Australian Defence Force
|
|
The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 active duty personnel. This exceeds the current target of 50,000 personnel because of short-term increases necessary to fulfill Australia's commitment in East Timor. The military although small numerically is technologically sophisticated. It also plays a significant role in peacekeeping operations around the world, and is the most powerful in Oceania.
It is composed of the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF,) and the Special Operations Command. Australia's Department of Defence administers the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) consisting of the ADF and the civilian personnel supporting the ADF. The civilian support consists of activities such as the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) that purchases and maintains defence equipment, and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) that provides science and technology support to the defence forces.
| Contents |
Legal standing
The ADF is constituted under the Executive Government sections of the Australian Constitution, Section 68, that says, "The command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the Governor-General as the Queen's representative." (The queen referred to in this Act of 9th July 1900 was Victoria. No mention of the air force is made, as aircraft were not then invented. Subsidiary and subsequent legislation handles these matters.)
In practice, the control of the ADF is, politically, vested in the Minister for Defence and several subordinate ministers. The Minister acts on most matters alone, however, important matters are considered by the National Security Committee of Cabinet. The Minister then advises the Governor-General who acts as advised in the normal form of executive government.
Officers of the ADF are commissioned by a document personally signed by the Governor-General.
Current Operations
Operation Sumatra Assist
- Australian Defence contribution to disaster relief in Indonesia
ADF personnel were deployed within hours of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. They served mainly in Aceh province of Indonesia. Army medical staff were prominent, with Air Force helicopters and cargo aircraft, supported offshore by HMAS Kanimbla and its two Sea King helicopters.
Phase 2
At about 0930UTC 2 April 2005, one of the Sea King helicopters crashed on the island of Nias off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia during the humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of the 2005 Sumatran earthquake. Nine Australian Defence Force personnel were killed (seven men and two women); reports say there were 6 Navy and 3 Air Force personnel. Two others were recovered alive from the site by the other Sea King operating from HMAS Kanimbla and transferred to it for medical assistance in its hospital facilities. [1] (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=4753) [2] (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1336960.htm)
Operation Anode
- Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands
Operation Catalyst
- Rehabilitation of Iraq
Operation Spire
- Defence Support to Timor-Leste
Operation Slipper
- Australia's contribution to the international Coalition against Terrorism
Chiefs of the Australian Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (CDF)
The position of Chief of the Defence Force was created after amending Defence legislation and came into effect on 25 October 1984.
- Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AO from 4 July 2005 (announced 17 April 2005 by Prime Minister John Howard)
- General Peter Cosgrove, AC, MC 4 July 2002 to 3 July 2005
- Admiral Chris Barrie, AC, RAN 4 July 1998 to 3 July 2002
- General John Baker, AC, DSM 7 July 1995 to 3 July 1998
- Admiral Alan Beaumont, AC, RAN 17 July 1993 to 6 July 1995
- General Peter Gration, AC, OBE 13 April 1987 to 16 April 1993
- General Sir Phillip Bennett, AC, KBE, DSO 16 October 1984 to 12 April 1987
Chief of Defence Force Staff (CDFS)
The position of Chief of Defence Force Staff was created after amending Defence legislation and came into effect on 9 February 1976.
- General Sir Phillip Bennett, KBE, AO, DSO 13 April 1984 to 25 October 1984
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara, KBE, AO, AFC, AE 21 April 1982 to 12 April 1984
- Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot, KBE, AO 21 April 1979 to 20 April 1982
- General Sir Arthur MacDonald, KBE, CB 21 April 1977 to 20 April 1979
- General Sir Francis Hassett, AC, KBE, CB, DSO, MVO 9 February 1976 to 20 April 1977
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
- General Sir Francis Hassett, AC, CB, CBE, DSO, MVO 24 November 1975 to 8 February 1976
- Admiral Sir Victor Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC 23 November 1970 to 23 November 1975
- General Sir John Wilton, KBE, CB, DSO 19 May 1966 to 22 November 1970
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger, KBE, CB, DSO, AFC 28 May 1961 to 18 May 1966
- Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling, KBE, CB, DSO 23 March 1959 to 27 May 1961
- Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells, KBE, CB, DSO 23 March 1958 to 22 March 1959
Reference
- CIA World Factbook, 2005
External links
- Australian Department of Defence (http://www.defence.gov.au)