| Royal Australian Corps of Signals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1901 – present |
| Country | Australia |
| Allegiance | Australian Army |
| Branch | Australian Regular Army |
| Type | Field army |
| Role | Military communications |
| Size | 6 regular regiments |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Certa Cito Swift and Sure |
| Colors | Light blue, over dark blue, over green. |
| Engagements | RASigs are not awarded battle honours. However, they were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation FCU Cambodia. |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | The Princess Royal |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical recognition flash |  |
The Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) is one of the 'arms' (combat support corps) of the Australian Army. It is responsible for installing, maintaining, and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems. The motto of the Signals Corps is Certa Cito and is translated as 'Swift and Sure', signifying the aim of the signal service – that communication be carried out with maximum speed and certainty. 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. The communications systems provided by Signals must keep pace with modern information technology. The control of the electromagnetic spectrum offers a decisive advantage in modern warfare and Electronic Warfare, listening to or interfering with enemy electronic transmissions, is a critical contribution by the Signals Corps to the Army's combat capability.
On the battlefield, Signals provides commanders with the means of controlling the battle using road and air dispatch services, radio, microwave, and satellite links. A high technology computer switched digital network, capable of providing a high quality, high capacity, secure communications network is being introduced.
The Corps has recently taken over the responsibility for Army Information Systems. 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.
Specialist roles in the Corps include: Communication System Operator (known in the Corps as "Operators"),[2] Telecommunications Technician (known as "Techs" or "Techies"),[3] Electronic Warfare Operator (known as "Bears" from being primarily posted to a base near Cabarlah (Koala), Queensland)[4] and Information Systems Technician (known as "Geeks").[5] Members of the 152nd Signals Squadron are commonly called "chooks" by SASR troops.[citation needed]
- ^ "History of RASigs". Australian Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
- ^ "Defence Careers Explorer: Communication System Operator". Defence Force Recruitment. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ "Defence Careers Explorer: Telecommunications Technician". Defence Force Recruitment. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ "Defence Careers Explorer: Electronic Warfare Operator". Defence Force Recruitment. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ "Defence Careers Explorer: Information Systems Technician". Defence Force Recruitment. Retrieved 29 April 2011.