Part of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC), the regiment is attached to the 9th Brigade, 2nd Division and currently operates Land Rover four wheel and six wheel drive vehicles.
In 1976 the regiment was reduced to a Squadron and was equipped with the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), which it operated in the armoured reconnaissance role.
In 2006, the regiment converted from the APC to the light cavalry role; in doing so it handed back its M113 APCs and began operating Land Rover four and six wheel drives.
Light Cavalry Regiments are units that can operate either in a mounted or dismounted role. The units are equipped with either the Light Cavalry Patrol Vehicle and the Interim Infantry Mobility Vehicle or the Bushmaster. A Light Cavalry unit’s manning and equipment enable it to conduct a variety of tasks including reconnaissance, surveillance, offensive, defensive, security, peace keeping and support operations.
The motto of 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) is ‘Nec Aspera Terrent’, which is Latin for ‘Difficulties be Damned’.