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RAF
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Abbreviations


 

Armed Forces - a5a08.1 - British Army - The Infantry - Special Forces - SAS - Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

THE INFANTRY

SPECIAL FORCES


Although the exact detail is highly classified the UK Special Forces Group (UKSF) is under the command of the Director Special Forces (DSF).

Units known to be part of the UK Special Forces Group include:

22nd Special Air Service Regiment (Army) 22 SAS
Special Boat Service (Royal Marines) SBS
Special Forces Support Group SFSF
Special Reconnaissance Regiment SRR
Reserve Components

Special Forces Reserve (SF-R)

The two reserve SAS Regiments (21 and 23 SAS) together with 63 SAS Signal Squadron and the SBS Reserve have evolved into the Reserve Component of the UKSF Group.

Special Forces Support Group

Based around a core group from the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment, The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is a new unit within the UK Special Forces, which was set up on 3 April 2006. SFSG directly supports Special Forces operations worldwide and also provides an additional counter-terrorist capability. Personnel for the SGSG also come from the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force Regiment. Members of the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) will retain the cap badges of their parent units but also wear the SFSG insignia.

All SFSG personnel have passed either the Royal Marines Commando course, the Airborne Forces Selection course run by the Parachute Regiment or the RAF Pre-Parachute Selection course. Quaified personnel are then equipped and provided with additional training to fit their specific specialist role on joining the SFSG.

The UK MoD has described the main role of the SFSG as “Providing direct support to UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world. They will be prepared to operate in war-fighting, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations at short notice. Their roles may include provision of supporting or diversionary attacks, cordons, fire support, force protection and supporting training tasks. Prior to the creation of the SFSG, these tasks have been carried out by other units on an ad hoc basis”.

Special Reconnaissance Regiment

The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) was formed in April 2005 to meet a growing worldwide demand a for special reconnaissance capability. The term ‘special reconnaissance’ covers a wide range of highly classified specialist skills and activities related to covert surveillance.

The SRR draws its personnel from existing units and can recruit new volunteers from serving members of the Armed Forces where necessary. Other sub-units provide combat and service support.