2nd / 17th Battalion , Royal New South Wales Regiment The 2nd / 17th Battalion , Royal New South Wales Regiment ( 2 / 17 RNSWR ) is a reserve infantry battalion of the Australian Army . Currently part of the 8th Brigade , attached to the 2nd Division , the unit currently consists of a headquarters and four rifle companies spread out across a number of depots throughout the state of New South Wales . The unit was formed in 1987 , following a reorganisation of the Australian Army Reserve which saw the amalgamation of a number of Reserve units across Australia . Through the 2nd Battalion and the 17th Battalion , the unit can trace its lineage back to 1860 and today it carries battle honours from both of these units , as well as the units of the Second Australian Imperial Force which fought during World War II . History . The 2nd / 17th Battalion , Royal New South Wales Regiment was formed on 5 December 1987 when the 2nd and 17th Battalions were amalgamated during a ceremony held at Newcastle , New South Wales . This was part of a re - organisation of the Royal New South Wales Regiment that took place at the time , which saw two battalions in each brigade linked in order to respond to the declining size of a number of units . Upon formation , the battalion was assigned to the 8th Brigade , and allocated a recruitment area that stretched from the centre of Sydney to the New South Wales Central Coast . At this time also , the battalion adopted the battle honour s and traditions of its predecessor units , perpetuating a lineage that can be traced as far back as 1860 , and includes active service in the Mahdist War , the Boer War , World War I and World War II . In 1988 , the newly formed battalion marched through the municipality of Ku - ring - gai , after it was granted the Freedom of Entry to the town . In 1990 , 2 / 17 RNSWR was called upon to provide disaster relief in the wake of Newcastle earthquake and the Nyngan floods . Following this , the battalion was relocated to Silverwater , New South Wales while Suakin Depot was being refurbished . The battalion did not return until 13 April 1996 , when they once again marched through Ku - ring - gai and returned to Suakin , taking up residence along with the 7th Field Regiment , Royal Australian Artillery . In July 1994 , as a result of a re - organisation of the 2nd Division , two of the battalion ' s rifle companies — those based at Orange and Bathurst — were transferred to the 1st / 19th Battalion , Royal New South Wales Regiment . At the same time , the battalion gained a company that was based at Arncliffe from the 4th / 3rd Battalion , Royal New South Wales Regiment . In 1997 , as a result of a re - organisation of the Ready Reserve Scheme , the battalion gained a company ( designated ' D ' Company ) from the 6th Brigade , although in 2000 this company was relocated to Blacktown . The previous year , ' B ' Company was moved to Erina . Throughout the late 1990s , 2 / 17 RNSWR took part in a number of large - scale exercises . These included Kangaroo ' 95 , which was a multinational exercise that was undertaken in northern Australia . Later , in 1997 , the battalion took part in a brigade - level exercise at Broken Hill along with units from the South Australian - based 9th Brigade , while a company was sent to the Battle Wing at Canungra , Queensland . Alpha Company traces its lineage to the NSW Scottish Rifles unit which was affiliated with the Black Watch ( the Royal Highland Regiment ) . Until late 2010 , Alpha Company members paraded in a khaki balmoral with a Black Watch tartan and RNSWR cap badge complete with red hackle ; the ceremonial balmoral being navy blue . The khaki balmoral was presented to the qualified infanteers of the company upon completion of their second and final infantry module . Whilst the ceremonial balmoral is still in use , due to a directive by the Chief of Army , all berets and head dress Army - wide are to be replaced by the use of the Slouch hat , although this directive does not extend to SOCOMD . Battle honours . 2 / 17 RNSWR carries the following battle honours , which it inherited from its ancestral units : Commanding officers . The following is a list of officers that have served as 2 / 17 RNSWR ' s commanding officer :