until 1976 the full-time cadre were "conrates" (so called because they had a "consolidated rate of pay") whose duties consisted of guarding bases and carrying out administrative tasks. the role of the regiment was expanded by raising full-time platoons, known as "operations platoons", to perform duties on a 24-hour basis. the first of these was raised at 2 udr under the command of a sergeant. by the end of the 1970s the permanent cadre had been raised to sixteen platoons. these were then increased to company strength with the conrate role being phased out and full-time udr soldiers undertaking their own guard duties and administration.