9th Force Support Battalion (Australia)

The 9th Force Support Battalion (9 FSB) is an Australian Army logistics battalion. Formed on 1 August 1998, following the amalgamation of a number of air despatch, military police, ships army detachments, personnel and transport units, it is based at RAAF Base Amberley in Amberley. 9 FSB is part the 17th Sustainment Brigade. Its role is to provide third line or 'general' support within an area of operations.^[1][2]

9th Force Support Battalion
Active	1998 – present
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Logistics
Size	One battalion
Part of	17th Sustainment Brigade
Garrison/HQ	RAAF Base Amberley, Amberley
Insignia
Unit colour patch

9 FSB keeps two camels in their depot at RAAF Base Amberley as the mascots for 26th Transport Squadron, named "Vernon" and "Penny". Vernon and Penny have 2 handlers caring for them at all times. Their names come from the Officer Commanding of 9 FSB and his wife in 1984-85.^[3]

On 30 May 2011, Lance Corporal Andrew Jones, a cook from 9 FSB, was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving with the Force Support Unit in Uruzgan Province.^[4]

The battalion consists of the following units:^[2]

• Special Advisory Group
• 9th Logistic Support Company
• 26th Transport Squadron
• 37th Force Supply Company
• 176th Air Dispatch Squadron (RAAF Base Richmond)
• 8th Personnel Services Company