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Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is SASR?

What does SASR do?

How do I join the Australian SAS?

What is the difference between an Australian SAS soldier and a Commando?

What is the motto of SASR?

Do SAS personnel have a special uniform?

Where is SASR based?

Where has the Australian SAS been deployed?

What is the SAS Historical Collection?

What is the SAS Historical Foundation?

Is the SAS Historical Collection open to the public?

 

 

Question: What is SASR?

Answer: The Special Air Service Regiment is officially abbreviated SASR although commonly referred to as the SAS. The Regiment is an elite special operations force of the Australian Army and is a direct command unit of the Australian Special Operations Command.

 

 

Question: What does SASR do?

Answer: SASR is tasked to provide special operations capabilities in support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This includes providing unique capabilities to support sensitive strategic operations, special recovery operations, training assistance, special reconnaissance and precision strike and direct action.

Question: How do I join the Australian SAS?

Answer: ADF members may volunteer for service with SASR. Volunteers are subject to a pre-selection process, must successfully complete a Selection Course comprising a series of mental and physical tests, demonstrate a satisfactory level of military skills, show an aptitude for training at a highly skilled level and possess the prescribed key attributes for service in the Regiment. This will be followed by 18 months of reinforcement training prior to the soldier/officer being formally accepted into SASR.

 

 

Question: What is the difference between an Australian SAS soldier and a Commando?

Answer: There is a lot of similarity between the attributes and military prowess of both SAS soldiers and Commandos in the ADF, however the primary difference is based on the role of the particular Regiment in which the soldier is selected to serve. SAS soldiers are selected for their ability to conduct protracted, difficult and challenging small team operations, involving high level precise military skills, often in very remote areas, with little tactical level support. Commandos are selected for their ability to undertake large-scale offensive operations, utilising the full extent of weapons and capabilities available to the ADF and our allies.

 

 

Question: What is the motto of SASR?

Answer: The motto ‘Who Dares Wins’ originated with the British Special Air Service and is usually credited to its founder, David Stirling.

Question: Do SAS personnel have a special uniform?

Answer: Those members of SASR who are SAS qualified wear a sand-coloured beret with a metal gold and silver badge on a black shield. The badge represents the downward pointing sword ‘Excalibur’ wreathed in flames.

 

This differs from the British 22 SAS, who have a woven cap badge of the same design.

 

All SAS qualified personnel are trained parachutists and the wings denoting this military speciality are those designed by Lieutenant John Steel (Jock) Lews a founding member of the British SAS in World War II. The design is based on the stylised sacred Ibis wings of the goddess Isis of Egyptian iconography.

 

 

 

Question: Where is SASR based?

Answer: Since the inception of the Australian SAS in 1957 the unit has been home-based in Campbell Barracks in the Perth suburb of Swanbourne. The base is named after Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Alexander CAMPBELL, OBE, K St J, DCM (26 October 1842 - 18 April 1924).

 

 

Question: Where has the Australian SAS been deployed?

Answer: The SAS Company was never deployed on operational service. Force elements from SASR have served in various major conflicts (including Borneo, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq) and provided support to peace enforcements and peacekeeping operations (including Rwanda, Somalia, Cambodia and East Timor). In addition to international operations, SASR remains prepared to meet domestic and offshore counter terrorism tasks.

Question: What is the SAS Historical Collection?

Answer: Established in 1987, the SAS Historical Collection is a military heritage museum dedicated to recording and exhibiting the evolution of the Australian SAS from its inception to the present day.

 

Brigadier R.D.F. Lloyd, OBE, MC, (RL) then the Honorary Colonel of SASR opened the first section of the Collection, on 3 September I987 to coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the Australian SAS.

 

 

Question: What is the SAS Historical Foundation?

Answer: The SAS Historical Foundation is a Registered Gift Deductible Recipient. The Foundation’s Constitution was registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in 1998 but is now responsible to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

 

 

Question: Is the SAS Historical Collection open to the public?

Answer: Unfortunately, the SAS Historical Collection is not open to the general public. However, visits by appointment may be made for schools and other eligible organisations. For enquiries please contact us.