7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
| 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment | |
|---|---|
Badge of the Royal Australian Regiment
|
|
| Active | 1965–73 2007 – present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Part of | 1st Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Edinburgh, Adelaide |
| Nickname(s) |
The Pigs Porky Seven |
| Motto(s) | Duty First |
| Colours | Maroon |
| March | Quick – Australaise (band); Cock o' the North (pipes and drums) Slow – My Home |
| Mascot(s) | Pig (unofficial) |
| Engagements | War in Afghanistan |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant Colonel D. McCammon, DSM |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HM The Queen (Royal Australian Infantry Corps) |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |  |
| Tartan | Gordon (pipes and drums) |
The 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) is a regular infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1965 as part of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War and it eventually served two tours in Vietnam in 1967 and 1971. In 1973, following Australia's withdrawal from the conflict, the battalion was amalgamated with the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment to form the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR).
These two units remained linked until 2007, during which time they served together in the mechanised infantry role in East Timor and Iraq. In December 2006 – early January 2007, 5/7 RAR was delinked and 7 RAR was re-raised. In January 2009, 7 RAR achieved operational status, a year ahead of schedule. The battalion deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper in 2008–09 and 2012–13. Following its return in 2013 it was converted into a standard infantry battalion. It currently forms part of the 1st Brigade and is based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in Adelaide.
In late 1964, the South Vietnamese government requested increased military assistance from Australia to help stop the spread of communism in Vietnam. Following talks with the United States in early 1965, the Australian government decided to increase its commitment to the war in Vietnam, offering to send an infantry battalion to bolster the team of advisors that had been in South Vietnam since 1962. In order to meet this requirement, the decision was made to expand the Royal Australian Regiment, the Australian Army's regular infantry force, to nine battalions by 1965, using experienced regulars and national servicemen.
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