A GROUP of highly trained army officers is setting up camp at Edinburgh RAAF base to prepare for the arrival of 1200 troops at the end of the year.

The forward scouts have arrived early in Adelaide from Darwin to organise accommodation, training areas and equipment for the state’s largest army presence since the mid-1980s.

They will be joined by a further group of between 30 and 40 soldiers in about September, which will help ready the base before 1200 personnel from the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), currently stationed in Darwin, move in from December.

Major John Van’t Hof said construction of the army’s $600 million headquarters, which includes 400 on-site units, offices, three dining halls and a new gymnasium was about three months ahead of schedule.

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