Open letter to CO and RSM, 1st Armoured Regiment

Dear Commanding Officer and RSM,
1st Armoured Regiment

You may not be aware, but the Army and (surprisingly) the Armoured Corps, have imposed a ‘blackout’ concerning the decision-making process which led to 1 Armd Regt being given a new, non-RAAC, role.

One would’ve hoped for the widest possible consultation, but the then 2 Cav Regt Honorary Colonel has advised that he had “zero consultation and zero pre-warning”. This is very surprising, given the significant impact on his unit.

One can’t but wonder what the history of 1 Armd Regt and the RAAC will say about 2023-2025. Obviously, you’ll be able to describe the circumstances affecting yourselves and the what’s left of the Regiment, but what do you know about: the discussions that took place at a high level; the options and alternatives considered; who had the greatest influence and the reasons for this; and whether records were kept of the decisions made? Without doubt, a detailed compilation of events will be recorded at some stage.

Initially it was thought that the lack of housing in Townsville was the issue and that the new role would only be a temporary one. Now it seems that the intention was always to have 2 Cav Regt command four squadrons; with the consequential budget savings being the driving factor.

The Head of Corps has asked veterans to get behind the Regiment and support it in its new role. This is impossible, however, as long as the Chief of Army declines to explain why he decided to make the unit a non-combatant, forfeiting its 75-year heritage crewing tanks.

As you know, the bond formed by crews extends into all parts of a tank regiment and makes it a unique entity. Without this, it seems inappropriate for the unit to continue to be named 1st Armoured Regiment; especially when it is no longer involved in closing with and engaging the enemy. The Regiment’s title can be restored when it becomes a tank regiment again (which will undoubtedly happen, despite the retraining cost).

Given that C Sqn is the sub-unit undertaking the trials activities, presumably its organisation (as well as that of RHQ) has changed considerably … lending itself to a new identity, one more akin to the role actually being performed.

Is this something you would support, or do you want to continue to be an RAAC unit with a non-RAAC role?

Yours sincerely,

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

 

FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment talks to a British Army soldier from 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, about emerging technologies during Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PCC5) in Fort Irwin, California, 9 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

.

.


.


.