Army’s oldest barracks was the setting for a new era for one of its newest units.
Army Reserve soldiers from 2nd Force Support Battalion (2FSB) held a transfer of authority parade at Anglesea Barracks in Hobart on November 30 to join 2nd (Australian) Division.
The four sub-units of 2FSB, spread across Tasmania and Victoria, will be merged with 8th Operational Support Unit (8OSU), which was established in January, to provide specialist logistics support to the division in its new role protecting Australia.
Establishing 8OSU and merging 2FSB is part of Army’s reorganisation following the release of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
Commander of 2nd (Australian) Division Major General David Thomae said merging 2FSB with 8OSU would open up opportunities for personnel and ensure the division had the specialist logistics skills it needed.
“This specialist logistics capability will be essential in supporting the Australian community in times of need and 2nd Force Support Battalion personnel will play an integral part in this role,” Major General Thomae said.
‘It’s important we reflect on the past, but it’s critical that we look to the future and we need to change and develop.’
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Clarke said the change would create more opportunities for his soldiers.
“It’s important we reflect on the past, but it’s critical that we look to the future and we need to change and develop,” Lieutenant Colonel Clarke said.
“That’s what I see is really exciting about this new merge, the opportunities that the soldiers and officers from 8OSU will have as we move forward providing capability to the division.”
2FSB was first established in 1998 as an Army Reserve logistics battalion based in Tasmania and Victoria, designed to provide sustainment capabilities to dependant force elements.
This year on Exercise Austral Shield, 2FSB worked side by side with 8OSU in Cairns and at RAAF base Curtain to provide logistics support to force elements from 11th Brigade and 13th Brigade.
Next year on Exercise Talisman Sabre, 8OSU will deploy teams to the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
