Editing Special Air Service (section)

==Organisation<!--British English spelling do not change -->==

Little publicly verifiable information exists on the contemporary SAS, as the British government usually does not comment on special forces matters due to the nature of their work.<ref name="Parliament of the United Kingdom"/><ref name="Special Forces"/> The Special Air Service comprises three units: one Regular and two [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] (AR) units. The regular army unit is 22 SAS Regiment and the reserve units are [[Artists Rifles|21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve)]] (21 SAS(R)) and [[23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)|23 Special Air Service Regiment]] (23 SAS (R)), collectively, the Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS(R)).<ref name=dasa>{{cite web|access-date=26 March 2010 |publisher=[[Defence Analytical Services Agency]] |title=UK Defence Statistics 2009 |url=http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2009/c4/table404.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610130325/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2009/c4/table404.html |archive-date=10 June 2011 }}</ref>

Special Forces Parachute Support Squadron (Para Sp Sqn) is a sub-unit of the Airborne Delivery Wing (ADW) based at [[RAF Brize Norton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Airborne Delivery Wing |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/organisation/adw.cfm |url-status=dead |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008223111/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/organisation/adw.cfm |archive-date=8 October 2013 |publisher=Royal Air Force |quote=Special Forces Parachute Support Squadron...The role of the Special Forces Parachute Support Squadron is to advise the UK Special Forces Group on all operational, training and developmental aspects of military parachuting. More so, the Parachute Support Squadron is tasked to deliver operational support and training to UK Special Forces troops to enable parachute insertion across the spectrum of parachute capabilities.}}</ref>

Supplementary to the SAS, together with the [[Special Boat Service]] and the [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]] is [[18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Redshaw |first1=Bernard |title=A New Royal Signals Unit |magazine=The wire : The Magazine of the Royal Corps of Signals |date=August 2005 |volume=59 |issue=4 |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/royalsignals/thewire/wire2005aug.pdf |publisher=Holbrook Printers Ltd |location=Portsmouth |issn=1462-9259|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110181855/http://www.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/royalsignals/thewire/wire2005aug.pdf|archivedate=10 January 2007}}</ref>

===Squadrons===

22 SAS normally has a strength of 400 to 600.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/paul_rogers_monthly_briefing/uk_special_forces_accountability_shadow_war|title=UK Special Forces: Accountability in Shadow War – Oxford Research Group|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-date=9 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609010353/http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/paul_rogers_monthly_briefing/uk_special_forces_accountability_shadow_war|url-status=dead}}</ref> The regiment has four operational squadrons: A, B, D and G. Each squadron consists of approximately 65 members commanded by a major, divided into four [[troop]]s (each troop being commanded by a captain) and a small headquarters section.<ref name=tele>{{cite news|access-date=25 March 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |last=Harnden|first=Toby|title=Gen Stanley McChrystal pays tribute to courage of British special forces|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7506932/Gen-Stanley-McChrystal-pays-tribute-to-courage-of-British-special-forces.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7506932/Gen-Stanley-McChrystal-pays-tribute-to-courage-of-British-special-forces.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=23 March 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=fb62>Fremont-Barnes, p. 62</ref> Troops usually consist of 16 members (Members of the SAS are variously known as "blade" or "Operator")<ref name=campress>{{cite journal|last=Finlan|first=Alistair|access-date=17 March 2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|title=The arrested development of UK special forces and the global war on terror|journal=Review of International Studies|year=2009|volume=35|issue=4|pages=971–982|doi=10.1017/S0260210509990398|s2cid=59450530|url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=6459928&jid=RIS&volumeId=35&issueId=04&aid=6459920|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423054627/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/review-of-international-studies/article/abs/arrested-development-of-uk-special-forces-and-the-global-war-on-terror/1F1E72A9ACFBE70F0494BB133CFCB4DC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">Neville, Leigh, ''The SAS 1983–2014 (Elite)'', Osprey Publishing, 2016, {{ISBN|978-1472814036}}, pp. 4–5,</ref><ref>Urban, Mark, ''Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq '', St. Martin's Griffin, 2012  {{ISBN|978-1250006967}}</ref> and each patrol within a troop consists of four members, with each member possessing a particular skill e.g. signals, demolition, medic or linguist in addition to basic skills learned during the course of his training.<ref name=fb62/> The term "squadron" dates back to the unit's earliest days when the unit's name was intended to confuse German intelligence.<ref name="ReferenceC"/> The four troops specialise in four different areas:
* Boat troop&nbsp;– specialists in maritime skills including diving using [[Rebreather diving|rebreathers]], using [[kayak]]s (canoes) and [[rigid-hulled inflatable boat]]s and often train with the [[Special Boat Service]].<ref name=ry40/>
* Air troop&nbsp;– experts in [[free fall]] parachuting and high-altitude parachute operations including [[High-altitude military parachuting#High Altitude Low Opening – HALO|High-Altitude Low Opening]] (HALO) and [[High-altitude military parachuting#High Altitude High Opening – HAHO|High-Altitude High Opening]] (HAHO) techniques.<ref name=ry40>Ryan, p. 40</ref>
* Mobility troop&nbsp;– specialists in using vehicles and are experts in desert warfare.<ref>Ryan, p. 150</ref> They are also trained in an advanced level of motor mechanics to field-repair any vehicular breakdown.<ref>Ryan, p. 97</ref>
* Mountain troop – specialists in Arctic combat and survival, using specialist equipment such as skis, snowshoes and mountain climbing techniques.<ref name=ry40/>

In 1980 R Squadron (which has since been renamed L Detachment) was formed; its members are all ex-regular SAS regiment soldiers who have a commitment to reserve service.<ref name=fb62/>{{#tag:ref|The Regular reserve is made up of ex-soldiers who have a mobilisation obligation by virtue of their former service in the regular army. For the most part, these reservists constitute a standby rather than ready reserve and are rarely mobilised except in times of national emergency or incipient war.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=4 June 2010 |title=Regular Reserve |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/1654.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316151912/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/1654.aspx |archive-date=16 March 2010 }}</ref>|group=nb}}

22 SAS squadron duty rotations are set up as such that one squadron is maintained on Counter-Terrorism duty in the UK; a second will be on a deployment; a third will be preparing for deployment whilst conducting short term training; and the fourth will be preparing for long-term overseas training such as jungle or desert exercises. In times of war, such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it is not uncommon for two squadrons to be deployed.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!22 Special Air Service Regiment
![[Artists Rifles#Organisation|21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists)]]
![[23 Special Air Service Regiment#Organisation|23 Special Air Service Regiment]]
|-
| 'A' Squadron ([[Hereford]])<ref name=sasloc/>
| 'Cap' Squadron ([[Regent's Park Barracks|Regent's Park]])<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Artists Rifles – From Pre-Raphaelites to Passchendaele |magazine=ARQ Army Reserve Quarterly |date=Autumn 2014 |page=21 |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ADR004124_ARQ_Autumn_2014_web.pdf |publisher=Army Media & Communication |location=Andover |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214202107/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ADR004124_ARQ_Autumn_2014_web.pdf| archive-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 'HQ' Squadron (Birmingham)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Firmin |first1=Rusty |title=The Regiment : 15 years in the SAS |date=2016 |location=London |isbn=9781472817372 |edition=Revised |quote=23 SAS headquarters in Kingstanding, Birmingham ... My job was to be the squadron quartermaster sergeant PSI in HQ squadron ... other permanent staff in Birmingham ...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Ben |title=SAS to march through Birmingham to receive freedom of city |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/sas-to-march-through-birmingham-to-receive-75447 |access-date=5 November 2022 |work=BirminghamLive |date=26 December 2008 |language=en |quote=The regimental headquarters ... moved to the TA Centre Kingstanding. |archive-date=5 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105220623/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/sas-to-march-through-birmingham-to-receive-75447 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Asher |first1=Michael |title=The regiment : the real story of the SAS |date=2008 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=9780141026527 |quote=23 SAS, with its HQ in Birmingham...}}</ref>
|-
| 'B' Squadron<ref>Fremont-Barnes, p. 4</ref>
| 'A' Squadron ([[Regent's Park Barracks|Regent's Park]])<ref name=sasloc/>
| 'B' Squadron ([[Leeds]])<ref>{{cite news |title=Army Reserve units in the North East |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/37043.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=5 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419154909/http://www.army.mod.uk:80/structure/37043.aspx |archive-date=19 April 2016 |quote=B Squadron, 23 SAS, Carlton Barracks, Carlton Gate, Leeds, LS7 1H}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Reserve forces and cadets association |title=B Sqn 23 SAS |url=http://www.rfca-yorkshire.org.uk/Units/Leeds/B%20Sqn%2023%20SAS.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522000245/http://www.rfca-yorkshire.org.uk/Units/Leeds/B%20Sqn%2023%20SAS.htm |archive-date=22 May 2010 }}</ref>
|-
| 'D' Squadron
| 'C' Squadron ([[Bramley Camp]])<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=C Squadron 21 Special Air Service Regiment (V) Artists Rifles |url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/south/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/CSquadron21SpecialAirServiceRegiment(V)ArtistsRifles.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725072308/http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/south/rolesandregiments/ta/pages/CSquadron21SpecialAirServiceRegiment%28V%29ArtistsRifles.aspx |archive-date=25 July 2010 }}</ref>
| 'D' Squadron (Scotland)<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=D Squadron 23 SAS (R) |url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/scotland/rolesandregiments/ta/pages/dsquadron23sas(r).aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105053049/http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/scotland/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/DSquadron23SAS%28R%29.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2010 }}</ref>
|-
|'G' Squadron<ref name="th86">Thompson, p. 86</ref>
|'E' Squadron (Wales)<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=E Squadron – 21 Special Air Service Regiment |url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/wales/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/ESquadron,21SpecialAirServiceRegiment.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202184820/http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/wales/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/ESquadron%2C21SpecialAirServiceRegiment.aspx |archive-date=2 December 2008 }}</ref>
|'G' Squadron ([[Manchester]])<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=G Squadron, 23 Special Air Service Regiment (R) |url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/northwest/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/GSquadron,23SpecialAirServiceRegiment(R).aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016112023/http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/northwest/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/GSquadron%2C23SpecialAirServiceRegiment%28R%29.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2009 }}</ref>
|}

Squadron Structure:<ref>7 Troop by Andy Mcnab and SAS Heroes by Pete Scholey</ref>
* A Squadron: 1 (Boat) Troop – 2 (Air) Troop – 3 (Mobility) Troop – 4 (Mountain) Troop
* B Squadron: 6 (Boat) Troop – 7 (Air) Troop – 8 (Mobility) Troop – 9 (Mountain) Troop
* D Squadron: 16 (Air) Troop – 17 (Boat) Troop – 18 (Mobility) Troop – 19 (Mountain) Troop
* G Squadron: 21 (Mobility) Troop – 22 (Mountain) Troop – 23 (Boat) Troop – 24 (Air) Troop

===Counter Terrorist Wing===

The SAS has a subunit called the Counter Terrorist Wing (CTW) that fulfils its [[counterterrorism]] (CT) role.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shepherd |first1=Bobtitle=The infidel | title=The Infidel |date=2010 |location=London |isbn=9781847378149 |quote=An eighteen year veteran of 22 SAS Regiment, John had done it all...assault and sniper team commander for the Regiment's counter-terror wing}}</ref> It has previously been known as the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) Wing<ref>Fremont-Barnes, p. 3</ref> and special projects team.<ref>Fremont-Barnes, p. 10</ref><ref>Thompson, p. 91</ref> The SAS receives aviation support from [[No. 658 Squadron AAC]] to carry out their CT role.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogoway |first1=Tyler |title=About That 'Blue Thunder' Counter-Terror Chopper That Landed On London Bridge |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/11121/about-that-blue-thunder-counter-terror-chopper-that-landed-on-london-bridge |access-date=10 September 2022 |work=The Drive |date=4 June 2017 |language=en |quote=tasked with supporting ... the Special Air Service ... on domestic counter-terror ops |archive-date=10 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910135116/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/11121/about-that-blue-thunder-counter-terror-chopper-that-landed-on-london-bridge |url-status=live }}</ref>

The CTW is trained in Close Quarter Battle (CQB), [[sniper]] techniques and specialises in hostage rescue in buildings or on public transport.<ref>Ryan, pp. 38–39</ref> The team was formed in the early 1970s after the Prime Minister, [[Edward Heath]], asked the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] to prepare for any possible terrorist attack similar to the [[Munich massacre|massacre]] at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] therefore ordering that the SAS Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) wing be raised.<ref name=dbt38>de B. Taillon, p. 38</ref>

Squadrons refresh their training every 16 months, on average. The CRW's first deployment was during the [[Balcombe Street siege]]. The [[Metropolitan Police]] had trapped a [[PIRA]] unit; it surrendered when it heard on the [[BBC]] that the SAS were being sent in.<ref name=dbt38/> The first documented action abroad by the CRW wing was assisting the West German counter-terrorism group [[GSG 9]] at [[Lufthansa Flight 181|Mogadishu]].<ref name="sf12"/>

The CT role was shared amongst the squadrons, initially on a 12-month and later six-month rotation basis to ensure that all members are eventually trained in CT and CQB techniques. The SAS train for the CT role at [[Pontrilas Army Training Area]] in a facility that includes the [[Killing House]] (officially known as Close Quarter Battle House) and part of a [[Boeing 747]] airliner that can be reconfigured to match the internal layouts of virtually any commercial aircraft. The on-call CT squadron is split into four troops, two of which are on immediate notice to move and are restricted to the [[Hereford]]-[[Credenhill]] area, whilst the other two conduct training and exercises across the UK, but are available for operational deployment should the need arise.<ref>Neville, Leigh, ''The SAS 1983–2014 (Elite)'', Osprey Publishing, 2016, {{ISBN|978-1472814036}}, pp. 9, 11</ref>

===Commanding Officers===
* 1950 Lt Col [[Mike Calvert]], [[Royal Engineers]]<ref>Geraghty, p. 24</ref>
* 1951 Lt Col John Slone, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]]<ref>Geraghty, p. 28</ref>
* 1953 Lt Col Oliver Brooke, [[Welch Regiment]]<ref name="auto">Geraghty, p. 31</ref>
* 1954 Lt Col [[Mike Osborn|Michael Osborn]], [[West Yorkshire Regiment]]<ref name="auto"/>
* 1955 Lt Col [[George Lea]], [[Lancashire Fusiliers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/FamousLFS/Lieutenant%20General%20Sir%20George%20Lea%20KCB%20DSO%20MBE.htm|title=Lieutenant General Sir George Lea KCB DSO MBE|publisher=Lancashire Fusiliers|access-date=8 June 2015|archive-date=29 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029222307/http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/FamousLFS/Lieutenant%20General%20Sir%20George%20Lea%20KCB%20DSO%20MBE.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and Parachute Regiment<ref>Geraghty, p. 34</ref>
* 1957 Lt Col [[Tony Deane-Drummond]], [[Royal Signals]]<ref>Geraghty, p. 109</ref>
* 1960 Lt Col Ronald Wilson, [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/r-dare-wilson|title=R. Dare Wilson &#124; ParaData|website=www.paradata.org.uk|access-date=10 September 2021|archive-date=10 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910205203/https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/r-dare-wilson|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1962 Lt Col [[John Woodhouse (British Army officer)|John Woodhouse]], [[Dorset Regiment]] and [[East Surrey Regiment|East Surreys]]<ref>Geraghty, p. 44</ref>
* 1965 Lt Col [[Mike Wingate Gray|Michael Wingate-Gray]],<ref>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/brigadier-mike-wingate-gray-1.651557 Obituary: Brigadier Mike Wingate Gray] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011013847/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/brigadier-mike-wingate-gray-1.651557 |date=11 October 2012 }} Herald Scotland, 11 November 1995</ref> [[Black Watch]]
* 1967 Lt Col [[John Slim, 2nd Viscount Slim|John Slim]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/17406518.obituary-viscount-slim-distinguished-sas-commander-president-burma-star-association/|title=Obituary: Viscount Slim, distinguished SAS commander and president of the Burma Star Association|website=HeraldScotland|date=4 February 2019 |access-date=10 September 2021|archive-date=10 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910205202/https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/17406518.obituary-viscount-slim-distinguished-sas-commander-president-burma-star-association/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]]
* 1969 Lt Col [[John Watts (British Army officer)|John Watts]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/5669124.ex-sas-commander-sir-john-watts-dies/|title=Ex-SAS commander Sir John Watts dies|website=Hereford Times|date=8 January 2004 |access-date=10 September 2021|archive-date=10 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910205207/https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/5669124.ex-sas-commander-sir-john-watts-dies/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Royal Irish Rangers]]
* 1972 Lt Col [[Peter de la Billière]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/gulf/Billière.html|title=General Sir Peter de la Billière|access-date=4 May 2007}}{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Light Infantry]]
* 1974 Lt Col [[Tony Jeapes|Anthony Jeapes]],<ref>Sas Secret War: Operation Storm in the Middle East</ref> [[Devonshire and Dorset Regiment]]
* 1977 Lt Col [[Michael Wilkes|Mike Wilkes]], [[Royal Artillery]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10423352/General-Sir-Michael-Wilkes.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10423352/General-Sir-Michael-Wilkes.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=General Sir Michael Wilkes|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=3 November 2013 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/general-sir-michael-wilkes-sas-chief-who-went-serve-valued-right-hand-man-general-peter-de-la-billiere-first-gulf-war-9081513.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/general-sir-michael-wilkes-sas-chief-who-went-serve-valued-right-hand-man-general-peter-de-la-billiere-first-gulf-war-9081513.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=General Sir Michael Wilkes: SAS chief who went on to serve as valued|date=23 January 2014|website=The Independent}}</ref>
* 1982 Lt Col [[Michael Rose (British Army officer)|Mike Rose]], [[Coldstream Guards]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/we-think-our-chap-can-do-it-profile-ltgen-sir-michael-rose-un-peaceseeker-in-bosnia-1395046.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/we-think-our-chap-can-do-it-profile-ltgen-sir-michael-rose-un-peaceseeker-in-bosnia-1395046.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=We think our chap can do it: Profile: Lt-Gen Sir Michael Rose, UN|date=22 October 2011|website=The Independent}}</ref>
* 1984 Lt Col [[Andrew Massey (British Army officer)|Andrew Massey]], [[Royal Corps of Transport]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-brigadier-andrew-massey-1198076.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-brigadier-andrew-massey-1198076.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Obituary: Brigadier Andrew Massey|date=22 October 2011|website=The Independent}}</ref>
* 1986 Lt Col [[Cedric Delves]], [[Devonshire and Dorset Regiment]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/United_Kingdom/SAS/COs.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224225539/http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/United_Kingdom/SAS/COs.htm|url-status=dead|title=Special Operations: Commanding Officers|archive-date=24 February 2012}}</ref>
* 1989 Lt Col [[John Holmes (British Army officer)|John Holmes]], [[Scots Guards]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.erinysinternational.com/CompanyOverview-ManagementProfiles.asp?Corporate|title=ERINYS|date=6 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406021241/http://www.erinysinternational.com/CompanyOverview-ManagementProfiles.asp?Corporate|archive-date=6 April 2008}}</ref>
* n/k Lt Col [[Jacko Page|Jonathan "Jacko" Page]], Parachute Regiment<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/two-women-sas-selection-first-time-ever|title=Two Women Up For SAS Selection For First Time Ever|date=9 August 2021|website=Forces Network|access-date=9 September 2021|archive-date=9 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909203222/https://www.forces.net/news/two-women-sas-selection-first-time-ever|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2001 Lt Col [[Ed Butler]], [[Royal Green Jackets]]<ref name="Gall">{{cite book |last1= Gall |first1= Sandy |title= War Against the Taliban: Why It All Went Wrong in Afghanistan |publisher= Bloomsbury Paperbacks |year= 2013 |isbn= 978-1408822340 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/waragainsttaliba0000gall }}</ref><ref name=speaker>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonspeakerbureau.com/uk/speakers/ed_butler|title=Ed Butler|publisher=London Speaker Bureau|access-date=24 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917002846/http://www.londonspeakerbureau.com/uk/speakers/ed_butler|archive-date=17 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2002 Lt Col [[Mark Carleton-Smith]], [[Irish Guards]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u442i5uSASYC&q=Mark+Carleton-Smith+22sas&pg=PT20|title=Desperate Glory|first=Sam|last=Kiley|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=2010|isbn=978-1408801239|access-date=5 September 2021|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423054620/https://books.google.com/books?id=u442i5uSASYC&q=Mark+Carleton-Smith+22sas&pg=PT20|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2007 Lt Col Richard Williams, Parachute Regiment<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimyfoundation.ca/about/boards|title=Team & Board &#124; About &#124; The Vimy Foundation|website=vimyfoundation.ca|access-date=31 January 2022|archive-date=30 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130025825/https://vimyfoundation.ca/about/boards|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2012 Lt Col [[Nick Perry (British Army officer)|Nick Perry]], [[King's Royal Hussars]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.krh.org.uk/uploads/4/5/0/9/45090939/krh_2012.pdf|title=Officers at Extra Regimental Employment ('ERE')|publisher=Journal of the King's Royal Hussars|page=145|year=2012|access-date=5 September 2021|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905121235/https://www.krh.org.uk/uploads/4/5/0/9/45090939/krh_2012.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Operational command===
====Regular====
22 SAS is under the operational command of the [[Director Special Forces]] (DSF), a [[major-general]] grade post. Previously ranked as a brigadier, the DSF was promoted from brigadier to major-general in recognition of the significant expansion of the [[United Kingdom Special Forces]] (UKSF).<ref name=grave>{{cite news|access-date=25 March 2010|work=The Times|location=London|title=Special forces win the right to take their secrets to the grave|last=Evans|first=Michael|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3134322.ece|date=5 January 2008|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423054622/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Reserve====
On 1 September 2014, 21 and 23 SAS were moved from UKSF.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/Badge%20Notes%202021.pdf|title=Badge Notes|date=1 February 2021|access-date=2 April 2022|archive-date=4 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404205939/https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/Badge%20Notes%202021.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> They were placed under command of [[1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade]].<ref name="Janes International Defence Review 2014, page 4">Janes International Defence Review, May 2014, p. 4</ref><ref>Army Briefing Note 120/14, Newly Formed Force Troops Command Specialist Brigades, Quote. It commands all of the Army's Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).</ref> In 2019 they were moved back to UKSF.<ref>{{Cite web|title=21 & 23 SAS (Reserve)|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603095722/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/10550|title=Force Troops Command Handbook|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=11 January 2021|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330181711/https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/10550|url-status=live}}</ref>