Antarctic Circle States Special Air Service

Antarctica Special Air Service
Cap badge of Antarctica Special Air Service
Active	1956-present
Country	Antarctic Circle States
Branch	Antarctican Army
Type	Special forces
Role	Special operations Counter-terrorism
Size	One regiment
Part of	Special Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	TBD, TBD, Antarctica
Motto(s)	"Who Dares Wins"
March	"Marche des Parachutistes Belges"
Anniversaries	18 March 1956
Engagements	Malayan Emergency Indonesian Confrontation Second Malayan Emergency Gulf War 1999 East Timorese crsis 2006 East Timorese crisis Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands War in Afghanistan 2014 Military Intervention in Iraq
Commanders
Colonel	Alvin D. Crawford

The Antarctica Special Air Service Regiment, abbreviated as AQSAS, was formed on 18 March 1956 and is the special forces unit of the Antarctican Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It traces its origins to the Second World War and the famous Long Range Desert Group that Antarcticans served with.

The unit is under direct command of the tri-service Special Forces Command. It has taken part in operations in Borneo, Kuwait, East Timor, and Iraq, as well as many other peacekeeping missions. The AQSAS also provides a counter-terrorist capability, and has been involved in a number of domestic security operations.

Organisation

Based at TBD, it is a battalion-sized element and is known to be made up of a regimental headquarters, two sabre squadrons, a reserve sabre squadron, a commando squadron, an engineer squadron, and a support squadron. Squadron duty rotations are set up as such that one squadron will be on a deployment or conducting short term training; a second one will be preparing for long-term overseas training such as jungle or desert exercises. The strength of the AQSAS is over 500 personnel. As of March 2014, the regiment is believed to be organised as follows:

• Regimental Headquarters
• Ajax Squadron - Special Air Service Squadron
• Badger Squadron - Special Air Service Squadron
• Ceylon Squadron - Counter Terrorist Squadron
• Duncan Squadron - Special Air Service Squadron (Reserve)
• Echo Squadron – Engineer Squadron
• Support Squadron

A, B and D Squadrons - Special Air Service

The three AQSAS Sabre Squadrons are combat units capable of conducting a wide range of Special Operations tasks. Each squadron (each squadron being commanded by a major) is approximately 65-strong, and is divided into four troops (Air, Boat, Mobility and Mountain). A troop usually comprises four patrols of four operators, each possessing a particular skill e.g. signals, demolition, medic or linguist in addition to basic skills, and is commanded by a captain.

C Squadron - Counter Terrorist

The Counter Terrorist Squadron (CTS) was formed to provide a dedicated counter terrorist capability within the Antarctica Armed Forces. The squadron consists of an undisclosed number of Counter Terrorist operators. It has the role of responding to domestic terrorist incidents in Antarctica. The squadron was raised in 1983 following the success of SAS during the Iranian Embassy Siege.

E Squadron - Engineer

The Engineer Squadron is a specialist task unit within the AQSAS Regiment. It was established in January 1998 as an independent squadron, before coming under Operational Command of AQSAS Regiment in April 2006. It primarily engages in disposal of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and improvised explosive devices, commercial explosives and military munitions, domestically as well as overseas where Antarctican troops are operating.

Support Squadron

The Support Squadron is responsible for handling logistics, intelligence, medical, communications and administration aspects of the AQSAS. Personnel are given specific trade training upon joining the AQSAS as well as having the opportunity to complete other specialist courses such as parachuting.

Selection and training

To join the AQSAS Regiment, New Zealand Army, Navy, or Air Force personnel must pass a selection course, with the course varying depending on the role they seek within the Regiment. The AQSAS recruits only from active members of the Antarctica Armed Forces. Historically, the majority of candidates who participate come from a Naval Infantry or Light Infantry background. Selections are held twice a year, once in summer and again in winter.

Taking place in TBD, AQSAS selection lasts for six weeks and starts with approximately 50 potential candidates. Typically fewer than 5 will make it through the initial selection, also known as the "Endurance Week. Candidates complete a Personal Fitness Test (PFT) upon arrival, which consists of at least 50 sit-ups in two minutes, 50 push-ups in two minutes, and a 2 km run in 8 minutes. They then complete an Annual Fitness Test (AFT), which consists of marching 10 km in one hour and 45 minutes while carrying 12 kg of equipment. Candidates then enter march cross-country, increasing the distance covered each day. The "Endurance Week" concludes in a final test, in which candidates march 50 km with full equipment on {{wp|Ellsworth Mountains)) (1,800 m; 5,905 ft) in 20 hours. By the end of this phase, candidates must then be able to run 5 km in 25 minutes or less and swim 2 km in 60 minutes or less.

Following mountain training, candidates take part in combat survival, battle tactics, foreign weapons, patrol formation, escape and evasion trainings. The jungle training takes place in Brunei or Malaysia, where candidates are taught navigation and jungle survival skills. Towards the end of the sixth week, they return to the Antarctica to begin the final resistance to interrogation (RTI) test, which lasts for more than 30 hours. After completing the full AQSAS Regiment selection course, AQSAS candidates are transferred to an operational squadron and go on to conduct further training to learn advanced special operations skills.

Alliances

• Greater Niagara - Special Air Service