Since 1941, the Australian military has raised a range of special forces units that have conducted special operations, including:
Commando units such as the Independent and Commando Companies raised during World War II, and the 1st and 2nd Commando Regiments which were raised post-war.
Reconnaissance and intelligence gathering units such as Z Special Unit part of Special Operations Australia (code name Services Reconnaissance Department SRD) and M Special Unit part of the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) during World War II, and later the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).
Counter-terrorism units designated as a Tactical Assault Group formed within the SASR for domestic and overseas operations and within the 2nd Commando Regiment for domestic (with maritime element including clearance divers).
Air coordination support for Commandos and SASR from No. 4 Squadron B Flight Combat Controller Team (CCT) part of the Air Force who are Commando qualified.
The Navy Clearance Diving Branch formed post World War II, trained in all manner of military diving (not a dedicated special operations focus) including reconnaissance and shipping raids/sabotage for missions behind enemy lines receiving resistance to interrogation training, in addition members seconded to the SASR and later the 2nd Commando Regiment for maritime counter terrorism (MCT), on rotation back to the Branch using their MCT skills for several years based on Navy warships for piracy patrols to conduct if required opposed boardings/hostage rescue.
Non-special forces units proving support for special operations such as the Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER), Special Operations Logistics Squadron (SOLS), 171st Aviation Squadron, 173rd Aviation Squadron and No. 200 Flight RAAF.
All the Australian Army special forces units have been grouped together under the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) since December 2002. Clearance divers are under the command of the Navy (unless seconded to SOCOMD for MCT) and the Combat Controllers are under the command of the Air Force unless operational when they are attached to SOCOMD units.
In 1983, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australia's civilian national foreign intelligence agency, made a botched attempt to form a special recovery unit named the Covert Action Directorate, which included females, for the role of conducting overseas counter terrorism operations with training provided the military. The SASR had recently developed a domestic counter terrorism capability establishing the Tactical Assault Group. The ASIS covert military function approval was revoked, ASIS subject to a Royal Commission investigation and the special recovery role assigned to the SASR.
