THE AUSTRALIAN SPECIAL AIR SERVICE


The Australian Special Air Service was created in 1957 at the end of the campaign in Malaya, from 1957 to 1960 the company-sized service trained in Thailand and New Guinea.  In 1960 the Australian SAS Company was absorbed into the regular Australian Army.  In 1964 during an expansion of the Australian Armed Services, the Special Air Service Company  was expanded  to create the Australian Special Air Service Regiment.  In 1965 the regiment served in Brunei and Borneo and in 1966 it was deployed in Vietnam where it was to serve until 1971.  The Australian Armed Services are small and contain no marine element. The Australian SAS Regiment has been given responsibility for the full spectrum of special operations including those requiring amphibious or aquatic expertise.

As with its British counterpart, the Australian SAS Regiment recruits its volunteers from soldiers who are already serving within the army.

The Australian SAS Regiment currently consists of two combat squadrons and HQ support and base squadrons and the signals unit.