Well we've been hearing many things about the US Special Forces, but are they really the best and which unit is
the best ? Or does another
country possess
the best ?
Well who do you thinks the best ?
My vote is for the Australian SAS, recently combat proven in East Timor and Afghanistan.
And now once more in Iraq
In July 25 1957 the 1st Special Air Service was raised, the Company had a raised strength of 16 Officers and 168 Other ranks, then went on to
become a fully fledged regiment within a few years. By 1964, an additional two companies had been added and it was renamed the Special Air Service
Regiment. The SASR saw action in Borneo just a year later where it engaged in a widespread counterinsurgency campaign. Not long after this, some of
its members were sent to Vietnam (although records indicate some may have been present as early as 1962) to aid in training the Australian Army. the
AATV [Aust Army Trgteam ] were sent to help the MACV-SOG and did a lot of "in the hills living and training the Montagnards They also started
training the US Military and the "Recondo Jungle Course " they had , which were based on lessons learned in the Malayan Confrontation, in the 50's
and Borneo [60's]. The US Army under Westmoreland ordered the Course mandatory for SF and Recon units . Members of the AATV included members of the
SAS and [other specialists] and this small Unit won 4 Victoria Crosses, [the Equiv. Medal of Honor]. The AATV also were attached to US SF Mike -Force
teams. They became the most highly decorated unit in the Australian Army, mind you some had also fought in Korea and even WW11. The SAS in Vietnam
had a 500 to 1 kill ratio.
Cross-training with other countries is not uncommon; Australian officers are permanently assigned to both Fort Bragg and Little Creek, NAB. They
also have a close relationship with the British SAS which has been shared since 1957. Cross training has also occurred with the New Zealand SAS,
Germany's GSG-9 and others. Contrary to popular belief, the SASR is used in covert operations abroad, despite the rumors of a general governmental
reluctance to conduct such operations. Another secretive Role is called SRO or Special Recovery Operations.
READ THIS !
[Edited on 12-12-2002 by mad scientist]
[Edited on 5-6-2003 by mad scientist]