Australian Incident Response Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Incident Response Regiment (IRR) is the Australian Army
's premier Special Operations Engineer capability. The Regiment forms part of the Special Operations Command
. Its mission is to provide specialist response to threats involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) and/or explosive hazards. This includes other hazardous material and situations including fire. The IRR is an integral part of Australia's Domestic Counter-Terrorism
capability, and provides emergency response and rescue support to Australian Army
bases.
The IRR consists of about 300 military and civilian personnel (including Army reservists) and includes intelligence
, signals, medical, nursing, ordnance, transport, electrical and mechanical engineers, scientists and catering officers. The Regiment is defensive and protective by design, yet still keeps an offensive capability. Members of the IRR do not have to pass through special forces
selection or entry tests to join the unit, but in-house physical fitness tests have been developed.
or explosive incidents both domestically and in support of Australian forces deployed overseas in high threat environments. These could include:
IRR personnel are able to conduct high risk searches with detection equipment and dogs, disarm and dispose of a device, decontaminate and treat victims and the exposed area and analyse the hazardous material on site. The IRR used to assist State and Territory authorities' emergency response, with fire fighting
, aircraft and vehicle crash rescue
and urban search and rescue
expertise.
As a rapid response organisation, elements of the Regiment are maintained on short notices to move to incident sites at all times.
organisations. The Emergency Response Squadron was initially formed in 1999 from the existing Army Fire Service in response to the 1996 Blackhawk Helicopter disaster in the Townsville High Range training area. The Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron was formed in 1998 by expanding the existing Chemical Radiological Response Team.
The Incident Response Regiment is based on the Joint Incident Response Unit (JIRU) which was established in 2000 as part of the Australian Defence Force
's security arrangements for the Sydney Olympic Games. The JIRU incorporated the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron and also included a High Risk Search Squadron. When the JIRU was disbanded in March 2001 the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron was retained as an independent squadron.
Following the 11 September terrorist attacks the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron was incorporated into the newly established Incident Response Unit (IRU). The IRU was expanded and redesignated to form the Incident Response Regiment in May 2002. This expansion involved the Emergency Response Squadron joining the Regiment then was promptly disbanded in 2006, and the formation of a specialist Scientific and Technical Support Organisation (which is staffed by civilian and military scientists).
As well as maintaining a Domestic Counter-Terrorism capability, the IRR currently deploys highly trained combat engineers in support of Australian Special Forces operations throughout the world, including the current deployment to Afghanistan
.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
's premier Special Operations Engineer capability. The Regiment forms part of the Special Operations Command
Special Operations Command (Australia)
The Special Operations Command is a command within the Australian Defence Force . Special Operations Command was established in May 2003, to unite all of the ADF special forces units. As of 2007 Special Operations Command is fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of...
. Its mission is to provide specialist response to threats involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) and/or explosive hazards. This includes other hazardous material and situations including fire. The IRR is an integral part of Australia's Domestic Counter-Terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
capability, and provides emergency response and rescue support to Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
bases.
The IRR consists of about 300 military and civilian personnel (including Army reservists) and includes intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
, signals, medical, nursing, ordnance, transport, electrical and mechanical engineers, scientists and catering officers. The Regiment is defensive and protective by design, yet still keeps an offensive capability. Members of the IRR do not have to pass through special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
selection or entry tests to join the unit, but in-house physical fitness tests have been developed.
Role
The IRR is able to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclearNuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
or explosive incidents both domestically and in support of Australian forces deployed overseas in high threat environments. These could include:
- A threat which may also be a hoax
- An overt incident with immediate effects that is more likely to be a chemical or radiological incident, or
- A covert attack where the event is not known until affected victims begin reporting to medical facilities (this is more likely to be a biologicalBiological warfareBiological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
attack)
IRR personnel are able to conduct high risk searches with detection equipment and dogs, disarm and dispose of a device, decontaminate and treat victims and the exposed area and analyse the hazardous material on site. The IRR used to assist State and Territory authorities' emergency response, with fire fighting
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
, aircraft and vehicle crash rescue
Rescue
Rescue refers to responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, or prevention of injury during an incident or dangerous situation....
and urban search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
expertise.
As a rapid response organisation, elements of the Regiment are maintained on short notices to move to incident sites at all times.
History
The Incident Response Regiment can trace its history to the Army Fire Service and a number of specialist Royal Australian EngineersRoyal Australian Engineers
The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
organisations. The Emergency Response Squadron was initially formed in 1999 from the existing Army Fire Service in response to the 1996 Blackhawk Helicopter disaster in the Townsville High Range training area. The Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron was formed in 1998 by expanding the existing Chemical Radiological Response Team.
The Incident Response Regiment is based on the Joint Incident Response Unit (JIRU) which was established in 2000 as part of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
's security arrangements for the Sydney Olympic Games. The JIRU incorporated the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron and also included a High Risk Search Squadron. When the JIRU was disbanded in March 2001 the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron was retained as an independent squadron.
Following the 11 September terrorist attacks the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron was incorporated into the newly established Incident Response Unit (IRU). The IRU was expanded and redesignated to form the Incident Response Regiment in May 2002. This expansion involved the Emergency Response Squadron joining the Regiment then was promptly disbanded in 2006, and the formation of a specialist Scientific and Technical Support Organisation (which is staffed by civilian and military scientists).
As well as maintaining a Domestic Counter-Terrorism capability, the IRR currently deploys highly trained combat engineers in support of Australian Special Forces operations throughout the world, including the current deployment to Afghanistan
Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the war in Afghanistan. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing...
.
Organisation
Incident Response Regiment- Regimental Headquarters (Sydney, NSW)
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological Response Squadron (Sydney, NSW)
- Emergency Response Squadron (Disbanded and absorbed into IRR 2006) (detachments in Sydney and Oakey Aviation School)
- Scientific and Technical Organisation/Cell (Sydney, NSW)