21st Special Service Group

Following the end of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in 1966, the army command considered disbanding the Malaysian Special Service Unit (MSSU). The MSSU, which was based at the time in Sebatang Karah Camp, Negeri Sembilan, was a task force whose members were all commando-trained but belonged to their own regiment or corps, and some were sailors from the Royal Malaysian Navy. In 1969, the 13 May incident occurred, and the MSSU was dispatched to Kuala Lumpur to defend the weapon depot located within Mindef Camp (Malay: Kem Kementah). The MSSU is also joining forces with the Royal Malaysia Police's Special Branch to apprehend leaders of gangsters and triads who contributed to the racial tensions behind the scenes during the incident. The incident was short-lived due to the quick response of both units. As a result, the brass decided not to disband the MSSU.[3][5]

Malaysian Army established the 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment (1 MSSR) in August 1970 to replace the MSSU. As a task force, the MSSU members are still accountable to their original units. To address this issue, by 1973, the MSSU members who wish to join the special forces unit must resign from their original units and volunteer to join the 1 MSSR. Later, in the mid-1970s, the 2nd Malaysian Special Service Regiment (2 MSSR) was formed to cope with the rapidly expanding Malaysian Army special forces.[6][4] The Special Warfare Training Centre (SWTC) was founded in 1975 to provide the Gerak Khas with commando and special operations training. As the senior unit, 1 MSSR members were chosen as SWTC instructors.[5][7]

The Malaysian Army separated the command of special forces from the 1 MSSR on 4 April 1980, by establishing the Malaysian Special Service Command (Malay: Markas Gerak Khas) at Imphal Camp in Kuala Lumpur, while the 1 MSSR and 2 MSSR continued to serve as combat units. The Malaysian Army renamed the Malaysian Special Forces Command to Malaysian Special Service Group (MSSG) on 1 April 1981, at the same time that 1 MSSR was renamed to 21st Para Commando Regiment and 2 MSSR was renamed to 22nd Para Commando Regiment. Two new counter-revolutionary warfare units were formed at the same time, the 11th Special Service Regiment (11 SSR) and the 12th Special Service Regiment (12 SSR), to provide specialised support to the Para Commando regiments. Many other support units were established in December 1981 to provide additional combat support to the combat units under MSSG. In 1983, the 12 SSR were disbanded, and the 11 SSR were no longer specially assigned to the 21st Para Commando.[5][7]

The MSSG was renamed the 21st Special Service Group in 1985 because the Malaysian Army wanted to standardise the names of the Malaysian Army's units and formalise the unit as the Malaysian Army's 21st brigade. Units under the command of the 21 SSG were also renamed. The 21st Para Commando Regiment became the 21st Commando Regiment and the 22nd Para Commando Regiment became the 22nd Commando Regiment. The 21st Engineering Squadron of the 21 SSG (now known as the 10th Squadron (Parachute), Royal Engineer Regiment) was decommissioned from the 21 SSG in 1986 and transferred to the Malaysian Army's 3rd Infantry Division. The Special Warfare Training Centre was placed under the command of the Malaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command.[5][7]

• 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment[note 2]
• 2nd Malaysian Special Service Regiment

Members of Gerak Khas inherited the green beret and Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife as a commando qualification symbol from the Royal Marines Commando. This is because the first batch received commando training at the British Army Jungle Warfare Training School from the 40 Commando Royal Marines.[note 3] Unlike the British Armed Forces or the U.S. Army, which only allow soldiers, sailors or marines who have completed the Basic Commando Course[note 4] or the United States Army Special Forces selection and training to wear the green beret,[note 5] all members of the 21 SSG wear the green beret whether they have completed the Basic Commando Course or not. Members who have completed the Basic Commando Course may wear their unit's beret backing (Malaysian renditions of the U.S. military beret flash) to distinguish themselves from non-commando trained members.[5]

The insignia, also known as a tactical formation patch (Malay: Lencana formasi taktikal), is worn on the combat uniform and is olive and black in colour. The patch features a roaring tiger's head and a commando dagger in the centre.

The 21 SSG personnel wore their command insignia on their number 2 uniform's left shoulder sleeve. The 21 SSG shoulder sleeve insignia is similar to the beret backing but has a black outline. The current insignia is based on the insignia of the Malaysian Special Service Unit, which depicts a roaring tiger's head with a commando dagger in the centre. The background is a combination of jungle green and Caribbean blue. The colour jungle green represents commando specialties while also being the colour of Islam, while Caribbean blue represents the founder, 40 Commando Royal Marines.[9]

Members of the 21SSG wear their number 3 uniform (work dress) with a green and light blue stable belt.