The Special Forces Commandos are a more or less a new innovation in the spectrum of SF units available to Australia and are unlike other "commando" units in the Commonwealth. While there has been a reservist SF capability in the form of Commando (1st Cmdo Rgt) teams for some time there was a lack of its fulltime corollary until 1999 when the 4th RAR was redesignated a Commando unit. Shrunk to nothing and then built up using principles kept well defined by 1st Commando (reservist) and the SASR, 4RAR has now become a genuine SF option available to policy makers in Canberra.
Commandos are unique from both American Rangers and British Commandos (Royal Marines). They are not "Australia's Marines", and if anything are closer to Force Recon soldiers than a typical Marine (American or British). Moreover, while there are similarities between the two units Commando's suffer a greater attrition rate during selection and have a broader range of capabilities than their venerable American partners, Army Rangers. They are perhaps best described as Australia's generalist SF operators - as opposed to the more deep Recon inclined SASR and altogether differently tasked CDT teams.
I think those tests requirements are barely minimums.
Commando's are therefore comparable to SEALs, Delta Force, and Rangers in terms of tasking and lie somewhere in between in terms of quality and selection attrition rates. They are principally tasked with Direct Action missions and are capable of the entire gamut of SF insertion techniques. Operating in both large and small units they are able to conduct large and small scale raids, sabotage, and recon missions behind enemy lines and in a variety of environments.
Not including advanced schools that Commandos are expected to attend, the training regime lasts approximately 9 month in total (after basic and infantry training). While direct entry applicants will also have to attend the two month long "Special Forces Accelerated Training Continuum" in addition to the below. Commando candidates will have to attend the following training schools before becoming a Commando:
Special Forces Weapons and Equipment Course (Commando);
Commando Training Course;
Special Forces Roping Course;
Commando Urban Operations Course;
Special Forces Basic Parachute Course (including water insertion training);
Commando Amphibious Operator Course;
Airborne Rappelling and Fast Roping course; and
- One of the following basic specialty courses:
Combat First Aider;
Commando Signaller; and
Special Forces Demolitions
In addition to these schools Commandos are expected to attend advanced skills courses including DFSW Operator;
Mortar Operator;
Basic Sniper;
SF Climber;
Mountain and Cold Weather Operations;
Combat Survival;
Reconnaissance;
Language; and
Commando Operational Watercraft (COW) Coxswain.
Further Specialist courses include:
Climbing supervisor
Parachute jump master - Static line
Unarmed combat instructor
Demolitions supervisor
Advanced commando amphibious operator
Advanced special weapons
Survival Instructor
CQB instructor
Mountain warfare instructor
Commando section operations
Military assistance regional training and co-operation.
Infantry platoon operations
Roping supervisor
Parachute jump instructor - static line
Unconventional warfare
