1st Commando Regiment (Australia)

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1st Commando Regiment
1st Commando Regiment cap badge
Active	1 February 1981-
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Commando Infantry
Size	One battalion
Part of	Royal Australian Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Randwick
Motto	Strike Swiftly
March	Cockleshell Heroes
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch
Abbreviation	1 CDO REGT

1st Commando Regiment is a mixed regular and reservist commando regiment of the Australian Army. It is part of the Australian Special Operations Command (SOCOMD).

1 Organisation
2 History
3 Specialist equipment
4 Reserve service
5 Alliances
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Organisation

The Unit headquarters is located in Randwick, New South Wales. 1 Commando Company (1 Cdo Coy) is located in HMAS Penguin, Balmoral, NSW. 2 Commando Company (2 Cdo Coy) is located in the historic Fort Gellibrand at Williamstown, VIC. 301 Signal Squadron (301 Sig Sqn) has its headquarters at Randwick and elements of the squadron are located in Sydney and Melbourne with each Cdo Coy. 1 Cdo Regt is organised similarly to 4th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment (Cdo) (4 RAR (Cdo)), which is a regular Commando unit also serving in SOCOMD. The commando companies are made up of a headquarters, three commando platoons, a reconnaissance platoon, a training platoon and integral combat service support elements.

[edit] History

The term Commando is derived from the South African/Dutch word used by the Boers identifying their irregular sized raiding forces employed against the British during the South African Wars. The term commando was adapted by newly formed British raiding forces during World War 2, and the name was subsequently used by Australian units raised to fight in the Pacific. These centered around the Independent Companies and M and Z Special Units. 2 Commando Company was raised in Vic on 24 Feb 1955. 1 Commando Company were raised in NSW on 25 June 1955. Both functioned independently of each other until the forming of the 1st Commando Regiment on 1 Feb 1981. At the same time 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) were also brought under command of 1st Commando Regiment until in 1999 they were transferred to 4RAR(Cdo), 301 Signal Squadron was re-raised to provide communications support to the 1st Commando Regiment. All Australian commandos wear the Sherwood green beret adopted from the British Commandos. It was first used by the Companies and later continued under 1 Commando Regiment. Prior to 1956, the unit wore the traditional Australian Rising Sun Badge. It was then decided to have a competition in which both 1 and 2 Company members could enter for a new design. The Officer Commanding 2 Company decided on a design by Warrant Officer Ronald Nordhoff, a dagger and boomerang, with the motto "Strike Swiftly".

[edit] Specialist equipment

Soldiers from the 1st Commando Company parachute with their inflatable boats from an RAAF C-130H into Shoalwater Bay

1 Cdo Regt is equipped with a range of weapon systems that allow it to tailor requirements based on mission specifics. Key equipment are Zodiac F470 inflatable boats, Australian Commando Operational Watercraft (known as COWs - aluminium hulled jet boats) and other small craft such as the Klepper folding kayak.

[edit] Reserve service

1 Cdo Regt is SOCOMDs only mixed Regular and General Reserve unit. As such it fills a unique role in providing a surge capacity to the Commando capability. Members of 1 Cdo Regt include lawyers, airline pilots, police officers, firemen, paramedics, teachers, businessmen, students and numerous other professions and trades. This wide range of occupations provides for a close relationship between the Unit, local community and industry.