1-й полк коммандос: история и современность

Unit of the Australian Army Reserve

The 1st Commando Regiment (1 Cdo Regt) is an Australian Army Reserve special forces unit, part of Special Operations Command with an integrated structure of regular (full time) soldiers and reserve (part time) soldiers, which together with the full time Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment, provides the commando capability to Special Operations Command. Raised in 1955 it is the oldest unit within Special Operations Command and in 2008 deployed to Afghanistan to become the first Australian Army Reserve force element on combat operations since World War II. The regiment is the Command's capability lead for special warfare.

The primary role of 1st Commando Regiment is to provide a scalable and deployable mission command headquarters to Special Operations Command (SOCOMD). In addition, the regiment is manned, trained and equipped to provide commando force elements up to a company size, as well as providing high quality, competent individual commandos to round out, reinforce and rotate with other SOCOMD capabilities. During the period from the early 2000s to the early 2010s, combat operations and the evolution of the commando role changed the character of the regiment.

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 adopted by newly formed British raiding forces during World War II, and subsequently used by Australian special units raised to fight in the South west Pacific and Indian Oceans. By the close of World War II, Australian special forces units included the Independent Companies (later Commando Squadrons), Z Special Unit under Special Operations Australia and M Special Unit under Allied Intelligence Bureau. By the early 1950s, it was deemed necessary by the Army to maintain the techniques and skills that had been developed during the war. Consequently, on 16 September 1954, the Military Board issued the authority to raise two Citizen Military Force (CMF) commando companies: the 1 Commando Company (1 Cdo Coy) in Sydney and the 2 Commando Company (2 Cdo Coy) in Melbourne. Both would be commanded by regular army officers and regular army would form the training and administrative cadre. Major Grant was a World War II commando veteran having served in the 2/5 Independent Company and 2/12th Commando Squadron. 2 Cdo Coy was raised in Victoria on 24 February 1955 under the command of Major Peter Seddon and first paraded on 7 July 1955.|group=Note Anderson was killed during the last week of the basic commando course and was replaced by Major John Hutcheson. The Australian Secret Intelligence Service had earlier been formed in 1952 within the Department of Defence whose role included " plan for and conduct special operations ". Commando courses included basic parachutist, diving, small scale raids, demolitions, climbing and roping and unarmed combat. 1 Cdo Coy held the first diving course in 1957 using a pure oxygen re breather the Swimmer Canoeist Breathing Apparatus borrowed from the Navy based on training received from the SBS. In 1957, as the unit already had the designation "1st" within its title, the Army thought it would be a convenient framework on which to re form the Australian Imperial Force's 1st Battalion. 2nd Commando Company developed a Mountain Leader's Course in ski patrolling, as well as rock, ice and snow climbing. In 1968, 2 Cdo Coy moved to Fort Gellibrand at Williamstown from Ripponlea. The company had originally been based at Sandringham then sometime between 1957 58 moved to HMAS Cerberus before moving to Ripponlea in 1958.

The requirement for long range communications can be traced back to WWII and units such as Coastwatchers, New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company, the Independent Companies, and Z Special Unit. On 30 April 1958, a decision was made to raise No 1 Independent Signals Squadron to support clandestine operations and this led to the formation of 301st Signal Squadron (Home Defence) in 1960 at Lidcombe, New South Wales. This new squadron was to meet the requirement for 'special communications' and was charged with the responsibility of providing long range communications for commando type operations and was augmented with regular army members in 1963. In December 1964, 301st Signal Squadron was re designated 126th Signal Squadron, later to 126th Signal Squadron (Special Forces) in January 1966 and subsequently relocated to Albert Park, Victoria and in 1972 to Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria. Women had been serving in the signals squadron since 1964 as cipher clerks and from 1968 as radio operators. In 1978, the signals squadron was provided with approval to wear the green beret with the Corps of Signals badge. In 1981, signaller Kerry Hiam became the first woman to qualify and be awarded a green beret.

Prior to formation as a regiment, the sub units deployed individuals and small teams to the Borneo confrontation and the Vietnam War. During the Borneo confrontation, Sergeant Ted Blacker of 126th Signal Squadron (Special Forces) was awarded the British Empire Medal. From 1965 the Commando Companies contributed numerous instructors, including from their reserve part time component, to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV). Two lost their lives with the AATTV, with Warrant Officer Class II John Durrington being killed in action, and Warrant Officer Class II Ron Scott dying of wounds. Whilst serving with the AATTV, Warrant Officer Class II Ray Simpson, formerly from both the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and the 1st Commando Company, was awarded the Victoria Cross for an action in the Kontum Province on 6 May 1969. In 1991, a 1 Cdo Coy commando who had joined the British Army Special Air Service was in the well known Bravo Two Zero patrol in Iraq as part of Operation Desert Storm. In 1992, 126 Signal Squadron qualified signallers were given approval to wear the commando badge. Commencing in February 1997, 1 Cdo Regt provided the initial training for the re role of the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) from an infantry battalion into commando 4RAR (Cdo) raising the Commando Training Wing (the predecessor to the Special Forces Training Centre) commanded by Major Hans Fleer. In July 1997, three women officers, Lieutenants Fellows, Warren Smith and Woods, became the first women to complete the commando officer selection course. The women were barred from serving in combat roles. In 2000, the squadron transitioned to a Regular Army unit based at Holsworthy Barracks under the command of 4RAR Cdo. In June 2002, 301 Signal Squadron was re raised at Randwick Barracks to provide communications and information systems and electronic warfare to facilitate the command and control of special operations conducted by the regiment. In 2006, 1 Cdo Coy relocated from Georges Heights in Mosman to HMAS Penguin in Balmoral.

In recent years, the regiment has provided small detachments and individuals to peacekeeping missions. and to the Solomon Islands as part of Operation Anode. In May 2006, following unrest in Timor Leste, a Special Forces component consisting of a commando company from 4RAR Cdo and a SASR troop deployed to Timor Leste as peacekeepers as part of Operation Astute. The Special Forces component was later reduced and supplemented by 1 Cdo Regt teams often commanded by a member of the 1 Cdo Regt. In March 2007, the Special Forces component was bolstered to form an Apprehension Task Group with the purpose of apprehending ex Timorese Army Major and rebel leader, Alfredo Reinado, at the request of the Timor Leste government. Reinado was located in the village of Same and approval was given to assault his compound. Force Element Charlie provided the main SOTG element for the following winter rotations in 2009 2010 and 2010 2011 conducting population centric operations. A rotation ranged between four and five months. Following Fussell's death several senior personnel asked to be relieved of their positions due to concerns over the Major and after an inquiry into the death, the Major was relieved of his command and returned to Australia. The inquiry raised issues into the Commando Company Group outside the scope of its terms that instigated the appointment of Vice Admiral (retired) Chris Ritchie to conduct a further inquiry that found that the Group had been inadequately trained and prepared for its deployment, and that concerns over the Major's leadership should have been acted on before the Group deployed. Corporal W saw, through a window, a male holding an AK 47 rifle pointed at a door that his team was preparing to use to enter the room to clear and fired at him through the window with his rifle. The male returned fire and ignored calls made for him to come out. With fire continuing, and the team being unable to retreat, two grenades were thrown by Lance Corporal M to clear the room. The charges against the two soldiers were dismissed pre trial by the Judge Advocate in June 2011. Charges against Lieutenant Colonel M, who based in Kandahar ordered the clearance of the compound, were withdrawn in August 2011 for disobeying standard operating procedures to prevent innocent Afghan nationals in their homes being wrongfully targeted. In 1991, distinctive black and green commando parachute wings were adopted and are now worn by all parachute qualified commandos. While there is no direct lineage to the 1st Battalion, AIF, other than in the 1st Commando Company's renaming to the 1st Battalion (Commando), the regiment retains the colours of the battalion's World War I colour patch – black over green – which are highlighted on the current 1 Cdo Regt flag.

The Regiment consists of a headquarters, two commando companies and a signals squadron with a strength about 450. Each commando company consists of a headquarters, two commando platoons, a reconnaissance platoon, a training platoon and integral combat service support elements. Combat elements of the regiment typically operate in platoon to company sized force elements. These will be force tailored by requirement and may not fit any doctrinal size or command and control. The signal squadron has the largest full time contingent in the regiment. Maximi 7.62mm machine gun, MAG 58 7.62mm medium machine gun, M2HB QCB 12.7mm heavy machine gun, M3 Carl Gustav 84mm anti tank weapon, Mk 47 Striker automatic grenade launcher, Javelin anti tank weapon, and the M72 LAW 66mm rocket launcher The primary commando watercraft is the Zodiac F470 inflatable boat.

The regiment is the only reserve SOCOMD combat unit providing Reservists based in the eastern states of Australia the opportunity to serve in a commando unit. Additionally, the regiment provides discharging Regular Army SOCOMD soldiers the opportunity to continue to serve in SOCOMD in a reserve capacity on their return to civilian life.

To prepare for selection, training platoon candidates have 12 months to complete the Special Forces Reserve Training Program, based on the 2 Cdo Regt Special Forces Direct Recruitment 12 week Special Forces Accelerated Infantry Training Program, including the 17 week Commando Physical Training Package. The first stage of selection is to successfully pass the one day Special Forces Entry Test. New signallers to 301st Signal Squadron have to complete the Special Forces Signaller Course (SFSC).