known as the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), was created in 2003 in response to a request for international aid by the Governor General of the Solomon Islands. ...

Iraq

3 RAR was brought into the Australian media as it contained the first Australian Soldier to be killed in Iraq. Pvt. Jake Kovco died in April 2006 while deployed to Baghdad in Iraq when he was purported to have accidentally shot himself while handling his pistol.[2] Private Kovco in Uniform Jacob (Jake) Bruce Kovco (born 25 September 1980, Melbourne; died 21 April 2006, Baghdad) was a private in the Australian Defence Forces who died while deployed to Baghdad as a result of an accident which occurred as a result of mishandling his own pistol. ... Baghdad ( translit: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ...

Current composition

3 RAR currently consists of:

• Battalion Headquarters
• Three basic parachute infantry companies
• Support Company
• Administration Company

3 RAR forms the main element of the Australian Army's Airborne Battle Group. This battle group consists of:

• 3rd Brigade Command Elements
• 3 RAR
• A Battery, 4 Field Regiment
• Parachute Surgical Team, 1 Health Support Battalion
• Signals Element, 3rd Command Support Regiment and 7 Signals Regiment
• Engineer Troop, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment
• RAAF Mobile Air Control Elements

Under the 'Hardened and Networked Army' initiative announced in December 2005, 3 RAR was to convert to a mechanised structure. However, in August 2006 it was announced that 3 RAR would instead convert to a pure light infantry structure and the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment would be reformed as a mechanised infantry battalion. The Australian 3rd Brigade is an infantry brigade. ... The RAAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force, with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo, a symbol of Australia. ... Mechanized infantry are infantry troops that use armoured fighting vehicles for transport and as heavy weapons support in combat. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... The 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) was a regular infantry battalion of the Australian Army. ...

Role

3 RAR is currently Australia's only parachute infantry battalion. With the rest of the Parachute Battalion Group the battalion is responsible for providing a rapid reaction capability. One company from the battalion is maintained on high readiness to deploy at 48 hours notice. In addition to its specialised parachute role, 3 RAR is also capable of operating as a conventional light infantry battalion. If Required, 4 RAR (CDO) can provide highly trained Commandos to do the role of 3 RAR, how ever due to their special forces commitments this is not currently a preferred option. Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... For other uses of the term, see Special forces (disambiguation). ...

Alliances

•  United Kingdom - Scots Guards
•  United Kingdom - The Queen's Royal Hussars (Queen's Own and Royal Irish)

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Scots Guards is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division, and have a long and proud history stretching back hundreds of years. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Queens Royal Hussars (The Queens Own and Royal Irish), normally referred to by the abbreviation QRH, is the senior United Kingdom light cavalry regiment. ...

References

• 3 RAR Official Website
• Lt Simone Heyer Showcase of Skills
• David Horner (Editor) (1990). Duty First. The Royal Australian Regiment in War and Peace. Allen & Unwin. Sydney.
• Ian Kuring (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788 to 2001. Loftus in association with the Australian Army Historical Unit. Sydney.