In 2003, members of the Australian Intelligence Corps were deployed to Solomon Islands under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), providing operational or counter intelligence support.

Intelligence Corps officer, Defence jobs website

“Members of the Aust Intelligence Corps are employed in a number of Corps speciality areas including: Combat Intelligence, Counter Intelligence, Imagery Analysis and Linguists. Combat Intelligence is primarily concerned with the production of tactical intelligence. Counter-intelligence is primarily concerned with the protection of Army’s personnel, information and equipment from foreign interference and from espionage, sabotage and subversion. Imagery analysis is concerned with the identification, interpretation and analysis of data collected from photographs and other sensors. Linguists are employed to translate foreign language documents and provide interpreter services to deployed forces.

“The Corps currently has 169 officers and 232 other ranks. Officers serve in Corps units, 1st Intelligence Battalion, the Defence Intelligence Training Centre and with the Defence Intelligence Organisation, Defence Signals Directorate and Defence Security Authority. There are also intelligence officers and staff on most of the major Army commands and headquarters providing operational or counter intelligence support. In addition, intelligence cells are to be found in units as diverse as the Special Air Service Regiment, 4 RAR (Cdo), Norforce, 1st Commando Regiment, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 1st and 5th Aviation Regiments.

1st Intelligence Battalion, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Captain Rachel Leal of 1st Intelligence Battalion is seen talking to local people. She was travelling through the north of Malaita to distribute information about the progress of the multi-national Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).”

1st Intelligence Battalion, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Local children on the veranda of a house in the village of Sisifiu in northern Malaita play with information flyers produced by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). … The flyers had been distributed by Captain Rachel Leal of 1st Intelligence Battalion, in support of the investigations of the RAMSI multi-national Participating Police Force (PPF). They promote the first hundred days of RAMSI, and urge villagers to report crimes to the police and to be patient.”