The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the parent regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. It was originally formed in 1948 as a three battalion regiment; however, since then its size has fluctuated as battalions have been raised, amalgamated or disbanded in accordance with the Australian government's strategic requirements. Currently the regiment consists of seven battalions which fulfill various roles including those of light, parachute, motorised and mechanised infantry. During the course of its existence, the regiment has deployed on operations to a number of countries including Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Rwanda, Cambodia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanista