Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps

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 of explosives and salvage of battle-damaged equipment. The Corps contains clerks, operator supplies (including q-store staff, warehouse staff and food technicians), petroleum operators, parachute riggers and ammunition technicians. [cite web
title =Defence Jobs: Non-Technical Trades
publisher =Australian Department of Defence
url =http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/default.asp?p=554
accessdate = 2007-03-28 ]

Unlike other Corps within the Australian Army, there are no longer any RAAOC specific units, instead RAAOC sub-units sit within mixed units such as Combat Service Support Battalions (CSSBs) or Force Support Battalions (FSBs). RAAOC is also responsible for clerks and quartermaster store staff in all Australian Army Units.

History

The Corps traces its history back to federation where General Edward Hutton started the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. The Corps gained its Royal prefix for its work during the second world war.

The RAAOC motto translates from Latin to 'To the warrior his arms, to the thunderer his thunder bolts'. The RAAOC badge originates from the Board of Ordnance in the United Kingdom.

On May 31, 1973 the Royal Australian Army Service Corps ceased to exist and the responsibilities of road, transport, air dispatch and postal functions were handed over to the Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT) who were formed on the 1st June 1973. The responsibilities of provision of foodstuffs and POL (petrol oil lubricants) was handed over to the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC).

Structure

Members of the ordnance corps will be found serving in most Army units and headquarters. The primary Regular Army units manned by RAAOC soldiers are:

Combat Service Support units

Supply Company 1 Combat Service Support Battalion (Darwin),

Supply Company 3 Combat Service Support Battalion (Townsville),

Supply Company 7 Combat Service Support Battalion (Brisbane).

Force-level units

2 Field Supply Company (FSC) as part of 10 Force Support Battalion (Townsville)

37 FSC as part of 9 Force Support Battalion (now forming in Amberley).

1 Petrol Company (Reserve) as part of 9 Force Support Battalion (Melbourne)

6 Supply Platoon (Reserve) as part of 2 Force Support Battalion (Hobart)

However, many Regular Army RAAOC trades are posted to units of all Regular and Reserve units throughout the Australian Defence Force as clerks, storemen(-persons) and other administrative and support roles.

RAAOC BOSCs

The Army Reserve element of the Corps used to also consist primarily of Supply Companies, with 4, 5, 8, 11, 13 Supply Company of each Combat Service Support Battalion of the respective numbered Brigades in each state.These supply companies have recently been replaced by BOSCs in each Reserve Brigade - amalgamating the Regular RAAOC cadre staff in each Brigade into the BOSCs along with their Reserve counterparts. This has also involved a change of trade in the BOSCS from wharehousing (in the old reserve Supply Companies) to q-store streams.

RAAOC Trades

Storeman - can be employed as Unit Q-store staff or in Warehousingalso has sub-specialities: Food Inspector, SDSS system managers, etc

Clerk, Admin - General admin role (filing, typing, records, etc)

Parachute Rigger - pack and repair parachutes for troops or cargo (all jump-qualified)

Petroleum Operator - bulk fuel shipping and storage (tankers, big rubber bladders etc)

Ammunition Technical Officer/Ammunition Technician - ammunition and explosives repair, storage, maintenance and disposal (EOD)and(IEDD)

----(General comments)The ECN 298 trade has almost died except for RPS and RIS.

Someone thought Q staff and yardy's are the same trade privates are crossed trained. At CPL level and above is where you specialise. So those chosen the 298 stream at CPL level either try and get a job as mentioned above or transfer over and start again.

Colours

The colours of the Ordnance Corps are scarlet, in reference to their link with the combat Corps, and dark blue. Unit colour patches Consist of a large scarlet square on a dark blue background, with a dark blue geometric shape in the middle.

Training

RAAOC training and Corps HQ is based at Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC) at Bandiana in rural Victoria. The length of training for soldiers of the Ordnance Corps varies between 5 weeks for an administrative clerk, to the 32 week Ammunition Technician course. To train as an ammunition technician, a member must have a minimum of three years in and have achieved the rank of Corporal.cite web
title =Stay Army: Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
publisher =Australian Department of Defence
url =http://www.defence.gov.au/ARMY/stayarmy/RAAOC_files/RAAOC.html
accessdate = 2007-03-28 ]

Order of precedence

ee also

*Royal Army Ordnance Corps
*Royal Logistic Corps

Footnotes