About

The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army.

Task & Capabilities
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army. A direct command unit of Special Operations Command, the SASR "is tasked to provide special-operations capabilities in support of the Australian Defence Force. This includes providing unique capabilities to support sensitive strategic operations, hostage rescue, advisory and training assistance, special reconnaissance, precision strike and direct action". The regiment is primarily structured to conduct covert, long range reconnaissance and surveillance in small teams in enemy-controlled territory (in contrast to Australian commandos, who usually conduct raids in larger groups). In addition to war-fighting in conventional conflicts, the SASR has also long maintained a specialist counter-terrorist capability. The regiment is also trained in counter-insurgency operations. Other capabilities include training local or indigenous forces, recovery of Australian citizens and humanitarian assistance. 

Selection & Training

The SASR has high personnel standards, and selection into the regiment is considered the most demanding of any entry test in the Australian Army. Members of the SASR are required to work in small teams for extended periods and often without support, and are specially selected for their ability to work in this environment, rather than as individuals. Selection is open to all serving Australian Defence Force personnel. Candidates must complete the Special Force Screen Test at the Special Forces Training Centre, which tests their physical fitness, and also includes an interview. About 64 percent of applicants pass this test. Successful candidates then continue on to the SASR Selection Course which assesses both the individual's strength and endurance (mental and physical), as well as overall fitness, ability to remain calm in combat, and to work effectively in small teams. The course consists of six phases with the first four mainly of physical and navigational exercises held at the Special Forces Training Centre. The fifth  and sixth phases are conducted in the Stirling Ranges with long pack marches in phase three and small group exercises in phase four with little or no sleep and food. Around 10 to 30 percent of candidates pass selection. These candidates then progress onto the 16-month reinforcement cycle, during which they complete a range of courses including weapons, basic patrolling, parachuting, combat survival, signaller / medic, heavy weapons, demolitions, method of entry, and urban combat before posting to a sabre squadron if successful and awarded their Sandy beret. Officers must complete additional courses to qualify as an officer in the regiment, with requisite expertise in operations, administration and command.

All members of the SASR are parachute qualified, and each member of a patrol has at least one specialisation, including medic, signaller, explosive expert or linguist. Counter terrorist training includes close quarters battle (CQB), explosive entry, tubular assault (in vehicles such as in buses, trains and aircraft) and in high rise buildings, as well as room and building clearance. This training is conducted in a range of advanced facilities, including electronic indoor and outdoor CQB ranges, outdoor sniper range, and urban training facilities at Swanbourne. Additional facilities include a special urban complex, vertical plunging range, method of entry house, and simulated oil rig and aircraft mock-ups in order to provide realistic training environments for potential operational scenarios. Free-Fall training includes High Altitude Parachute Operations (HAPO) either High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) or High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) conducted at a maximum of 25,000 feet (7,600 metres). SASR personnel also provide training in weapons handling to ASIS operatives.

About

The 1st Commando Regiment (1 Cdo Regt) is an Australian Army Reserve special forces unit, part of Special Operations Command with an integrated structure of regular (full-time) soldiers and reserve (part-time) soldiers, which together with the full-time Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment, provides the commando capability to Special Operations Command.

Role

The primary role of 1st Commando Regiment is to provide a scalable and deployable mission command headquarters to Special Operations Command (SOCOMD). In addition, the regiment is manned, trained and equipped to provide commando force elements up to a company size, as well as providing high quality, competent individual commandos to round out, reinforce and rotate with other SOCOMD capabilities.

Recruitment

The regiment is the only reserve SOCOMD combat unit providing Reservists in Australia and the opportunity to serve in a commando unit. Additionally, the regiment provides discharging Regular Army SOCOMD soldiers the opportunity to continue to serve in SOCOMD in a reserve capacity.

Selection & Training

To prepare for selection, training platoon candidates have to complete the Special Forces Reserve Training Program, based on the 2 Cdo Regt Special Forces Direct Recruitment Special Forces Accelerated Infantry Training Program, including the Commando Physical Training Package. The first stage of selection is to successfully pass the one-day Special Forces Entry/Qualification Test. The second stage of selection is successfully completing the Commando Selection Course conducted over two weeks. Commando Initial Employment training (also called the "reinforcement cycle") commences after successful completion of the Commando Selection Course. Candidates have three years to successfully complete the course. This cycle consists of numerous courses including: the "Special Forces Weapons Course, Advanced Close Quarter Battle Course, Commando Team Tactics Course, Commando Urban Operations Course, Close Quarter Fighting Course, Commando Demolitions and Breaching Course, Special Forces Basic Parachute Course (including water insertion training), Commando Amphibious Operators Course, Special Forces Military Roping Course, and Combat First Aid or Special Forces Signal Course". Candidates have the option of completing the reinforcement cycle over 12 months full-time training with their 2 Cdo Regt counterparts. 

After the successful completion of Commando Initial Employment Training, the Green beret is awarded and reservists will report to the regiment on a frequent basis to maintain their skills. As a qualified Commando there are specialist courses available to complete, including but not limited to: advanced driving, mortars, cold weather / mountaineering, language training and free fall parachuting. 

About

The 2nd Commando Regiment (2 Cdo Regt) is a special forces unit of the Australian Army and is part of Special Operations Command. The regiment was established when the 4th Battalion RAR (Commando) was renamed. 

Role

The 2nd Commando Regiment is one of three combat-capable units within Special Operations Command and operates alongside other SOCOMD elements. The role of the regiment is to conduct strategic strike, counter terrorism and special recovery operations.  Army doctrine specifies that the role of commando units is to "span the gap between conventional infantry operations and unconventional operations", focusing on advanced force operations and direct action missions. Originally formed to complement the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), according to Blaxland, and is designed to be a "self-contained flexible and rapidly deployable force" and is structured for both special operations and domestic counter-terrorism. In its domestic counter-terrorism role it provides the Tactical Assault Group (East) to respond to high-risk incidents on the eastern coast of Australia beyond the capability of state and federal police tactical groups to respond to. The regiment maintains a high readiness element which encompasses the parachute company group role that the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) had maintained before being re-roled as a light infantry battalion. In 2010, the then-Chief of Army stated that as part of the future amphibious ready group based on the Navy's new Canberra-class it will be necessary to rotate a Commando Company to support the infantry battalion. 

Selection & Training

Any member of the Australian Defence Force may apply for entry into the 2nd Commando Regiment. Applicants may also be accepted via the Special Forces Direct Recruitment Scheme (SFDRS), where selected and screened civilians after completing Army Recruit Training and Infantry Initial Employment Training, are able to apply. Certain ADF members and all SFDRS applicants undertake an eight-week Special Forces Selection Preparation Course and commence the Commando Physical Training Package that is completed by all ADF applicants.

Candidates must complete the Special Forces Entry Test conducted by the Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations and if successful move onto the three-week Commando Selection Course. Successful candidates then commence the 12-month Commando Initial Employment Training, also known as the "Reinforcement Cycle". Upon successful completion of all courses soldiers are posted into one of the commando companies where further specialist training occurs. If a candidate fails any part of the selection course they will be returned to their unit, or transferred to one of the infantry battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment if they are a SFDRS candidate. Counter terrorist training is conducted at the Special Forces Training Facility (SFTF) based at Holsworthy Barracks with an indoor range complex, aircraft mock-up, method of entry facility, urban training facility and sniper range. In 2013, a four-hour documentary Commando was produced on the selection course and reinforcement training.