Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Like their British counterparts, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals' flag and hat badge feature Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, affectionately referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy" (the origin dates back to the merge with Engineers when the Engineer's band's Drum Major had a "Jimmy" on his staff).

[1] Modern Army command and control systems demand reliable, high-speed transfer of large volumes of data.

On the battlefield, Signals provides commanders with the means of controlling the battle using road and air dispatch services, radio, microwave, and satellite links.

Signal Corps personnel now control large integrated information systems and are responsible for the installation and operation of local area networks using state-of-the-art computer equipment.

[citation needed] Australia has the unique distinction of having had the first regularly formed signal unit in the British Empire.

In 1885, a "signalling corps", composed of one officer and twelve other ranks, was created in South Australia and remained active until 1901.

On 10 November 1948, His Majesty King George VI conferred the title "Royal" on the Australian Corps of Signals.

Whilst the Squadrons are now under the command of 8th Signal Regiment, they are responsible for providing direct support to Reserve Brigades located within their respective states and territories.

The course (and most subsequent training) is held at Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Barracks, Macleod, Victoria.

[14] Phase 2A of Project JP 2072 is replacing the ageing fleet of Wagtail (VHF), Raven (VHF/HF) and Pintail (V/UHF) hand-held / man portable tactical radios and the AN/PSC-5 / 5D SATCOM.

[15] The Army is introducing new Harris tactical radios:-[16][17][18] In September 2015, Boeing was awarded Phase 2B to replace Parakeet known as Project Currawong by 2020 using digital wideband voice, data and video services over wireless and wired infrastructure.