Australian Army units based at the Kapooka base have been ordered to change their 'death symbol' emblems in line with a new policy.
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One of the banned emblems, featuring a Spartan warrior with a sword and shield, was used to represent Echo Company and at least six of its platoons that are based at the Army Recruit Training Centre outside Wagga.
Much of the Spartan imagery adopted by army units and now banned appears to have been taken from the 2006 film '300', a mythical retelling of the battle between King Leonidas of Sparta, and the Persian Empire.
Another two of the banned emblems at Kapooka, representing 16 Platoon Bravo Company, appear to be based on the comic book character 'The Phantom'.
The symbols were included in a list of examples of the new rule provided to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
A Defence spokesperson said the ban on death symbols was enacted to maintain the Australian Defence Force as a "high performing organisation".
"The ADF does not condone behaviours, gestures or symbology that can cause offence to the people of Australia, and ADF personnel. Such actions are inconsistent with Defence values of professionalism, integrity, courage and teamwork," the spokesperson said.
"All symbology used must align with Army and Defence values and the ethical force built and sustained to serve Australia."
Soon after Lieutenant General Angus Campbell was named Chief of the Defence Force in April last year, he announced a ban on 'death symbols'.
"Such symbology is never presented as ill-intentioned and plays to much of modern popular culture, but it is always ill-considered and implicitly encourages the inculcation of an arrogant hubris and general disregard for the most serious responsibility of our profession: the legitimate and discriminate taking of life," General Campbell said at the time.
A minute from Campbell office named comic book 'vigilantes' such as the 'Phantom' and the 'Punisher' and 'extreme militarism' symbols such as the Spartans, along with the Grim Reaper, pirates and skulls.
Former Sergeant and Afghanistan veteran Justin Huggett called the order "left of field and farcical" at the time.
WA Liberal MP and former SAS troop commander Andrew Hastie at the time said removing the symbols was a risk to morale.
The 'Sparta' emblem was used on a sign outside the Blamey Barracks at Kapooka as late as 2017.
The 'Phantom' symbol was used in a recruit graduation group photo in February 2018, posted to the Army Recruit Training Centre's official Facebook page.
Both examples predated General Campbell's announcement of the 'death' symbol ban.
A Defence spokesperson said emblems for the Kapooka sub-units "have not been part of any official ceremonies".
"Generally sub-unit symbols are not official symbols and therefore not used on parades," the spokesperson said.
"Echo Company and 16 Platoon Bravo Company based at the Army Recruit Training Centre Kapooka are still considering options to replace their sub-unit symbols.
"A decision on the replacement has not been made.
"As per the Australian Army Ceremonial and Protocol Manual, all unit emblems, symbols, icons and logos need to be approved before being utilised."
Some Army units based at other locations have adopted new emblems, with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment exchanging its 'Grim Reaper' for a wolf and the 3rd Brigade combined arms replacing its own 'Phantom' emblem with a war horse.
Some of the other symbols in use by units at Kapooka and which appear to have escaped the ban include a charging bull and a roaring tiger.
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