Mission and doctrine
The Army's principal missions are territorial defence, protection of vital ports, amphibious operations and support to the Navy. Its equipment combines allied designs with Australian communications, electronic protection and support arrangements. Standardised interfaces and maintenance make this mixture manageable.
The regular Army maintains conventional infantry and armour as well as special operations. Special-forces methods inform reconnaissance, small-unit training and island operations, but ordinary infantry, engineers and artillery remain necessary for holding ground and sustaining a campaign.
Amphibious division
2 RAR remains a battalion and becomes the founding core of the 2nd Australian Amphibious Division, established in 1956. The division is an Army formation assigned to joint maritime operations. Its larger establishment includes additional infantry, landing and transport units, engineers, medical support, electronic warfare, artillery and command elements. Calling the division amphibious does not mean every tank or vehicle can swim; equipment is selected and transported to suit the operation.
Formations and support
| Formation or branch | Function in the national programme |
|---|---|
| 1 RAR | Traditional infantry for territorial defence, field operations and reinforcement |
| 2 RAR | Founding amphibious infantry battalion and centre of maritime infantry training |
| 2nd Australian Amphibious Division | Joint expeditionary formation built around the 2 RAR tradition, supporting landings and island campaigns |
| 1st Armoured Regiment | Mobile protected firepower, reconnaissance support and counterattack capability |
| Artillery and air defence | Field fire support and defence of formations, ports and critical infrastructure |
| Special operations | Reconnaissance, specialist intervention and support to joint missions |
| Engineers and logistics | Landing support, mobility, construction, repair, transport and sustainment |
| Signals and electronic warfare | Protected communications, surveillance integration and mission-specific electronic support |
| Territorial reserves | Local defence, mobilisation reinforcement and civil-defence support across the Commonwealth |
Veterans and deployment costs
The division's repeated deployments give the Navy and Army a common operational culture. They also make medical services, casualty care and post-service employment central political issues. A nation built around veterans must continue supporting them after the campaign ends.