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.
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