Australian SASR

Video showing rare footage of the Australian SASR in training and on duty in Afghanistan.
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History
The Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) is a Special Forces regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions of the Australian World War II 'Z' Special Force commando unit, as well as the Independent Companies which were active in the South Pacific during the same period. It is based at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Perth, Western Australia and is a unit of the Royal Australian Corps of Infantry, part of the Australian Defence Force. They have been widely regarded as the best or one of the best special forces in the world.

The uniform of the regiment is Australian issue camouflage and a sand-coloured beret with metal gold and silver flaming Excalibur badge (often wrongly described as a winged dagger) on a black shield. This differs from the British 22 SAS, who have a woven cap badge of the same design. SAS 'Ibis' style parachute wings (rounded at the bottom and straight on top) are worn on the right shoulder only on formal ceremonial dress. On operations, dress can be a mixture of the Australian green or desert camouflage pattern depending on the environment. Rank, qualification and name badges are not worn. Operators may also wear assorted coalition military dress.

Around barracks, SASR soldiers conform to normal Australian army dress standards, although some latitude is given in the wide array of boots that are issued to the unit. When attending courses run by the general army, operators from SASR are careful to dress appropriately and correctly, including short haircuts.

Formal ceremonial dress is the normal Australian Army 'polys' with medals, rank and qualification badges worn. Gold 'SAS' bars are worn on shoulder tabs and SAS 'Ibis' style parachute wings are worn on the right sleeve.

Marching, saluting and drill is not generally carried out by SASR soldiers whilst at their Perth barracks.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, SASR operators were distinguished by their long hair and beards. Generally, shaving is not carried out whilst on patrol.

Basic patrol weapons are the M4 Carbine with M203 40mm grenade launcher and F89 Minimi light machine gun. A popular patrol weapon is the 7.62mm SR-25 rifle. The main pistol used is the Heckler & Koch 9mm USP. Many other weapon systems are used as the mission dictates. Up to a third of SASR operators are qualified snipers. Operators are multi-skilled and all are parachute-qualified, but they specialise in either Air, Water or Vehicle-mounted insertion methods.

The Regiment is organised into three 'sabre' squadrons, each of up to 80 'beret qualified' operators, and a signal squadron (152 Signal squadron), logistic support squadron, and Operational Support Squadron, which conducts the selection and training courses. Only a small percentage of the Regiment are 'beret qualified' operators. The majority of the regiment personnel are highly trained specialist staff who are posted to the unit to provide support for all operations. These include signallers, mechanics and technicians, medical staff, storemen, and various specialists.

'Beret qualified' SASR members are known as 'Operators' and support staff are affectionately known as 'Blackhats', due to the dark blue berets they wear. Infantry soldiers who are posted to the unit as storemen, drivers, clerks etc wear the dark 'rifle' green Infantry Corps beret.

There are also a number of support personnel who are qualified to wear the sandy beret but have chosen or been directed to remain serving in their particular specialist field. There are also beret qualified members who have been injured and subsequently moved into a support related area.

Personnel from 152 Signal Squadron are encouraged to attempt selection, but as a rule, if successful they remain in the signal squadron and do not transfer into a 'Sabre' squadron. However, in being 'Beret' qualified, they receive a significant pay rise and increased posting longevity to SASR. Members of 152 Signal Squadron are affectionately known as 'Chooks' and are often fully integrated into the 5 man SAS patrols.

The regimental motto is Who Dares Wins.