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| Infantry units and formations of Australia | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Australian infantry units and formations |
| Dates | 1901–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | battalions, regiments, brigades, divisions |
| Garrison | Canberra |
Infantry units and formations of Australia are the land combat arms of the Australian Army responsible for close combat, manoeuvre and securing terrain. Australian infantry trace lineage from colonial units such as the New South Wales Corps, Victoria Rifles, and Queensland Mounted Rifles through to the Australian Imperial Force of the First World War and the citizen soldiery of the Citizen Military Forces and Australian Military Forces in the Second World War. Modern infantry maintain traditions, battle honours and organisational structures that link formations from the Gallipoli campaign and the Western Front to operations in Kokoda Track campaign, Korean War, Vietnam War, East Timor, and Operation Slipper.
The military development of Australian infantry began with colonial militias such as the New South Wales Corps and colonial volunteer units that served in the Crimean War and against the Eureka Stockade. Federation in 1901 created the Australian Army and raised the 1st Australian Division for the First World War, which fought at Gallipoli, the Western Front, the Battle of Fromelles, and the Battle of Hamel. Between wars, militia reforms, including the Universal Training Scheme and the Militia Ordinance, shaped the Citizen Military Forces that fought in the Second World War against Japanese advances at the Kokoda Track campaign, the Battle of Milne Bay, and in Borneo. Post‑1945 commitments saw infantry deployments to the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesia–Malaysia Konfrontasi, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, peacekeeping in Bougainville, East Timor, and stabilisation operations in Iraq and Afghanistan under operations such as Operation Catalyst and Operation Slipper.
Contemporary infantry is organised under the 1st Division and subordinate brigades including the 1st Brigade (Australia), 3rd Brigade (Australia), 7th Brigade (Australia), and the 6th Brigade (Australia). Regular Army battalions include regiments such as the Royal Australian Regiment with battalions like 1 RAR, 2 RAR, 3 RAR, 4 RAR, 5 RAR, and specialised units such as the 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (amphibious). Mechanised and motorised elements integrate with formations such as the 3rd Brigade (Australia)'s combat teams and the 1st Armoured Regiment (Australia) for combined arms. Command and control nested within Forces Command (Australia) links to higher formations including Chief of Army (Australia) oversight and joint operations with the Australian Defence Force.
Reserve infantry are organised within the Australian Army Reserve and historical militia lineages continue in regiments like the Royal New South Wales Regiment, Royal Victoria Regiment, Royal Queensland Regiment, Royal South Australia Regiment, Royal Western Australia Regiment, and Royal Tasmanian Regiment. These regiments supply battalions such as 4 RAR, which have been amalgamated and re‑roled over time under programs including Plan Beersheba and structural reforms in the Land 400 and Adaptive Army initiatives. Reserve forces routinely support domestic operations coordinated with the National Coordination Mechanism and state emergency agencies during crises like bushfires and floods.
Australian special and commando infantry include the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), the 2nd Commando Regiment, as well as historic units such as the Z Special Unit (Z Force) and the 2/1st Independent Company. These units trace precedence to irregular formations from the Second World War that conducted raids in the South West Pacific Area and later to counter‑insurgency operations in Malaya and direct action in Afghanistan. Special forces integrate capabilities with the Special Operations Command (Australia) and maintain interoperability with allied units like the British SAS, United States Army Special Forces, and New Zealand Special Air Service.
Infantry training is conducted at institutions such as the School of Infantry (Australia), the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and regional depots including the Army Recruit Training Centre (Kapooka). Doctrine aligns with publications issued by the Chief of Army and joint doctrine in coordination with Australian Defence Force concepts; notable doctrinal influences include lessons from the Kokoda Track campaign, the Korean War, and contemporary counter‑insurgency guidance from British Army and United States Army exchanges. Equipment ranges from small arms like the EF88 Austeyr and F88 Austeyr family and crew‑served weapons to support platforms including the M1 Abrams (in armoured brigades), ASLAV/Boxer vehicles, and support from aviation assets of the Royal Australian Air Force and fires from the Australian Army Artillery.
Infantry units hold battle honours for actions at Gallipoli, Somme, Bullecourt, Polygon Wood, Villiers-Bretonneux, Kokoda, Milne Bay, El Alamein, Korea, Long Tan, Binh Ba, East Timor, and operations in Afghanistan. Regimental histories document individual honours awarded to soldiers including the Victoria Cross (Australia), recipients like Albert Jacka, John Simpson Kirkpatrick (memorialised), Keith Payne, and more recent awardees recognized for actions in Vietnam War and Iraq.
Regimental colours, unit marches, and insignia reflect lineage from colonial volunteer corps to contemporary battalions. Cap badges of the Royal Australian Regiment, shoulder flashes of state regiments, unit marches such as Waltzing Matilda variants, and ceremonial practices at memorials like the Australian War Memorial maintain continuity. Lineage is preserved through unit amalgamations recorded in Army orders and commemorated on battle honour boards in barracks such as Gallipoli Barracks, with affiliations to schools, community groups, and veterans' organisations like the Returned and Services League of Australia.