Solomon Islands (inc. Guadalcanal) peacemaking by RAMSI

[SWJED]

Moderator's Note

The thread's original title came from this post 'Coalition Joint Task Force 635', today it was merged with the later two posts 'Analyzing the Success of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands' and retitled 'Solomon Islands (inc. Guadalcanal) peacemaking by RAMSI' (ends).

May issue of the Marine Corps Gazette - Coalition Joint Task Force 635 by LTC Christopher A. Field, Australian Army.

In the early hours of 22 December 2004, an Australian Federal Police Protective Services officer was murdered by sniper fire in Honiara, Guadalcanal while conducting a vehicle patrol with the Australian-led regional assistance mission in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Company A (Co A), 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Ready Company Group (1 RAR RCG) was alerted that same day, and 100 men, vehicles, and equipment arrived by 3 Royal Australian Air Force C–130 aircraft in the Solomon Islands within 18 hours of the Australian Government’s decision to support RAMSI through the reinforcement of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) Operation ANODE.1

The Co A, 1 RAR RCG rapid deployment on Operation ANODE demonstrated the inherent utility and flexibility of light infantry by rapidly deploying forces into an unfamiliar and complex environment, assuming command of a 5-nation coalition joint task force (CJTF), working in support of an 11-nation participating police force (PPF),2 and quickly demonstrating Australian Government resolve to support the continued success of RAMSI.

This article aims to provide a brief background about RAMSI and Operation ANODE, broadly discuss capabilities of the Ready Battalion Group (RBG)/RCG, and describe operations conducted by the 1 RAR RCG between 22 December 2004 and 25 January 2005 while deployed to the Solomon Islands...