POST WAR UNITS

In Australia in the early 1950s defence planning staff convinced the Australian government that this country also should raise "special forces" with the role of conducting clandestine operations similar to those mounted by the Special Operations Australia (SOA) (under the cover name the Allied Intelligence Bureau) and also those of the independent companies and the Commando Squadrons, during the war.

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It was envisaged that by raising units capable of performing such a dual role, a pool of trained manpower would be available to be "farmed off" as necessary to an equivalent AIB unit while the remainder would be used in more conventional commando operations.  

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Consequently, on 16 September 1954, the Military Board issued the authority to raise two Citizen Military Force (CMF) commando companies: the 1 Commando Company in Sydney and the 2 Commando Company in Melbourne. Both would be commanded by regular army officers and regular army would form the training and administrative cadre. The companies were to be independent of each other and report to different commands. The established strength for the companies was to be 265 all ranks, consisting of one major, five captains (three of them platoon commanders), six sergeants and 241 other ranks.

 

This establishment was very similar to the Independent Companies of World War II, which had had an establishment of 17 officers and 256 other ranks.