21 Regiment Special Air Service

21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve), is a reserve regiment of the SAS. 21 SAS specialises in providing depth to the UKSF group through the provision of Individual and collective augmentation to the regular component of UKSF and standalone elements up to task group (Regimental) level focused on support and influence (S&I) operations to assist conflict stabilisation.

The Artists Rifles was disbanded in 1945, but reformed in the Rifle Brigade in January 1947 and transferred to the Army Air Corps in July as the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles).

Role

The traditional role of 21 and 23 SAS is to carry out long range reconnaissance patrols for the regular UK Army (although these days the focus is on augmenting UKSF operations), freeing the regular SAS from recon tasks and onto direct actions.

Another role that SAS reservists are thought to carry out is that of so-called 'hearts and minds' operations. On such missions the SAS give medical and other assistance to local forces and populations in a given theatre. It is thought that 21 and 23 SAS work closely with the 15(UK) Psychological Operations Group, part of the Intelligence Corps, when undertaking hearts and minds ops.

The men of 21 and 23 SAS are issued with standard UK infantry weapons, typically the SA80 and variants.

History of 21 SAS

The SAS was disbanded in 1945, but in 1946 it was decided to raise a new SAS within the Territorial Army.

The Artists Rifles appellation comes from the amalgamation in 1947 with an unusual pre-existing TA Regiment originally raised from the artistic community at a time when the Rifle Volunteer movement was at its height. The Artists Rifles (originally Artists' Rifles until the apostrophe was officially dropped from the full title as it was so often misused) were of such quality they were used as an officer-producing unit in both World Wars, although the 1st Battalion fought as part of the Royal Naval Division in the latter years of World War I.

SAS soldiers were merged into the Artists Rifles to form the new regiment, 21 SAS. The number 21 was chosen to commemorate two disbanded world war 2 regiments, 1 SAS and 2 SAS.

In 1950 the regiment formed a unit called M Squadron to serve in Korea under Major Greville-Bell. The war ended before deployment of this squadron, so it was sent to Malaya where it took part in the Malay insurgency campaign. M Squadron eventually split from 21 SAS to become 22 SAS.

Organisation

21 SAS consists of:
*'HQ' Squadron (Regent's Park)
*'A' Squadron (Regent's Park)
*'C' Squadron (Basingstoke/Cambridge)
*'E' Squadron (Newport/Exeter)

AS (Reserve) Selection

Selection is open to men over 18 and under 32 (or under 35 for those with military experience) who are fit and do not have a criminal record. Selection itself consists of a series of physical tests run over a series of weeknights and weekends, in keeping with the part-time nature of TA unitsfact|date=August 2008. It is the same as for 23 SAS.

Physical and mental stamina, along with navigational ability are stretched to the limit over series of tests. The aptitude phase culminates with a 64 kilometer march, with a 60lbs bergen, over the Brecon Beacons in Walesfact|date=August 2008.

*9 x weekends of endurance training.
*1 x week endurance training in the Brecon Beacons.
*1 x week assessment (Test Week) in the Beacons. STANDARD OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE (SOP) TRAINING

*9 x weekends patrol SOP's including surveillance and reconnaissance.
*1 x week live firing including patrol contact drills and Tp offensive action.
*1 x 9 day battle camp comprising:
**Live firing assessment.
**Field training exercise to test the skills learned throughout Selection. This culminates in Conduct after Capture (CAC). On successful completion of this training, ranks are badged as SAS and are assigned to their respective units for continuation training.

Candidates who successfully complete Selection will enter a period of probation and must complete the following courses to be fit for mobilisation{fact|date=August 2008}.

*Basic Parachute Course.
*SF Communications Course.
*Main Training Period.

Once successfully through continuation training, SAS(R) soldiers will undergo periodic UKSF Military Annual training Tests *(MATTs) and Main Training Periods. Additional qualifications can be sought throughout the SAS(R) soldier's career:

*Patrol Medics
*Enhanced Surveillance and Reconnaissance
*Languages
*Emergency Close Air Support
*Support Weapons
*Close Protection
*A further reserve element exists, called L Detachment. Unlike 21 and 23, which are independent entities, L Detachment is directly attached to 22 SASfact|date=August 2008.

ee also

*Special Air Service
*22 SAS
*23 SAS
*Jim Johnson
*Artists Rifles