Australian Army Intelligence Corps The Australian Intelligence Corps ( AUSTINT ) is a corps within the Australian Army . It was formed on 6 December 1907 and provides intelligence personnel in every formation headquarters in the Army . The corps currently consists of 169 officers and 232 other ranks . Role . The role of AUSTINT is to provide intelligence support consisting of knowledge of the enemy and the area of operations . Its role also includes the active and passive measures undertaken to prevent the enemy from acquiring intelligence about friendly forces and their intentions . History . The corps was formed on 6 December 1907 with the aim of providing training for soldiers in intelligence work , including collecting and recording topographic and military information about Australia , its dependencies and foreign countries ( especially those of the Pacific region ) , as well as preparing strategic and tactical maps and plans . The first Director of Military Intelligence was Lieutenant Colonel James Whiteside McCay . The corps was disbanded on 30 September 1914 and replaced by Intelligence Sections of the General Staff in each Australian military district . It was re - formed in 1939 and was tasked with the following : intelligence ; security ; passport control ; rail , air and shipping security ; censorship ; and prisoner of war interrogation and data compilation . The corps has been formally allied with the British Army Intelligence Corps since 1950 . Corps Embellishments . The AUSTINT colours are green on scarlet on black . Green symbolises the Corps ' alliance with the British Army Intelligence Corps , black for the Corps ' links with the Australian Staff Corps and scarlet , signifying the Corps combat support role . The AUSTINT badge was modelled on the British Army Intelligence Corps badge and accepted in 1953 . It has the motif of a white and red Tudor rose which is flanked by laurel leaves and rests on a scroll inscribed with " Australian Intelligence Corps " . A crown surmounts the whole motif . The Rose symbolises security , confidentiality and trustworthiness , derived from the Cromwellian use of a rose displayed to indicate when secret matters were being discussed . The laurel wreath depicts honour and the crown represents allegiance to the Sovereign . Training . Members of the Intelligence Corps work in the following areas : Recruits can now join AUSTINT through direct entry . Soldiers accepted into the Intelligence Corps attend 11 weeks employment training , consisting of a three week introduction course and an eight week land intelligence course . Both courses are conducted at the Defence Intelligence Training Centre in Canungra , Queensland . Training for Intelligence Corps soldiers is broken into two main streams , text and diagram . Officers are able to enter the Intelligence Corps after completing their officer course at the Royal Military College , Duntroon . However they must undergo a rigorous selection process before being employed in the Corps . Intelligence Corps staff work with the Defence Intelligence Organisation , Defence Signals Directorate and Defence Security Authority . There are also intelligence officers and staff on most of the major Army commands and headquarters providing operational or counter intelligence support .