Special Air Service Regiment - Selection and Training

Selection and Training

Selection is open to all serving Australian Defence Force and involves a 20 day Cadre Course which assesses both the individual's strength (both mental and physical), endurance, as well as their overall fitness and their ability to remain calm in combat and the ability to work effectively in small teams. Candidates must complete the Special Forces Barrier Phase that tests their physical fitness and includes push-ups, endurance marches and swimming; 64% of applicants will pass the Special Forces Barrier Phase which includes 10 Chin Ups, 80 Push Ups and 100 Sit Ups then followed by a 3.2km run, 5km run and a 15km fast march carrying 40KG as well as a 2 minute water tread and a 400 meter swim all must be completed in 12 Minutes all compacted in 8 hours and then the candidate will continue on to the 20 Day SASR selection, and 5-15% of candidates will pass the SASR Cadre Phase. The SASR Cadre includes a 5km run, a 8km run, a 10km run, a 15km run, a 20km run/fast march with a 28kg pack, a 30km fast march, a 35km fast march, a phase known as "Lone Warrior" which is a 68-80km endurance navigation march carrying a 50-60kg pack which must be completed in a 48 hour period, "HAPPY WANDERER" which the candidate must complete a 165km endurance navigation march which is 4 days in duration carrying 50-60kg. All these runs and marches must be completed in near impossible times. Finally the last phase known as "Lucky Dip" which is 6 days of hell. In "Lucky Dip" the candidate must complete Zodiac runs and lifts, log exercises and cargo bearers carried by 4 Man Teams weighing 500kg lasting for a number of days for lengths of 10 hours. There are 2 fitness sessions a day which may last for ranging from 2-6 hours in duration which includes a variety of exercises. A 5km strecher run wieghing 100kg and then a 5km run to completion. Even if you make to the end of selection, you may still be deemed as not right for the Regiment and will not continue to the Reinforcement Cycle. Other exercises may be conducted as well. Following selection, candidates that were selected must complete up to 18 months of Reinforcement Cycle before they join a Squadron as a Junior Trooper or Troop Commander (Captain). A wide array of training and courses are also conducted throughout a SASR soldier's career to allow the Regiment to have the most highly-qualified soldiers in the Australian Defence Force. Officers must complete additional courses to qualify them as an Operator in the Regiment, as their expertise is in Operation, Administration and Command.

These are the following qualifications needed before the SASR Trooper may be presented the Sandy Beret.

• Special Forces Weapons (2 Weeks)
• Advanced Close Quarter Battle (4 Weeks)
• Special Forces Urban Operations (4 Weeks)
• Close Quarter Fighting (2 week)
• Special Forces Advanced Parachuting (HALO, HAHO, Military Free Fall, Water Insertions) (4 Weeks)
• Special Forces Amphibious Operations (3 Weeks)
• Special Forces Demolitions (1 Week)
• Demolition Specialist (2 Weeks)
• Special Forces Heavy Weapons (2 Weeks)
• Special Forces Vehicle Operations (4 weeks)
• Special Forces Military Roping (2 Weeks)
• Combat Medic (3 Weeks)
• Special Forces Signaller (3 Weeks)
• Protective Security Details
• Special Forces Sniper
• Advanced Performance Driving
• Advanced Tactical Driving
• Advanced Breacher
• Special Forces Indirect Fire Support Operator
• Mountain operator
• Combat Survival
• Jungle Warfare
• Special Forces Special Reconnaissance
• Special Forces Special Recovery
• Special Forces Patrolling
• Special Forces Water Operations (Combat Diving, Demolitions)
• Joint Terminal Attack Controllers Course
• Special Forces Advance Acceleration Infantry Course (10 Weeks)

After completing the Reinforcement Cycle the Sandy Beret will be awarded and the Junior Trooper or a Captain acting as a Troop Commander will be posted to a Sabre or Fighting Squadron and complete 12 Months Training Cycle from a individual to a Troop level Training and a 12-18 month Pre-Deployment Training before being deployed to combat.

A new troop commander is carefully mentored by both Troop Sergeant and Patrol Commanders. Generally, a troop commander will only serve in the unit for two or four years but may come back as a Major if they have performed well. Soldiers may serve in the Regiment for their entire career, but this will usually include two year external postings to the Special Forces Training Center, the Parachute Training School, the 1st Commando Regiment (Special Forces Airborne Reserve), 2nd Commando Regiment (Special Forces Airborne) or the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australia Regiment (Airborne) as Instructors on the east coast. Promotion for soldiers is quite slow in the Regiment. On receiving their coveted sand-coloured SAS beret, all soldiers are given the rank of Trooper, which may involve a reduction from their previous rank. They usually also change Corps if they are not already members of the Infantry Corps. Despite a possible Reduction in Rank, SASR Operators receive significant allowances, which make them among the highest paid soldiers in the Australian Defence Force. With specialist allowances an SASR Trooper earns about $100,000 per annum.

Since their beginnings in 1964, the SASR has lost more men in training than in combat due to the nature of their training regime.