11th Special Service Regiment

The 11th Special Service Regiment ( 11 SSR, (stylised ''11 Rejimen Gerak Khas'' — ''11 RGK'')), also known as ''Unit Lawan Keganasan'' or Anti-terrorism Unit in English, is the premier unit of the Malaysian Army's special forces. The 11 SSR is one of the regiments under '' Gerak Khas'', along with the 21st and 22nd Commando Regiment. Their headquarters are currently located at Sungai Udang Camp in Malacca.

The 11 SSR is modelled after the organisational structure of the British 22 Special Air Service, and when compared to the United States military system, the 11 SSR is the " Tier 1" unit of the Malaysian Army. The 11 SSR operators were exclusively recruited from experienced commandos within the ''Gerak Khas''' units.

History

Created as a combat intelligence unit for army commandos

The Malaysian Intelligence Corps established the 11th Special Service Regiment (abbreviated as 11 SSR) and its sister unit, the 12th Special Service Regiment (abbreviated as 12 SSR), on 1 April 1981, as combat intelligence units for army commandos. They served as specialists in counter-revolutionary warfare for two commando regiments operating under the Malaysian Special Service Group (now recognised as the 21st Special Service Group).

The 11 SSR is embedded into the 21st Para Commando Regiment (now known as the 21st Commando Regiment), while the 12 SSR is embedded with the 22nd Para Commando Regiment (now known as the 22nd Commando Regiment). Much like the SAS during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, their mission encompassed intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, and the harassment of the adversary's leadership.

The dissolution of the 12th Special Service Regiment

In 1983, the Malaysian Special Service Group (MSSG) disbanded the 12 SSR, resulting in the 11 SSR no longer functioning as a sub unit of the 21st Para Commando. The MSSG assimilated it and elevated it to the position of a counter-revolutionary warfare expert for the entire MSSG instead. The remaining members of the 12 SSR were integrated into the 11 SSR. Drawing inspiration from the capabilities of the British 22nd Special Air Service, the 11 SSR developed new specialised skills, including airborne pathfinders and frogmen.

Elements of counter-terrorism have been included in the 11 SSR

Prior to the official end of the Communist insurgency in Malaysia in 1989, the primary focus of nearly all special forces in Malaysia, including the 11 SSR, was guerrilla warfare and jungle combat. Counter-terrorism was the responsibility of the Royal Malaysian Police's special forces unit, the Special Actions Unit (). Post-1989, the Malaysian government sought to establish units capable of addressing terrorism, leading to the inclusion of counter-terrorism training for both the Royal Malaysian Police's 69 Commando and the 11 SSR. Under the ''Nelson Glory Project'' in 1990, counter-terrorism instructors from the 22 Special Air Service (22 SAS) were dispatched to impart their expertise to the 11 SSR. This initiative resulted in a significant restructuring of the 11 SSR's sabre squadrons, differentiating them from the organisational framework of the 22 SAS.

Each Sabre squadron under the 11 SSR now distinguishes itself with specific capabilities and specialties, reflecting its individual roles and functions, in contrast to the 22 SAS.

Separation of the Special Boat Squadron from the 11th Special Service Regiment

In 2009, a significant restructuring occurred within the 21st Special Service Group units, leading to the reorganisation of the 22nd Commando Regiment (22 CDO) to specialise specifically in amphibious warfare. Consequently, the 11 SSR's Special Boat Squadron () was integrated with the 22 CDO.

Organisation

As a member of the Commonwealth, Malaysia's military system shares similarities with that of the United Kingdom. The 11th Special Service Regiment (11 SSR) is intricately modelled after the British 22 Special Air Service and the historic Malayan Scouts. Initially comprising five sabre squadrons, the 11 SSR underwent restructuring as the 22nd Commando Regiment (22 CDO) evolved into a special forces unit specialising in amphibious operations. During this transition, the Victor squadron from the 11 SSR was relocated to the 22 CDO.

Presently, the 11 SSR operates with four sabre squadrons, in addition to a headquarters and a family welfare support unit. These are:

Current squadrons

Family welfare support

11 SSR's BAKAT manages the family welfare support for the 11th Special Service Regiment (11 SSR). This organisation, under the leadership of the spouse of the Commander of 11 SSR, operates with the commander serving as its patron. BAKAT plays a crucial role in overseeing the well-being and providing support for the families associated with the regiment, providing a vital network of assistance and resources.

National Special Operations Force

The National Special Operations Force (NSOF) held the position of Malaysia's top counter-terrorism task force, recruiting exclusively from the finest counter-terrorism units within the country, such as the 11 SSR, the 69 Commando, the Special Actions Unit, PASKAL, PASKAU, and STAR. Operating under the direct authority of the Prime Minister's Office, the NSOF enjoyed increased autonomy, robust support from all federal government agencies, and substantial funding. Selected commandos from the 11 SSR's Uniform Squadron were granted the honour of joining this elite task force. However, the National Special Operations Force was disbanded in July 2018.

Defence Special Operations Division

The ''Bahagian Operasi Pasukan Khas Pertahanan'', known by its English name Defence Special Operations Division (DSOD), or stylized as Defense Special Forces Operations Division in American English, was instituted by the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) in 2018 as a replacement for the National Special Operations Force. This transformation stemmed from the MAF's acknowledgement of the crucial role of joint special operations for Malaysia. Notably, DSOD operates under the jurisdiction of the MAF and includes exclusively the units within the MAF's organisational structure.

Recruitment, selection and training

Given the distinct specialities of each squadron within the 11 SSR, the recruitment process for each squadron varies. To be eligible for selection in the 11 SSR, an applicant must currently serve as a member of any '' Gerak Khas''-related unit (such as the 21st Special Service Group, the Special Warfare Training Centre, or the 91st Intelligence Operations Group), maintain a clean disciplinary record, and have completed more than six years of service in any ''Gerak Khas''-related unit.

According to Major () Nazar Talib's book "''Menjunjung Bere Hijau''" (2012), the 11 SSR is more inclined to recruit Malaysian Army commandos with expertise in explosive ordnance disposal.

Notable missions

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1996

From its inception, Malaysia actively participated in the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a dedicated peacekeeping force. Between 1992 and 1996, Malaysia contributed a total of 6085 peacekeepers across nine military contingents to both UNPROFOR (1992-1995) and IFOR (1995-1996) operations. Notably, the 11th Special Service Regiment assumed a central role as the primary special operations unit on the ground. They were frequently called upon to support peacekeeping forces from other nations, particularly during missions in challenging locations like Sniper Alley.

Notes

References

{{Reflist

Malaysian Army
Formations of the Malaysian Army