Army Reserves

Army Reserves

Introduction

For the first time since World War Two, a fully formed army reserve unit from Australia’s Army Reserve was deployed overseas to Solomon Islands in 2007, to replace regular troops.

This deployment is in line with the Army’s Hardened Networked Army Reserve initiative, which aims to re-focus the Army Reserve and provide approximately 2,800 high readiness Reservists to support the Army’s front line deployable units. The Army Reserve will be allocated tasks within Army’s front line operational units to improve the Army Reserves relevance. There will be three categories of service within the Hardened Networked Army Reserve. Those categories are:

  • The High Readiness Reserve – will provide immediate reinforcement to first and second rotation regular forces.
  • The Active Reserve – will provide domestic security capabilities, round out third rotation forces as well as provide strategic depth.
  • The Standby Reserve – will provide a pool of individuals who possess critical skills that may be called upon in times of emergency. 

New Zealand has also sent reserve Territorial Forces to Solomon Islands.

Between 2006 and mid-2009, the ADF deployed eight Army Reserve Company groups to Solomon Islands accounting for more than 800 part-time soldiers.

2009

ADF peacekeepers return from Solomon Islands, Department of Defence media release MSPA 254/09, 9 August 2009

Australian Defence Force peacekeepers returned from operations in Solomon Islands last night, after supporting the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands (RAMSI) for the past four months. The 140-strong force – mainly reservists from Victoria’s 4th Brigade – was met at Melbourne Airport by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon. Alan Griffin MP; Commander of 4th Brigade, Brigadier Michael Arnold, as well as family and friends. 

“….Commander of the Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Grimes, said his mission was to support RAMSI and be a deterrent to elements that may wish to destabilise the government. Daily tasks in Solomon Islands revolved around a program of patrols throughout the Islands in support of the Participating Police Forces and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. Over 300 different patrols were conducted by the Task Force as well as providing support to various targeted police operations.…A new contingent from NSW 8th Brigade, with support from reserve units from across Australia, deployed to Solomon Islands last week, maintaining the ADF presence which has been ongoing since July 2003.”

Victorian Army Reserve soldiers keep the peace in the Solomons, Department of Defence media release MSPA 209/09, 13 July 2009

This latest deployment of 140 Army Reservists from Victoria’s 4 Brigade comprises men and women from Melbourne and regional areas such as Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Mildura and Geelong. They arrived in the Solomon Islands in March 2009 shortly after assisting in Operation VIC FIRES ASSIST….Lieutenant Colonel Neil Grimes is the Commander of the Combined Task Force, comprising of soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.”

Benefits of employing Reservists highlighted on Boss Lift to Solomon Islands, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support Mike Kelly, media release 34/2009, 7 July 2009

“The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP commended the involvement of twenty-two employers of Defence Reservists who recently travelled to the Solomon Islands on 2 July 2009 as part of Exercise Boss Lift — a Defence program designed to encourage employer support for the Reserves. Participating employers visited soldiers from Melbourne-based 4th Brigade who are currently on a four-month deployment to the Solomon Islands.  4th Brigade is the face of the Army Reserve in Victoria, with over 2000 soldiers based in depots from Mildura to Sale and Echuca to Warnambool.

“While in Honiara and surrounds, the employers had the opportunity to see their Reservists on Operation Anode, the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. As well as providing much needed support during the devastating Victorian bush fires, 4th Brigade has in recent years served across the globe, including the theatres of Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and Solomon Islands.”

Budget Estimates Hearing, Opening Statement, Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Wednesday 3 June 2009

The efforts of our Reservists in the Solomon Islands also warrant special mention today as many of the soldiers that are currently deployed also supported the Victorian Bushfires earlier this year. It has been a busy year for them, but they are performing wonderfully well.”

The efforts of our Reservists in the Solomon Islands also warrant special mention today as many of the soldiers that are currently deployed also supported the Victorian Bushfires earlier this year. It has been a busy year for them, but they are performing wonderfully well.”

 

The efforts of our Reservists in the Solomon Islands also warrant special mention today as many of the soldiers that are currently deployed also supported the Victorian Bushfires earlier this year. It has been a busy year for them, but they are performing wonderfully well.”

 

Reservists shine in Solomons, Captain Michael Brooke, Defence Magazine, Department of Defence, Issue 1, 2009, p24.

“More than 140 Army reservists from the 5th and 8th Brigades of the Royal New South Wales Regiment returned home from a successful four month deployment to the Solomon Islands.”

2008

Defence Minister Meets Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon, media release 119/08, 10 September 2008

In discussions with Minister for National Security, Police and Correctional Services Mr Manetoali, Mr Fitzgibbon underlined the marked improvement in the working relationship between the Solomon Islands Police Force (SIPF) and RAMSI. Minister Fitzgibbon also visited Australian troops who make up the Combined Task Force security detachment for RAMSI. The ADF currently provides a ‘company sized’ contribution to RAMSI, which includes 144 reservist soldiers largelyfrom The Royal New South Wales Regiment.”

More Reservists Deploy to Solomon Islands, Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon, media release 90/08, 1 August 2008

“The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, has announced the latest deployment of Army Reservists to the Solomon Islands, where Australia and her Pacific partners are helping the local government to bring peace and stability to the Islands through improved law and order. Mr Fitzgibbon said more than 140 Reserve soldiers from Canberra, Wollongong, Bathurst, Orange and Sydney’s Western suburbs deployed as part of the Australian contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

“ ‘The highly skilled contingent for Operation ANODE (Rotation 16) has been drawn from the 5th and 8th Brigades under the banner of the Royal New South Wales Regiment,’ he said.

“…Mr Fitzgibbon said the participation of Reservists in Operation ANODE would not be possible without the support of their families and employers. The employers of Reservists will see first-hand the benefits that Reserve service brings to their employees and to Australia when they fly to the Solomon Islands later this year. The Reserve and Employer Support Division’s ‘Boss Lift’ activity will show employers the vital contribution Reservists are making to the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) operational commitments by observing their military skills first hand.”

‘Boss Lift’ to Solomon Islands Reinforces Benefits of Employing Reservists, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly, media release 21/08, 4 July 2008

“The Reserve and Employer Support Division’s Boss Lift activity is designed to show employers the vital contribution Reservists are making to the Australian Defence Force’s operational commitments by observing their military skills first hand.

“While in Honiara and its surrounds, the employers will have the opportunity to see Reservist soldiers from the Australian Army’s 11 (Queensland) and 4 (Victoria) Brigades contributing to Operation Anode, the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The part-time soldiers have been deployed for the past three months and will return to Australia on 4 August.

“For the employers, the journey to the Solomon Islands offers a rare opportunity to witness the expert capability that Reservists provide to ADF operations. Boss Lift will also show the employers how military experience enhances their workers’ wider skill-sets.”

2007

ADF responses to meet future contingencies, ADF Chief of Army, Lt. General Peter Leahy, Australian Defence Force Journal, No.173, 2007, p76

“For Army, another important change is the use of Reserves. Right now there are over 1000 reservists on continuous full-time service. The 2nd Division, the Reserve Division, has responsibility to maintain the campaign in the Solomon Islands. Right now without the Army Reserve we would be hard pressed to be doing what we are doing. There is an enormous change occurring within the Reserve. Recruiting and retention numbers are up. We have asked them to be both ready and relevant. Ready for the task at hand, this is not three to five years turnout with brigades. This is right now. Relevant to rebuild broken communities. These are the skills that the Reserve can bring to the modern battlefield. They are town planners, they are linguists, they are familiar with culture, they are power, water and sewerage reticulation experts.”

Army reservists farewelled to Solomon Islands, Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson, Media release 49/2006, 4 April 2007

“More than 100 Army Reservists drawn from New South Wales based units will soon deploy overseas to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) – the largest independent deployment of NSW-based Reservists since World War II. The highly skilled contingent which includes some Regular Army specialists, has been drawn from 8th and 5th Brigades (under the banner of the Royal New South Wales Regiment). It comprises a headquarters and an infantry company, supported by signallers, armoured corps personnel, engineers, drivers and medics.

“In preparation for the deployment, the Reserve soldiers have undergone several weeks of intensive training and preparation such as Force Preparation Course and Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Canungra in Queensland…The Force Preparation Course also covered areas such as environmental awareness, cultural and social traditions and language skills.”

They will make us proud”, Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson, North Shore Times, Wednesday, 11 April 2007

“For the first time since the end of World War Two, Australia has deployed a fully formed army reserve unit overseas. Many of those young men and women come from our community. As Defence Minister it was my honour to see them off on behalf of our grateful and proud nation. After six weeks intensive training at Canungra, these soldiers will for the next four months be the front line in Australia’s military commitment to one of our neighbours. Having selflessly joined the Reserves from a wide variety of walks of life, they will now patrol the streets of the Solomon Islands with the Australian flag on their shoulder and the army rising sun above their heads.”

More Reserves Deploy To Solomon Islands – Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Peter Lindsay, Media release, Parlsec 084/2007, 3 August 2007

With their official farewell to the Solomon Islands today, almost 150 part-time soldiers from Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia are ready to join the largest deployment of Army Reservists on operations overseas since World War II. The Reservists, from the Victorian 4th Brigade and South Australian/Tasmanian based 9th Brigade, have been training in North Queensland for the past several weeks….The soldiers will become part of Operation ANODE, the Australian Defence Force contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).”

2006

Queensland employers to travel to Solomon Islands to see reservists in field, Defence Media Release CPA 005/06Friday, 13 January 2006

“A group of 16 employers from Southern Queensland will travel to the Solomon Islands next week as part of a Defence program designed to encourage employer support for the Reserves. The employers, from organisations including Myer, Domino’s Pizza, and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, will leave Australia on Tuesday (17 January) and visit the deployed force that includes about 30 Army Reservists from Southern Queensland’s 7th Brigade. The 7th Brigade soldiers are deployed on Operation Anode – the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).”

Parliamentary secretary visits troops in Solomon Islands, Senator Sandy Macdonald, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Media release 94/2006, 8 December 2006

Senator Macdonald said the next rotation of soldiers due to deploy to the Solomons in January [2007] will be predominantly Reserve personnel.

“ ‘This is acknowledgement of the increasingly important role that the Reserve has to play in supporting the regular force.  In the field they are undistinguishable from the regulars, but in-between their training and operational work, they also hold down full-time jobs in our local communities.’”

Territorial Force to take on Solomons, NZDF website, 11 October 2006

“The New Zealand Army’s Territorial Force is getting ready to take a major role in maintaining peace in the Solomon Islands.  The Minister of Defence announced today that Territorial Force soldiers will make up the majority of personnel deploying to the troubled region over the next 12 months.”

2005

Reserve unit’s largest deployment in 60 years, WO2 Graham McBean, Army – the soldiers’ newspaper, 17 November 2005

“More than 40 reservists deployed to the Solomon Islands on October 30 [2005] as part of 9RQR’s largest collective operation in the 60 years since World War II. The 9RQR and 25/49RQR soldiers deployed as the seventh ADF rotation to RAMSI. Soldiers were relieved that the three months of barrier testing and lead-up training had finally come to a close and were eager to deploy and do the job.”

 

See also:

ADF elements in Solomon Islands

Updated: 24 August 2009