at the end of 1981. On 1 December 1983, the battalion assumed responsibility for the Australian Army's conventional parachute capability (previously, D Company 6 RAR had maintained an airborne company). In 1985, the battalion was granted permission to wear the dull Cherry beret, common to all parachute units worldwide, and to wear parachute wings identical to those worn by the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion during the Second World War. From 1989, 3 RAR formed the main combat elements of the Parachute Battalion Group, which also included an engineer troop from 1st Field Squadron, signals detachment from 104th Signal Squadron, artillery fire support from 'A' Field Battery, 8th/12th Regiment and medical support from the 1st Parachute Surgical Team. One of three rifle companies was designated as the Parachute Company Group and maintained at high readiness for three months with another company rotated into the role. The regiment's Reconnaissance Platoon had a medium range pathfinder role trained in free-fall parachuting, including High Altitude Parachute Operations (HAPO), supported by the Special Air Service Regiment in a long range pathfinder role. The 1st Parachute Surgical Team was raised in January 1989 to provide Level II and limited Level III medical support modelled on a British unit from the Falklands War. In 1995, 105-mm L119 Hamel guns were air dropped for the first time for 'A' Field Battery. East Timor, 1999–2008 3 RAR played a key role in the Australian-led International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) in 1999. The Battalion arrived in Dili by sea aboard HMAS Jervis Bay and HMAS Tobruk on 21 September and was initially responsible for the city centre, before later securing the western border area in Maliana and Bobonaro. The Battalion later deployed to the enclave of Oecussi where, in early 2000, it encountered the greatest level of pro-Indonesian Militia activity it had seen since the previous year. 3 RAR returned to Australia in February 2000 with some individuals extending their tour in support of 5/7 RAR. It served a second six-month tour of East Timor in 2002 under United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor. In 2020 the battalion was awarded the Theatre Honour East Timor 1999-2003. In May 2006, the 3 RAR Battalion Group was deployed to restore order to East Timor as part of Operation Astute. An online company group was deployed at short notice in February 2007 for four months and replaced by a second