// Background
The predecessor of the SASR, consisting of about 300 people, was the 2nd Independent Special Forces Company, launched in 1942 at the beginning of the Pacific War. This unit, also known as ‘Z Force’, is a mini-unit of only about 250 people. It mainly conducted unusual activities such as reconnaissance, ambushes, and limited target strikes centered on the Timor Islands. It played a role in leading the Allied Forces to a successful operation on the South Pacific islands, including Papua New Guinea, by tying up 35,000 Japanese troops in 3 divisions for almost a year.
Current SARS, headquartered near Perth, Western Australia, with a staff of 550, is composed of two operational echelons, a headquarters and a support group (dedicated to supply and training) modeled after the organization of Britain's SAS, in addition to TAG and OAG, which are dedicated to special missions such as counter-terrorism warfare. The echelons that carry out actual operations are further subdivided into A Company (specialized in high-altitude descents), B Company (specialized in underwater operations), and C Company (specialized in land operations such as desert warfare). There is. Eligibility for SASR personnel is limited to those who have served on active duty for more than two years. After going through a three-week basic selection process, which is considered the most rigorous in the world, they enter a one-year specialized education and training course based on personal characteristics and training records. The number of applicants for the selection process, which is usually held once a year, is reportedly around 400, and the pass rate is less than 10%.
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