Royal Australian Corps of Signals

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Australia has the unique distinction of having had the first regularly formed signal unit in the British Empire. The Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) is one of the 'arms' (combat support corps) of the Australian Army. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems. The motto of the Signals Corps is Certa Cito and is translated as 'Swift and Sure', signifying the aim of the signal service - that communication be carried out with maximum speed and certainty. Like their British counterparts, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals' flag and hat badge feature Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, affectionately referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy" (the origin of which is unknown).^[1]

Modern Army command and control systems demand reliable, high speed transfer of large volumes of data. The communications systems provided by Signals must keep pace with modern information technology. The control of the electromagnetic spectrum offers a decisive advantage in modern warfare and Electronic Warfare, listening to or interfering with enemy electronic transmissions, is a critical contribution by the Signals Corps to the Army's combat capability.

On the battlefield Signals provides commanders with the means of controlling the battle using road and air dispatch services, radio, microwave and satellite links. A high technology computer switched digital network, capable of providing a high quality, high capacity, secure communications network is being introduced.

The Corps has recently taken over the responsibility for Army Information Systems. Signal Corps personnel now control large integrated information systems and are responsible for the installation and operation of local area networks using state-of-the art computer equipment.

Specialist roles in the Corps include Operator Bearer Systems (linesmen and riggers), Operator Communications (radio operators), Operator Command Support systems (information systems operators) and Electronic Warfare operators.^[2] The single technical role available in the Signals Corps is known as Technician Telecommunications Systems, responsible for operating, repairing and maintaining all items of electronic telecommunications equipment.^[3]^[4]

1 History
2 Units
- 2.1 Regular Army
- 2.2 Army Reserve
3 Colours
4 Training
5 Equipment
6 External Links
7 Footnotes
8 References

[edit] History

Princess Anne passes behind the Princess Anne Banner at the 75th anniversary parade for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Princess Anne inspects troops at the 75th anniversary parade for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

The Princess Anne Banner

The Corps began in 1869 as a small "torpedo and signals corp", located in New South Wales and Victoria. These units existed until 1882, when they were disbanded. In 1885 a "signalling corps", composed of 1 officer and 12 other ranks, was created in South Australia and remained active until 1901.^[1]

After the inception of the Commonwealth Forces, an "Australian Corps of Signallers" was formed on 12th January, 1906. This day is recognised as the Signal Corps' birthday. The Corps remained as a self contained unit until 1911 when it was merged with Australian Engineers.^[5]

On the 1st January 1925, the Australian Corps of Signals was formed and all Signals units were separated from the Australian Corps of Engineers.^[1]

At the conclusion of World War II, a silver salver was presented to the Australian Corps of Signals by Princess Mary as a memento of the co-operation between the Royal Corps of Signals and the Australian Corps of Signals throughout the Second World War.

On the 10th of November, 1948, His Majesty King George VI conferred the title "Royal" on the Australian Corps of Signals. The day is recognised a "Corps Day", and commemorative functions are held on, or as near as possible to, the 10th of November each year.^[5]

Approval was given by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, the Signals Corps' Colonel-in-Chief, on the 10th of September, 1980 for the Corps to carry a banner bearing her Cipher. The banner is known as "The Princess Anne Banner", and was presented to the Signals Corps by the then Governor-General, The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen on the 29th of November, 1986.

On the 5th of July, 2000, a parade was held for her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia, marking the 75th anniversary of the Corps.^[6]

[edit] Units

The Royal Australian Signals Corps is divided into a number of regiments and squadrons, both Regular Army and Army Reserve. Each brigade of the Army has a Signals Squadron which forms part of the brigade's Command Support Regiment. The Army's two divisions each has a signal regiment.

[edit] Regular Army

Regiments
- 1 Signal Regiment (DJHQ/1 Division) (formerly 1 Joint Support Unit)
- 7 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
Squadrons
- 102 Signal Squadron (3 Combat Signal Regiment) - 3 Brigade
- 103 Signal Squadron (3 Combat Signal Regiment) - 3 Brigade
- 104 Signal Squadron (1 Combat Signal Regiment) - 1 Brigade
- 105 Signal Squadron (1 Combat Signal Regiment) - 1 Brigade
- 110 Signal Squadron - Land Force HQ
- 126 Signal Squadron - 4th (Commando) Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- 130 Signal Squadron - Logistic Support Force
- 139 Signal Squadron (7 Command Support Regiment) - 7 Brigade
- 145 Signal Squadron - Logistic Support Force
- 152 Signal Squadron - Special Air Service Regiment

[edit] Army Reserve

Regiments
- 8 Signal Regiment - 2nd Division
Squadrons
- 108 Signal Squadron (4 Command Support Regiment) - 4 Brigade
- 109 Signal Squadron (13 Command Support Regiment) - 13 Brigade
- 141 Signal Squadron (11 Command Support Regiment) - 11 Brigade
- 142 Signal Squadron (5 Command Support Regiment) - 5 Brigade
- 144 Signal Squadron (9 Command Support Regiment) - 9 Brigade
- 155 Signal Squadron (8 Command Support Regiment) - 8 Brigade
- 301 Signal Squadron - 1st Commando Regiment

[edit] Colours

Tactical Recognition Flash

Domestic Colours

The Royal Australian Corps of Signals has two sets of colours, tactical and domestic. The Tactical colours are White on Royal blue. White symbolises the ribbons wound on the Caduceus of the God Hermes and the Blue representing the Royal Colours. The domestic colours, sky blue on dark blue on dark green, represent the 3 mediums of communication: air, sea and land.^[1]

[edit] Training

Soldiers joining the Signals Corps are given training specific to their field at the Defence Force School of Signals after first graduating from recruit training at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka. The School of Signals is a tri-service educational facility located on Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria. It is the home of the Signals Corps and the centre for defence training in communications and information systems for the Australian Defence Force. The school was previously located at Balcombe, Victoria, before moving to Watsonia in the late 1960's.^[1] The School also has an Electronic Warfare wing, called the Joint Telecommunications School, located on Borneo Barracks in Cabarlah, Queensland.^[7]

Regardless of specialisation, all soldiers joining the Signals Corps first complete a six week Combat Signaller course which aims to provide basic Signals skills in radio, line and computing, as well as the operation and maintenance of generators and batteries. The course culminates in a field phase, usually held at Puckapunyal. On successful completion of the Combat Signaller course, students will be placed in a holding platoon while they wait for their trade course to start. During this time students may be placed on other courses, such as driver training.^[4]

Operator Specialist Communications: The trade training for an operator runs for 33 weeks. Subjects include operation and maintenance of radio equipment, cryptographic equipment and field antennas. They are trained to operate a wide range of communications equipment, from hand held short range devices to global satellite systems, in a variety of environments.^[8]

Operator Electronic Warfare: Electronic Warfare operators attend a 44 week course at the Joint Telecommunications School, the only trade training not conducted at Simpson Barracks. The course teaches Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence fundamentals.^[9]

Operator Bearer Systems: Lineys attend an 18 week course, incorporating the installation and recovery of field cable and telephones, operation of manual and automatic field switchboards, operation of satellite ground stations and VHF/UHF Line of Sight telecommunications equipment.^[10]

Operator Command Support Systems: Operator Command Support Systems training is an 18 week Information Technology course consisting of subjects such as the fundamentals of computing, fault finding hardware and software problems and network operating systems, installation of applications, hardware and peripheral devices, user support, data communications and operation of a Field LAN detachment.^[11]

Technician Telecommunications Systems: There are two courses to be completed by soldiers in Technician, Telecommunications Systems training. The first is completing TAFE Certificate IV in Electronics, which incorporates theory, laboratory work and workplace practice. Although a civilian qualification, the 14 month course is conducted by the Defence Force at the Army School of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering in Bandiana, Victoria. Subjects studied include; fundamentals of semi-conductors, semi-conductor amplifiers, electrical circuits, series and parallel circuits, transistor transmitters and receivers, communication transmitters and receivers, microprocessors and logic. Laboratory work integrates the theory and practical components of the course, while workshop training aims to develop specialist craft skills and provides situations necessary to practice logical fault finding techniques. The certificate achieved upon completion of the course is a recognised civilian accreditation. The second course is a military course and runs for 22 weeks at the Defence Force School of Signals. It incorporates all aspects of the communications equipment used in Signals Units. The Subjects studied include satellite theory and equipment stations, circuit switch networks, telephone systems and local and wide area computer networks.^[12]

[edit] Equipment

Parakeet is the name given the Australian Army's mobile battlefield communication system. It was introduced into service in the mid 1990s through project JP65. At the time of it's introduction, Parakeet was considered to be a highly advanced military communications system. It included secure voice and data trunking services. In 2002, the Defence Force raised Project JP2072 to upgrade its sub-systems.^[13]. The Parakeet suite of equipment is operated by members of the Operator Bearer Systems trade.