Introduction
Welcome to 3 CSSB
The 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion (3 CSSB) is based in Lavarack Barracks Townsville, and provides transport, supply, maintenance, and health support to the 3rd Brigade to enable it to deliver its combat and combat support functions. 3 CSSB is a diverse unit made up of about 500 officers and soldiers from 12 corps comprising 42 different employment categories, including vehicle mechanics, cargo specialists, driver specialists, medical and electronics technicians to name just a few. It has a variety of equipments and vehicles which allow it to deploy rapidly into the field or on operations as part of the 3rd Brigade's Ready Deployment Force.
3 CSSB's role is the same in barracks as it is in the field or on operations and that is to provide Combat Service Support to all 3 Brigade units. All 3 CSSB personnel are 'soldiers first' and must be able to survive in a complex warfighting environment, which requires our personnel to maintain their soldiering skills at a high level. Our personnel must also develop their specialist trade skills, which are mapped across to civilian qualifications ensuring that our personnel are best placed to have a second career once they leave Army. These soldiering and trade skills are practiced in the field environment annually building up from individual skills to the operational skills required when deployed as part of a Battle Group or Joint Task Force. These Army skills are enhanced with an ability to deploy on land, sea and by air. Many of the Battalion's personnel are on short notices to move so that they may react very quickly to any regional emergency.
3 CSSB is involved in numerous deployments across the globe and often has personnel in Sinai, Dubai, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. The Battalion recently deployed more than 100 personnel in support of Operation Yasi Assist which was the ADF's emergency response to the areas most affected by Cyclone Yasi.
3 CSSB's greatest asset is its' people. The Battalion has an extensive training, sporting and social program which provides a quality of life seldom replicated elsewhere. Put together with the ADF's superb remuneration, superannuation and health benefits packages, life in the Battalion is difficult to beat. Together we are "United in Support."
Battalion Headquarters
Battalion HeadquartersThis small group of individuals consists of the Commanding Officer, Battalion Second in Command, Adjutant, Assistant Adjutant the Regimental Sergeant Major and immediate staff.
Battalion OperationsThis organisation of approximately 12 personnel is overseen by the Battalion Operations Officer and is responsible for the management of all tasking of the sub units. Operations manage training courses, resource allocation and training area bookings. In most cases, operations personnel are responsible for the planning of unit activities and exercises. Battalion Operations is the entrance gate for any requests for support from 3 CSSB. Battalion Operations must always have a very good understanding of the unit capability at any time in order to plan effectively.
Administrative PlatoonThis organisation is usually referred to as the Battalion Orderly Room. Personnel in this organisation number approximately 10 and are responsible to manage all leave within 3 CSSB. They file and register all inwards and outwards correspondence from the unit. The Orderly Room also includes a movement and pay sections. All service related travel by 3 CSSB members and pay enquires are managed by these sections.
Health Company
Health support within the 3rd Brigade is provided via the Combat Health Support capabilities within Health Company, 3 Brigade. The Townsville based Health Company is made up of approximately 150 clinical and logistic personnel.
This support is provided via Close Health Platoons and specialist diagnostic and administrative capabilities. During 2010, the 3 CSSB Health Company commenced a review of Army Health capabilities. During the period 2011 - 2013, the structures and clinical support capabilities within the Close Health Support Company will be redistributed to meet the needs of Forces Command and the 3rd Brigade.
Capabilities that are held in 2011 within Health Company include:
- Command elements
- Primary Health Care
- Resuscitation Teams
- Diagnostics (including Radiography and Pathology)
- Dental Support
- Ground surface evacuation
- Psychological and Mental Health Support
- Environmental Health
- Integral medical assistant capability
- Limited holding capability
- Brigade Health Training capability
- Physical training and Rehabilitation services
- Logistic and Administrative Support
Additional support capabilities that are likely to be attached to the Health Company in late 2011 - early 2012 are to include:
- Aero medical evacuation capability
- Additional training support
- Additional advanced medical assistants
Health Company capabilities provide support for Operations, Short Notice High Readiness tasks, Defence Aid to the Civil Community, Community training and participate in regular training with the Townsville Hospital (TTH), Mater Hospital, QAS, QLD X-Ray and the Townsville City Council.
Field Supply Company
3 Field Supply Company manages the supply chain and warehousing required to support 3 Brigade in barracks, during field exercises and whilst deployed on operations. Soldiers of the company are skilled in their trade and provide accurate and timely support to the dependency. The support provided to 3 Brigade includes:
Food (Fresh and Hard)
Fuel
Ammunition
General Stores
Repair Parts
Pharmaceuticals
Shower facilities
In recent years 3 Field Supply Company has achieved excellent sporting results with success in the Battalion Obstacle Course and Athletics carnival. Soldiers have also achieved recognition for their professionalism and excellent performance with the RAAOC JNCO of the 2005 and RAAOC LT of the 2006 being awarded to members of the company. 3 Field Supply Company has a proud tradition within the ADF which the soldiers of today are continuing to build on with recent deployments to Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Transport Squadron
The 9th Transport Squadron can trace its linage (in one form or another) back to 1912, however it was not until 1967 that the Squadron (then a Company) had a direct link to the Army's Order of Battle. The 9th Transport Company (at the time) was the first Regular Army service corps company. It has been located at Lavarack Barracks and in service to the 3rd Brigade since 1968.
Members of the Squadron have serviced in recent times overseas in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Somalia, Cambodia and Rwanda. Of note was the Squadron's strong support to Innisfail in 2006 after Cyclone Larry ravaged the North Queensland town.
Field Workshops Company
102 Field Workshop was raised at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane on 28 May 1966 to supplement the existing repair resources and to relieve 101 Field Workshop of its support commitment to the Australian Forces in Vietnam. On 11 May 1967, 102 Field Workshop assumed responsibility for the maintenance support of Australian Forces in South Vietnam. The Unit was disbanded on its return from South Vietnam early in 1972. The Workshop was re-raised in Townsville in February 1981 and is currently a Company within the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion.
Along with the Health, Transport and Field Supply Companies, 102 Field Workshop provides second line logistic support to the 3rd Brigade. 102 Field Workshop provides materiel maintenance to the 3rd Brigade, and as such is responsible for the repair and maintenance of all vehicles, weapon systems, power generation systems, radio communications systems, electronic sighting and target acquisition systems, medical and dental equipment, as well as the provision of vehicle recovery support. 102 Field Workshop supports the 3rd Brigade both in barracks within Townsville, and on all major field exercises, such as Exercise TALISMAN SABRE.
As well as providing maintenance support to the 3rd Brigade in barracks and on exercise, 102 Field Workshop provides continuing support to Australian operations overseas, with personnel deploying as part of Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan and Operation ASTUTE in Timor Leste to name a few. In the past the workshop has contributed to operations in Somalia, The Solomon Islands and Iraq.
In addition to its provision of technical support to the 3rd Brigade, 102 Field Workshop is also called upon to provide military support to overseas operations and to the local community. In 2006, 102 Field Workshop deployed equipment and personnel as part of Army's support to the people of Innisfail in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Larry. In 2011, 102 Field Workshop has deployed personnel as part of Operation YASI ASSIST, to provide support to the people of North Queensland in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Yasi.
102 Field Workshop is currently commanded by Major Paul Nelson whilst his Company Sergeant Major is Warrant Officer Class Two Brad Bargenquast.