The concept of the Special Air Service had its genesis in the Western Desert during World War Two in the British Army. The history of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment however dates from 25 July 1957 when the Ist Special Air Service Company was raised n Western Australia.The Company consisted of a headquarters and four platoons. It realised a strength of about 200 all ranks by the time it became part of The Royal Australian Regiment in 1960.

The Company was expanded to a Regiment and renamed The Special Air Service Regiment on the fourth of September 1964. This date was significant as it marked the 21st anniversary of the Lae-Nadzab operation in New Guinea, the first Australian combined land, sea and airborne operation.

Members who have qualified on the SASR Selection Course are readily identified by their sandy coloured beret and its distinctive badge depicting the flaming sword Excalibur and the words ‘Who Dares Wins’. The Regiment has no colours as it is classified as a rifle regiment. The Regimental tunes are Lily Marlene for slow time and The Happy Wanderer for quick time.

The Regiment first saw operational service on the island of Borneo in February 1965, when 1 SAS Squadron deployed to Brunei during the Indonesian confrontation.

Thereafter squadrons were relieved on an annual basis. In October 1971 when the SAS involvement in the Vietnam war ceased, 2 SAS Squadron was disbanded to allow the current Operational Support Squadron (previously Training Squadron then Support Squadron) to be raised.

Significantly, during this era, the evolution of the sophisticated recovery capability in response the increasing trends of international terrorism took place. This capability remains the Australian Government’s last resort option to deal with acts of politically motivated terrorism that may threaten Australia’s interests. This responsibility was given initially to 1 SAS Squadron.

Whilst training in this role in 1996, two Blackhawk helicopters collided resulting in the deaths of 15 SAS soldiers along with 3 aircrew from 5 Aviation Regiment. It was Australia’s worst peacetime military air accident.

In order to maintain both the Counter Terrorism role and the unit’s war roles, 2 SAS Squadron was re-raised in 1982, bringing the Regiment to it’s present organisation of a Regimental Headquarters and six Squadrons.

The late 1980’s and early 90’s saw SASR increasingly employed in enhanced regional engagement initiatives. This resulted in bilateral training activities between SASR and regional Special Forces that have improved regional security through promoting good will and developing relationships.

In more recent years, the Regiment has provided specialist personnel in support of a number of United Nations missions in areas as diverse as Africa, Cambodia and the Middle East. These opportunities provided a medium to maintain the operational experience in SASR.

In response to Iraq’s reactions towards UN inspection team activity, SASR participated in Operation Desert Thunder. This contribution saw the deployment to Kuwait of a force element based on a SAS Sqn. SASR regimental level headquarters commanded an ANZAC Special Operations Component as part of the US Coalition Special Operations Task Force. Although escalated conflict was averted by the intervention of the UN Secretary General, the contingent soon established itself as a truly world class Special Forces organisation with US and coalition leaders.

Since 1994 SASR has contributed to the ongoing ADF operations to support peace negotiations in the troubled island of Bouganville.

The crisis in East Timor in 1999 resulted in the deployment of SAS force elements to support the successful outcome of INTERFET operations. The Regiment’s capabilities were employed across a wide range of tasks to significantly contribute to the shaping of the environment for conventional forces.

In recognition of these operations the Governor General, as Commander In Chief of the Australian Defence Force, awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation to the Squadron Group involved ‘for sustained outstanding service in warlike operations.’

Their importance to the successful outcome of Interfet operations cannot be overstated.

In late 2001, elements of the Regiment were once again committed to operations as part of the allied coalition in the global war against terrorism.