Special Operations Command (Australia)

Special Operations Command
Active 2002—Present
Country  Australia
Role Special operations
Size 2,050 (Active)
750 (Reserve)
Part of Australian Defence Force
Headquarters location Potts Point, New South Wales
Motto Acies Acuta
(The Cutting Edge)
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major General Jeff Sengelman

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is a command within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Special Operations Command was established in May 2003, to unite all of the ADF special forces units. As of 2007, Special Operations Command was fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Maritime, Land and Air Commands. All of its constituent units are drawn from the Australian Army. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British militaries.

History

A Special Operations Task Group patrol in Afghanistan in October 2009

While Special Operations Command had not formally commenced operations at the time, it appears that the headquarters may have overseen the boarding of the North Korean freighter MV Pong Su in April 2003, which involved elements of the both the SASR and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Tactical Assault Groups.

In 2007, the APEC Summit hosted in Sydney had Special Operations Command involvement regarding security as world leaders, including John Howard, George W. Bush and other government and economic leaders were in attendance.

Structure

Order of battle

Soldiers from Special Operations Command during a media demonstration in May 2003

Special Operations Headquarters or SOHQ (Canberra and Sydney)

Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST)

The following have held the position of Special Operations Commander Australia, with the ranks and honours as at the completion of their tenure:

Rank Name Post-nominals Term began Term ended Time in appointment Notes
Major General Lewis, DuncanDuncan Lewis DSC, CSC May 2002 October 2004 2 years, 153 days
Major General Hindmarsh, MikeMike Hindmarsh AO, CSC October 2004 February 2008 3 years, 123 days
Major General McOwan, TimTim McOwan DSC, CSM February 2008 January 2011 2 years, 334 days
Major General Gilmore, GusGus Gilmore AO, DSC January 2011 September 2013 2 years, 243 days
Brigadier McDaniel, DanielDaniel McDaniel DSC, DSM September 2013 December 2014 1 year, 91 days
Major General Sengelman, JeffJeff Sengelman DSC, AM, CSC December 2014 incumbent 1 year, 64 days [4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Kuring 2004, p. 435.
  2. ↑ Blaxland 2014, p. 328.
  3. ↑ Epstein, Rafael; Welch, Dylan (13 March 2012). "Secret SAS Teams Hunt For Terrorists". The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney: Fairfax Media). p. 1. ISSN 0312-6315.
  4. ↑ "Special Operations Commander Australia". Australian Army: Our leaders. Department of Defence. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.

References

Further reading

External links

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