Royal Australian Regiment

The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the parent administrative regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. It was originally formed in 1948 as a three battalion regiment; however, since then its size has fluctuated as battalions have been raised, amalgamated or disbanded in accordance with the Australian government's strategic requirements. Currently, the regiment consists of seven battalions and has fulfilled various roles including those of light, parachute, motorised and mechanised infantry. Throughout its existence, units of the Royal Australian Regiment have deployed on operations in Japan, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Rwanda, Cambodia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Royal Australian Regiment
Cap badge of the Royal Australian Regiment
Active23 November 1948 – present
CountryAustralia
BranchArmy
TypeLine infantry
RoleMechanised infantry (3 battalions)
Motorised infantry (3 battalions)
Amphibious infantry (1 battalion)
SizeSeven battalions
Part ofRoyal Australian Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ1st Battalion – Townsville
2nd Battalion – Townsville
3rd Battalion – Townsville
5th Battalion – Palmerston
6th Battalion – Enoggera
7th Battalion – Adelaide
8th/9th Battalion – Enoggera
Nickname(s)1st Battalion – The Pony Soldiers or The Big Blue One
2nd Battalion – Second to None
3rd Battalion – Old Faithful
4th Battalion – The Fighting Fourth
5th Battalion – The Tiger Battalion
6th Battalion – Bluedog
7th Battalion – The Pigs
8th Battalion – The Grey Eight
8th/9th Battalion – Old Dependable Brisbane's Own
Motto(s)Duty First
Colours3rd Battalion and 6th Battalion entitled to wear the Unit Citation for Gallantry and the US PUC streamers on the Regimental Colour; whilst the 1st Battalion has been awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry, the US MUC and Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam) streamers on the Regimental Colour
MarchQuick – El Alamein (Band); Black Bear (Pipes and Drums)
Slow – Infantry Song
Mascot(s)1st Battalion – Shetland pony "Septimus"
3rd Battalion – None
4th Battalion – None
5th Battalion – Sumatran tiger "Quintus Rama"
6th Battalion – Blue Heeler Corporal "Ridgeliegh Blue"
8th/9th Battalion – Merino ram John "Stan the Ram" Macarthur
Commanders
Current
commander
Major General Shane Caughey
(Colonel commandant)
Colonel of
the Regiment
General David Hurley
(Governor-General of Australia)
Insignia
Unit colour patches
TartanThe Australian (2 and 7 RAR piper's kilts and plaids)
Royal Stewart (3 RAR piper's kilts and plaids)
AbbreviationRAR
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