27 October 2022
Let me begin by saying how wonderful it is to be back on the land of the Kaurna people, and I pay my respect to their elders past, present and emerging.
And because our Army has a long and very proud history of Indigenous service, I would like to also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have contributed to the defence of Australia in times of peace and war.
Our Army is transforming to meet the demands of our Nation and its circumstances in the 21st Century. Every one of us; every soldier, team, unit and formation is an integral part of our transformation.
We are introducing new and transformed capabilities such as long-range fires, littoral manoeuvre based on our 1st Brigade, cyber, space, and a functionally based special operations capability.
We are modernising our scalable, world-class combined arms fighting system.
We are enhancing the capability and capacity of our health, logistics, engineering and aviation capabilities, as well as the way in which we command, manage and organise to better modernise, scale, and contribute to mobilisation.
Most importantly, we are equally active in modernising ways in which people can serve (whether it’s full-time, part-time or a mix of both) and transforming the way we train, educate and experience our people and our teams.
Underpinning all these enhancements is our application of new and emerging technologies.
These efforts ensure our Army remains relevant and credible. Adapting, evolving and transforming to ensure we are ready now and future ready.
This evening is an important step in our Army’s continued adaptation. We gather to formalise command, management and organisational adjustments to the 1st Brigade and 9th Brigade, simplifying command and control and improving our Army’s scalability, resilience and readiness.
We are adjusting our posture by leveraging the potential of the Total Workforce System (full-time, part-time and everything in between) and investing capability and capacity here in South Australia.
Along with the changes there is also a sense of continuity.
Raised with the introduction of the compulsory training scheme in 1912, the 9th Brigade has always served the nation and risen to the challenges of its day.
During the First World War, it formed part of the Australian Imperial Force where it saw service on the Western Front in France and Belgium – fighting with distinction at Messines, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux and Morlancourt.
The 9th Brigade was disbanded with the AIF in 1921 and re-raised as part of the Citizen Military Force, and since that time, has generated part-time land forces to serve in the defence of Australia and its national interests.
This includes service in Australia during the Second World War, the Solomon Islands, and operations in Timor Leste and Afghanistan.
Today, the 9th Brigade is rebuilding and refocusing on operational readiness – specifically for the missions that Army contributes to the Joint Force and those that only an Army can do.
Its role is to generate force elements up to Battle Group in size to build readiness for the broadest range of missions.
This is no small task.
This evening’s parade formalises the transfer of authority of the following 1st Brigade units:
- The 1st Armoured Regiment
- 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and
- Adelaide-based elements of the 1st Combat Services Support Battalion.
As well as, 144th Signal Squadron from 8 Signals Regiment, 2nd Division.
All of which are transferring to the 9th Brigade, alongside the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australian Regiment, and the 9th Combat Services Support Battalion.
The 3rd/9th Light Horse, South Australian Mounted Rifles, will now come under the direct command of 1st Armoured Regiment.
Importantly, this parade also formalises the transfer of 9th Brigade from the 2nd Division to Forces Command after 28 years with the 2nd Division.
To the officers and soldiers of the 1st Brigade, the 9th Brigade, and all those in the 2nd Division and Forces Command who have enabled this important transition to occur: thank you.
Thank you for what you are doing and importantly the way you are doing it, ways that reflect our values, the imperative to change and the perseverance and determination to succeed regardless of the challenges that will inevitably present.
The 9th Brigade and our Army have a remarkable story to tell. Our Army’s story is overwhelmingly a powerful and positive one – a key part of Australia’s history and identity we share.
And tonight is another inflection point in our history. We respect the past and prepare for the future, by continuing to grow, transform and live up to 9th Brigade’s motto Non Nobis Sed Patriae (Not Self, but Country).
Congratulations 9th Brigade.
Good Soldiering.