Ive been following this tread pretty closley,and there are some pretty good points brought up,however some i disagree with. someone suggested that the RAAF ADGies assume the CSAR role. Why? They RAAF dont operate a rotary wing,an essential tool for CSAR. The ADGies are best left doing defence operations of RAAF assets,freeing up INF for aggessive patroling.
As for the SASR losing the TAG role....that may have some merit,but to do so i think the AFP should dedicate a larger force that is trained to the SAME standard. 4RAR have the TAG east role,and a lot of rivelry exsists between them and the SAS. That is turning towards bitterness already.I reckon SOCOMD knows what they are doing,and what is required. I just hope that they dont give the ADGies the SAR role.
SASR personnel comprise a large component of TAG-E as WELL as TAG-W.
Not everyone in 4RAR is qualified to perform duties within the TAG. It is not the case as it is with the British 22nd SAS Regt where an entire Squadron rotates in as the online CRW unit, but rather a composite formation of SASR operators and "qualified" personnel in 4RAR. This is possibly where the "conflict" stems from.
Given the fact that the SASR maintained TAG has existed since 1978 and the combined TAG-E has existed since roughly 2002 and NEITHER has been used operationally even once, I consider it a waste that 2 such organisations are maintained.
Each TAG is roughly double the size of a Police Tactical Team within Australia. Where does ANYONE imagine that such a large force will be used? In my opinion they exist due to political expediency, NOT operational necessity.
At the end of the day local police and Police Tactical Teams WILL comprise the initial response to a terrorist incident, regardless of size or nature. The ADF may THEN be called to assist if it is beyond the capacity of the police to handle. The police don't simply hand the job over to the ADF though and go home for dinner. The police still have to investigate it. The police will be responsible for preparing the Coronial reports into the matter once it's resolved and the police are responsible for handling the incident up until tactical command is handed over to ADF, ie: for an "aggressive resolution".
As for the AFP taking over the role, the biggest problem with that is the AFP is too small. People seem to imagine the AFP as being equivalent to the FBI. They might like to think of themselves as this too, but the trtuh is VERY far from this. SOCOMD itself for example numbers almost as much as the entire AFP and the AFP, like the State police forces doesn't have the resources to cover the role that SOCOMD and ADF generally have. The TAG's are required to maintain an "offshore" CT capability too remember?
Are you prepared to equip an AFP "airwing" with C-130 Hercules, air dropped RHIB's, train AFP members in parachuting operations? Equip AFP with long ranged and large fleets of military equivalent helicopters? Train the AFP in covert insertions from submarines?
The AFP is stretched to the limit at present providing the IDG, "regional airport response units" it's domestic investigations role and providing the ACT police force. I really don't think it has the capacity to take over the roles that TAG E/W cover.
BTW, all Australia police tactical teams (including AFP) and the TAG's are trained to the same levels. This is mandated under the NCTP. They all exercise together on a regular basis and are capable of forming composite organisations for larger scale incidents when required.... (Don't tell anyone but, it's a secret...
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AS for the ADGIES getting some sort of special forces role? HA!
THEY and THEY alone consider themselves "elite" when in reality they are nothing more then general infantry, performing the role of air field defence. There's no shame in that, but for some reason most of them seem to think that they are more than that. Basic training, IET and the competencies on their course reports show that they are not, but still...
Another problem with the ADGIES is their overall size. The ADGIE Squadrons in total come to less than a single infantry battalion in overall numbers. The CSAR role belongs to 4RAR.
The ADGIES are neither equipped nor trained for the role and the assets to enable them to do so are held by Army, which ALSO has a CSAR requirement due to it's helo assets...
