9th Force Support Battalion (Australia)
The 9th Force Support Battalion (9 FSB) is an Australian Army logistics battalion. Formed on 1 August 1998, following the amalgamation of a number of air despatch, military police, ships army detachments, personnel and transport units, it is based at RAAF Base Amberley in Amberley. 9 FSB is part the 17th Sustainment Brigade. Its role is to provide third line or 'general' support within an area of operations.[1][2]
| 9th Force Support Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1998 – present |
| Country | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Logistics |
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of | 17th Sustainment Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Amberley, Amberley |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch |  |
9 FSB keeps two camels in their depot at RAAF Base Amberley as the mascots for 26th Transport Squadron, named "Vernon" and "Penny". Vernon and Penny have 2 handlers caring for them at all times. Their names come from the Officer Commanding of 9 FSB and his wife in 1984-85.[3]
On 30 May 2011, Lance Corporal Andrew Jones, a cook from 9 FSB, was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving with the Force Support Unit in Uruzgan Province.[4]
The battalion consists of the following units:[2]
- Special Advisory Group
- 9th Logistic Support Company
- 26th Transport Squadron
- 37th Force Supply Company
- 176th Air Dispatch Squadron (RAAF Base Richmond)
- 8th Personnel Services Company
Notes
- Dennis et al 2008, pp. 327–328.
- "9th Force Support Battalion". Australian Army. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- 9th Force Support Battalion Camel Mascots, retrieved 3 July 2023
- "Lance Corporal Andrew Jones". Department of Defence. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
References
- Dennis, Peter; et al. (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.