Damage to the RAAC: How Much More Can we Possibly Suffer?

The damage so far:

• 1 Armd Regt stripped of its tanks and made a non-combatant, losing all crew skills and tank craft accumulated during years of training;
• 3 Brigade (the Army’s only armoured brigade) forced to operate short a tank squadron, a cavalry squadron and a battlegroup headquarters;
• 2 Cav Regt forced to become a dual-role tank and cavalry unit, missing out on developing the expertise that benefits a homogeneous unit (as reaffirmed during the armoured cavalry regiment ‘trial’);
• The RAAC missing out on 1 Armd Regt capitalising on training and gaining experience/promotion opportunities in its operational role;
• The RAAC missing out on training and gaining experience/promotion opportunities in its operational role for a tank squadron, cavalry squadron and regimental headquarters; and
• The RAAC’s reputation shredded in terms being the leading Corps for manoeuvre warfare advice and guidance.

Damage to the RAAC is likely to continue until the current Chief of Army leaves office. How long does his term of duty have to go?

Taking the average for the last four CAs, gives three years and six months. This suggests that the next CA will be appointed around the start of 2026.

Should the new CA revoke the decision to employ 1st Armoured Regiment as the Combat Experimentation Group (CXG), how long will it take for the RAAC to reclaim its combat capability? A guesstimate …

• New CXG raised and handover with 1 Armd Regt: six months;
• 1 Armd Regt RHQ raised in Townsville to command tank sqns: six months;
• Intense crew and troop training to familiarize tank crews with M1A2 SEP v3: four months;
• Third tank and cavalry squadrons raised/squadron training: four months.

So … the RAAC operational capability sacrificed for a minimum of four years (2024-2028) to provide a non-combatant Combat Experimentation Group (CXG), at a time when the nation’s strategic circumstances are described as ‘most perilous’.

Of course, the new CA may decide to maintain 1 Armd Regt as the CXG, presumably changing the role of the RAAC and permanently enshrining it as a Corps comprising two combat units only.

Maybe this is what the RAAC deserves, given the apparent apathy shown by its leadership.

Why hasn’t the damage that’s been done to the Corps, been publicly highlighted (other than in CONTACT magazine)?

Taking the easy way out and waiting for the next CA just isn’t good enough.

We used to be better than this.

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

 

FILE PHOTO (November 2021): Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, patrol through Cowley Beach Training Area during the combined arms training activity. Photo by Corporal Brodie Cross.