Pilbara Regiment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Pilbara Regiment |
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Cap badge of the Pilbara Regiment
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| Active | 26 January 1982 – present |
| Country |  Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Line infantry |
| Role | Regional force surveillance |
| Size | One regiment |
| Part of | Regional Force Surveillance Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Karratha |
| Motto(s) | Mintu Wanta (Always Alert) |
| March | Quick - Always Alert |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch |  |
The Pilbara Regiment is a special army group in the Australian Army Reserve. Think of them as the "eyes and ears" of northern Australia. They are one of three groups that watch over and explore the huge, remote areas of the north. Most of their members are based in the Pilbara region of north-west Australia.
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What Does The Pilbara Regiment Do?
The main job of the Pilbara Regiment is to gather important information for the Australian Army. They do this by watching and exploring the north-west part of Australia, especially the Pilbara region. This helps the Australian Defence Force keep the country safe.
They are responsible for a massive area, about 1.5 million square kilometres! This stretches from Port Hedland down to Geraldton in Western Australia. It also goes from the coast all the way to the border with the Northern Territory. This huge area is about one-sixth of Australia's total land size.
To know this area well, they do a lot of exploring. They go on patrols by foot, in vehicles, and even by boat. They also set up hidden spots to watch from. Plus, they talk a lot with police, customs officers, and local people who live in the area. This helps them stay informed about everything happening.
History of the Pilbara Regiment
Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Australia realised it needed a stronger military presence in its northern parts. This led to a plan to create a network of land, sea, and air surveillance. Part of this plan was to create special army reserve units. These units would act as the "eyes and ears" on the ground.
The Pilbara Regiment was formed to work specifically in the Pilbara region. Other similar units were created in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland. The Pilbara Regiment first started as a smaller group, called the 5th Independent Rifle Company, on 26 January 1982. It was led by Major David Hudson. Later, in 1985, it grew bigger and became a full regiment.
On 1 March 2010, the Pilbara Regiment became part of a larger group called the 6th Brigade. Then, on 4 October 2018, all three of these special surveillance units (including the Pilbara Regiment) joined together under a new main headquarters. This new group is called the Regional Force Surveillance Group.
How the Regiment is Organised
As of 2017, The Pilbara Regiment is made up of several parts. It has a main headquarters and different squadrons. A squadron is like a smaller team within the regiment.
Here are the main parts of the regiment:
- Regimental Headquarters
- 1 Squadron
- 2 Squadron
- 3 Squadron
- Training Support Squadron
- Operational Support Squadron
The main headquarters is located in the town of Karratha. Most of the other teams are spread out across the Pilbara region. However, 3 Squadron is located further south in Perth.
See Also
- NORFORCE
- Far North Queensland Regiment
- Australian Army
- Australian Defence Force
