Royal Australian Corps of Signals
Active	1901 – Present
Country	Australia
Allegiance	Australian Army
Branch	Australian Regular Army
Type	Field Army
Role	Military communications
Size	6 Regular Regiments
Motto	'Certa Cito', means 'Swift and Sure'. Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces Military communications, or Signals ( not to be confused with military Line of communications (LOC is a field of Military activities tactics
Colors	RASigs do not have Colours.
Engagements	RASigs are not awarded Battle Honours.
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	HRH The Princess Royal
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

Australia has the unique distinction of having had the first regularly formed signal unit in the British Empire. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) is one of the 'arms' (combat support corps) of the Australian Army. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems. The motto of the Signals Corps is Certa Cito and is translated as 'Swift and Sure', signifying the aim of the signal service - that communication be carried out with maximum speed and certainty. Like their British counterparts, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals' flag and hat badge feature Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, affectionately referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy" (the origin dates back to the merge with Engineers when the Engineer's band's Drum Major had a "Jimmy" on his staff). The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. "Alipes" redirects here For the Centipede Genus, see Alipes (centipede. ^[1]

Modern Army command and control systems demand reliable, high speed transfer of large volumes of data. Command and control can be defined as the exercise of Authority and Direction by a properly designated Commander over assigned and attached Forces The communications systems provided by Signals must keep pace with modern information technology. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support The control of the electromagnetic spectrum offers a decisive advantage in modern warfare and Electronic Warfare, listening to or interfering with enemy electronic transmissions, is a critical contribution by the Signals Corps to the Army's combat capability. The electromagnetic (EM spectrum is the range of all possible Electromagnetic radiation frequencies Electronic warfare ( EW) is the use of the Electromagnetic spectrum to effectively deny the use of this medium by an adversary while optimizing its use by friendly

On the battlefield Signals provides commanders with the means of controlling the battle using road and air dispatch services, radio, microwave and satellite links. A high technology computer switched digital network, capable of providing a high quality, high capacity, secure communications network is being introduced.

The Corps has recently taken over the responsibility for Army Information Systems. Signal Corps personnel now control large integrated information systems and are responsible for the installation and operation of local area networks using state-of-the art computer equipment.

Specialist roles in the Corps include Operator Bearer Systems (Parakeet operaters & Riggers also known in the Corps as "Linies"), Operator Specialist Communication Systems (Radio operators, also known as "Chooks"), Operator Command Support systems (information systems operators or "geeks" which manage and maintains computer networks and related equipment) and Electronic Warfare operators (also known as "bears"). The main technical role available in the Signals Corps is known as Technician Telecommunications Systems (techs), responsible for repairing and maintaining all items of electronic telecommunications equipment. ^[2][3][4]

History

Princess Anne passes behind the Princess Anne Banner at the 75th anniversary parade for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Princess Anne inspects troops at the 75th anniversary parade for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

The Princess Anne Banner

The Corps began in 1869 as a small "torpedo and signals corp", located in New South Wales and Victoria. The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC is the overall umbrella grouping of Regular Army and Army Reserve regiments equipped with armoured vehicles in the Australian Army The Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RA Inf is the parent corps for all infantry regiments of the Australian Army. Australian Army Aviation (AAAvn is a Corps of the Australian Army. The Special Air Service Regiment ( SASR) is a Special Forces Regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, normally referred to as the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA is descended from the original colonial artillery units prior The Royal Australian Engineers (RAE is a Corps of the Australian Army (although the word corps does not appear in their name or on their badge The Australian Army Intelligence Corps (AustInt is the intelligence Corps of the Australian Army, and currently consists of 169 officers and 232 other ranks The Royal Australian Chaplains' Department is an all-officer Corps within the Australian Army that provides Ordained Clergy to minister to the men The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC is a Corps of the Australian Army. The Royal Australian Corps of Transport is a Corps within the Australian Army that includes- truck drivers - movements operators- maritime operators The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC is the Corps within the Australian Army concerned with supply and administration as well as the demolition and disposal The Corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ( RAEME; pronounced Raymee is a Corps of the Australian Regular Army that has responsibility for The Australian Army Legal Corps consists of Regular and Reserve commissioned officers that provide specific legal advice to commanders and general legal advice to all ranks The Royal Australian Army Pay Corps is a Corps of the Australian Army. The Royal Australian Army Educational Corps (RAAEC is a specialist corps within the Australian Army, made up entirely of commissioned officers in the specialist service The Australian Army Band Corps (AABC is the Australian Army's musical branch These units existed until 1882, when they were disbanded. In 1885 a "signalling corps", composed of 1 officer and 12 other ranks, was created in South Australia and remained active until 1901. South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country ^[1]

After the inception of the Commonwealth Forces, an "Australian Corps of Signallers" was formed on 12th January, 1906. This day is recognised as the Signal Corps' birthday. The Corps remained as a self contained unit until 1911 when it was merged with Australian Engineers. ^[5]

On the 1st January 1925, the Australian Corps of Signals was formed and all Signals units were separated from the Australian Corps of Engineers. ^[1]

At the conclusion of World War II, a silver salver was presented to the Australian Corps of Signals by Princess Mary as a memento of the co-operation between the Royal Corps of Signals and the Australian Corps of Signals throughout the Second World War. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army.

On the 10th of November, 1948, His Majesty King George VI conferred the title "Royal" on the Australian Corps of Signals. The day is recognised a "Corps Day", and commemorative functions are held on, or as near as possible to, the 10th of November each year. ^[5]

Approval was given by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, the Signals Corps' Colonel-in-Chief, on the 10th of September, 1980 for the Corps to carry a banner bearing her Cipher. Princess Royal is a style customarily (but not automatically awarded by a British Monarch to his or her eldest daughter In the British and other Commonwealth armies the Colonel-in-Chief of a Regiment is its (usually royal) Patron. The banner is known as "The Princess Anne Banner", and was presented to the Signals Corps by the then Governor-General, The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen on the 29th of November, 1986. The term governor general or governor-general refers to a vice-regal representative of a Monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription Sir Ninian Martin Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE QC (born 15 June 1923 was the 20th Governor-General of Australia

On the 5th of July, 2000, a parade was held for her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia, marking the 75th anniversary of the Corps. Simpson Barracks is an Australian Army facility in the suburb of Macleod in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Watsonia is a Suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Banyule. ^[6]

Structure

The Royal Australian Signals Corps is divided into a number of regiments and squadrons, both Regular Army and Army Reserve. A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. A squadron is a small unit or formation of Cavalry, armour, Aircraft (including Balloons) or Warships Army A military reserve force is a military organization Each brigade of the Army has a Signals Squadron which forms part of the brigade's Command Support Regiment. A brigade is a Military unit Echelon: is The Army's two divisions each has a signal regiment. A division is a large Military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to thirty thousand soldiers

Regular Army

• Regiments
  • 1 Signal Regiment (DJHQ/1 Division) (formerly 1 Joint Support Unit)
    • 101 Signal Squadron
  • 7 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
  • 17th Signal Regiment (formerly 145 Signal Squadron)
• Squadrons
  • 102 Signal Squadron (3 Combat Signal Regiment) - 3 Brigade
  • 103 Signal Squadron (3 Combat Signal Regiment) - 3 Brigade
  • 104 Signal Squadron (1 Combat Signal Regiment) - 1 Brigade
  • 105 Signal Squadron (1 Combat Signal Regiment) - 1 Brigade
  • 110 Signal Squadron - Land Force HQ
  • 126 Signal Squadron - 4th (Commando) Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
  • 130 Signal Squadron - Logistic Support Force
  • 139 Signal Squadron (7 Command Support Regiment) - 7 Brigade
  • 152 Signal Squadron - Special Air Service Regiment

Army Reserve

• Regiments
  • 8 Signal Regiment - 2nd Division
• Squadrons
  • 108 Signal Squadron (4 Command Support Regiment) - 4 Brigade
  • 109 Signal Squadron (13 Command Support Regiment) - 13 Brigade
  • 141 Signal Squadron (11 Command Support Regiment) - 11 Brigade
  • 142 Signal Squadron (5 Command Support Regiment) - 5 Brigade
  • 144 Signal Squadron (9 Command Support Regiment) - 9 Brigade
  • 155 Signal Squadron (8 Command Support Regiment) - 8 Brigade
  • 301 Signal Squadron - 1st Commando Regiment

Colours

Tactical Recognition Flash

Domestic Colours

The Royal Australian Corps of Signals has two sets of colours, tactical and domestic. The 3rd Brigade of the Australian Army is an Infantry Brigade. The 3rd Brigade of the Australian Army is an Infantry Brigade. 1 Brigade is a formation of the Australian Army intended as its primary mechanised unit 1 Brigade is a formation of the Australian Army intended as its primary mechanised unit The 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, ( 4RAR) is the elite Infantry Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and is one of three combat-capable 7th Brigade is a Brigade of the Australian Army. The Brigade was first raised in 1915 and saw action in World War I and World War II The Special Air Service Regiment ( SASR) is a Special Forces Regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions 1st Commando Regiment is a reserve commando regiment of the Australian Army with a contingent of full-time cadre staff The Tactical colours are White on Royal blue. White symbolises the ribbons wound on the Caduceus of the God Hermes and the Blue representing the Royal Colours. The caduceus (/kəˈdjuːsiəs/ -ʃəs -ˈduː- κηρύκειον in Greek) or wand of Hermes is typically depicted as a short herald's staff Hermes ( Greek,, ˈhɝmiːz in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them of Shepherds and The domestic colours, sky blue on dark blue on dark green, represent the 3 mediums of communication: air, sea and land. ^[1]

Training

Soldiers joining the Signals Corps are given training specific to their field at the Defence Force School of Signals after first graduating from recruit training at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka. Army Recruit Training Centre is the official name denoted by the Australian Army Department of Defence since December 1 1998 for its Recruit Training Centre situated at Kapooka is a suburb in the south west of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. The School of Signals is a tri-service educational facility located on Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria. Simpson Barracks is an Australian Army facility in the suburb of Macleod in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Watsonia is a Suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Banyule. It is the home of the Signals Corps and the centre for defence training in communications and information systems for the Australian Defence Force. The school was previously located at Balcombe, Victoria, before moving to Watsonia in the late 1960s. ^[1] though Balcombe was maintained as a training location for some Signals and Army apprentice courses into the 1980s. The School also has an Electronic Warfare wing, called the Joint Telecommunications School, located on Borneo Barracks in Cabarlah, Queensland. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent ^[7]

Regardless of specialisation, all soldiers joining the Signals Corps first complete a six week Combat Signaller course which aims to provide basic Signals skills in radio, line and computing, as well as the operation and maintenance of generators and batteries. The course culminates in a field phase, usually held at Puckapunyal. Puckapunyal is an Australian Army base in north-central Victoria On successful completion of the Combat Signaller course, students will be placed in a holding platoon while they wait for their trade course to start. During this time students may be placed on other courses, such as driver training. ^[4]

• Operator Specialist Communications: The trade training for an operator runs for 33 weeks. Subjects include operation and maintenance of radio equipment, cryptographic equipment/security and field antennas. Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. An antenna is a Transducer designed to transmit or Receive electromagnetic waves In other words antennas convert electromagnetic waves into They are trained to operate a wide range of communications equipment, from hand held short range devices to global satellite systems and HF radios, in a variety of environments. This article is about artificial satellites For natural satellites also known as moons see Natural satellite. At the end of the trade training, it is expected that individuals are able to utilised the equipment from vehicle mounted or carried in backpacks. ^[8]

• Operator Electronic Warfare: Electronic Warfare operators attend a 44 week course at the Joint Telecommunications School, the only trade training not conducted at Simpson Barracks. The course teaches Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence fundamentals. ^[9]

• Operator Bearer Systems: Linies attend an 18 week course, incorporating the operation of satellite ground stations, the installation, maintenance, and recovery of field cable and telephony systems, and VHF/UHF Line of Sight telecommunications equipment. Very high frequency (VHF is the Radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Line-of-sight propagation refers to Electro-magnetic radiation including light emissions traveling in a straight line ^[10]

• Operator Command Support Systems: Operator Command Support Systems training is an 18 week Information Technology course consisting of subjects such as the fundamentals of computing, fault finding hardware and software problems and network operating systems, installation of applications, hardware and peripheral devices, user support, data communications and operation of a Field LAN detachment. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support ^[11]

• Technician Telecommunications Systems: Future Technicians first complete a year as an Operator Bearer Systems before commencing their ITT (Initial Trade Training). The ITT consists of TAFE Certificate IV in Electrotechnology, which incorporates theory, laboratory work and workplace practice. Technical and Further Education or TAFE (pronounced) institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses in Australia Although a civilian qualification, the 14 month course is conducted by the Defence Force at the Army School of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering in Bandiana, Victoria. Subjects studied include; fundamentals of semi-conductors, semi-conductor amplifiers, electrical circuits, series and parallel circuits, transistor transmitters and receivers, communication transmitters and receivers, microprocessors and logic. A semiconductor' is a Solid material that has Electrical conductivity in between a conductor and an insulator; it can vary over that In Electronics, a transistor is a Semiconductor device commonly used to amplify or switch electronic signals Laboratory work integrates the theory and practical components of the course, while workshop training aims to develop specialist craft skills and provides situations necessary to practice logical fault finding techniques. The certificate achieved upon completion of the course is a recognised civilian accreditation. The second course is the military IET course and runs for 22 weeks at the Defence Force School of Signals. It incorporates all aspects of the communications equipment used in Signals Units. The Subjects studied include satellite theory and equipment stations, circuit switch networks, telephone systems and local and wide area computer networks. ^[12]

At the end of any of the specialist or technical courses, the Corps members are generally, whether warranted or not, expected to be able operate or maintain any/all equipment that is powered by electrical current, from telephones to refrigerators.

The RASIGS corps is under going trade restructure. 'Techs' and 'linies' are merging into one trade. More information as available.

Equipment

Flag of the RASigs

Parakeet was the project name used by the Australian Army's mobile BTN (Battlefield Telecommunications Network). It was introduced into service in the mid 1990s through project JP65. At the time of its introduction, Project Parakeet was considered to be a highly advanced military communications system. Military communications, or Signals ( not to be confused with military Line of communications (LOC is a field of Military activities tactics It included secure voice and data trunking services. Secure voice (alternatively secure speech or ciphony) is a term in Cryptography for devices which are designed to provide voice encryption for voice This is about the network-design strategies for riding in auto cargo space see Trunking (auto, and for the UK term for electrical wireways see Electrical conduit#Trunking In 2002, the Defence Force raised Project JP2072 to upgrade its sub-systems. Today, years after it's introduction, it is still incorrectly referred to as Parakeet. ^[13]. The Parakeet suite of equipment is operated by members of the Operator Bearer Systems trade.

Order of precedence

External links

• Official Signals Corps Website
• Antique Australian military and domestic radio

Footnotes

References

• Australian Army Website. Australian Department of Defence. The Australian Department of Defence is an Federal Government Department Retrieved on 2007-03-17. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger