| Unit Name: | 21st Special Service Group |
| Native Name: | 21 Gerup Gerak Khas |
| Type: | Special forces command |
| Specialization: | --> |
| Command Structure: | Malaysian Armed Forces |
| Garrison: | Sri Iskandar Camp, Johor |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Nickname: | "21 GGK", "GGK", "Grup Gerak Khas", "21st Special Forces Group" |
| March: | Gerak Khas |
| Mascot: | Malayan tiger |
| Anniversaries: | 1 August |
| Current Commander: | Major General Ahmad Shuhaimi Mat Wajab |
| Commander2: | Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor |
| Commander2 Label: | Colonel-in-chief |
| Notable Commanders: | Borhan Ahmad, Zaini Mohd Said, Awie Suboh, Adi Ridzwan Abdullah |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Tactical formation patches |
The 21st Special Service Group (Abbr.: 21 SSG,), also known as the Grup Gerak Khas and the 21st Special Forces Group, serves as the command for the Malaysian Army's special forces, the Gerak Khas. 21 SSG is a fighting formation within the Malaysian Army. This unit operate independently under the Malaysian Army and directly report to the Chief of Army. The headquarters of the 21 SSG are located at Sri Iskandar Camp in Mersing, Johor.
Major General Ahmad Shuhaimi Mat Wajab has assumed command of the 21 SSG, succeeding Major General Mohd Adi Ridzwan on 10 May 2024.[1]
The 21st Special Service Group, formerly known as Rejimen Pertama Gerak Khas Malaysia or the 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment, was founded on 1 August 1970, at Sungai Udang Camp in Malacca. This unit directly succeeded the Malaysian Army's special operations task force, the Malaysian Special Service Unit, and served as the spiritual successor to Malaysia's first modern special forces unit, the Malayan Special Forces.[2] [3] [4]
Following the conclusion of the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1966, the army command contemplated disbanding the Malaysian Special Service Unit (MSSU). The MSSU, stationed at Sebatang Karah Camp in Negeri Sembilan, was a task force whose members were all commando-trained but belonged to their respective regiments or corps, including some sailors from the Royal Malaysian Navy.
In 1969, the 13 May incident occurred, leading to the MSSU's deployment to Kuala Lumpur to safeguard the weapon depot within Mindef Camp . The MSSU also collaborated with the Royal Malaysia Police's Special Branch to apprehend leaders of gangs and triads who had played a role in the racial tensions behind the scenes during the incident. The crisis was short-lived due to the swift response of both units, prompting the leadership to decide against disbanding the MSSU.
The Malaysian Army established the 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment (1 MSSR) in 1 August 1970 to succeed the MSSU. As a task force, MSSU members remained accountable to their original units. To address this, by 1973, MSSU members desiring to join the special forces unit had to resign from their original units and volunteer to enlist in the 1 MSSR.
In the mid-1970s, responding to the swift expansion of the Malaysian Army's special forces, the 2nd Malaysian Special Service Regiment (2 MSSR) was formed.[5] Additionally, in 1975, the Special Warfare Training Centre (SWTC) was established to provide Gerak Khas with commando and special operations training. Given its seniority, members of the 1 MSSR were selected as instructors at SWTC.
On 4 April 1980, the Malaysian Army separated the command of special forces from the 1 MSSR by establishing the Malaysian Special Service Command at Imphal Camp in Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, the 1 MSSR and 2 MSSR continued to function as combat units. Subsequently, on 1 April 1981, the Malaysian Army renamed the Malaysian Special Service Command to the Malaysian Special Service Group (MSSG). Concurrently, the 1 MSSR was renamed the 21st Para Commando Regiment, and the 2 MSSR became the 22nd Para Commando Regiment.
Simultaneously, two new counter-revolutionary warfare and military intelligence units were formed: the 11th Special Service Regiment (11 SSR) and the 12th Special Service Regiment (12 SSR), with the purpose of providing specialised support to the Para Commando regiments. In December 1981, numerous support units were established to provide additional combat support to the combat units under MSSG. However, in 1983, the 12 SSR was disbanded, and the 11 SSR was no longer exclusively assigned to the 21st Para Commando Regiment.[6]
In 1985, the MSSG underwent a name change and became the 21st Special Service Group as part of the Malaysian Army's initiative to standardise unit names and formalise the unit as the 21st brigade within the army. This restructuring also involved renaming units under the command of the 21 SSG. The 21st Para Commando Regiment was re-designated as the 21st Commando Regiment, and the 22nd Para Commando Regiment became the 22nd Commando Regiment.
Additionally, 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.
As a nation that is part of the Commonwealth, the Malaysian military adheres to the traditions of the British Armed Forces. In the case of the 21st Special Service Group, they adopt the structure of the British Special Air Service, employing the term 'sabre squadron' instead of 'company', unlike other units within the Malaysian Army.
| 11th Special Service Regiment | 11 Rejimen Gerak Khas | 11 SSR | Sungai Udang Camp | The 11th Special Service Regiment stands as a top-tier special forces unit within the Malaysian Army and is one of the three combat units under the 21 SSG.Referred to as the 11 Unit Lawan Keganasan (: 11 ULK), or the 11th Counter Terrorism Unit in English, its duties encompass counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, close protection, and special reconnaissance. | ||
| 21st Commando Regiment | Rejimen 21 Komando | 21 Cdo | Sungai Udang Camp | The 21st Commando Regiment (21 CDO) is one of the three combat units within the 21 SSG.Specialising in traditional special forces roles, the 21 CDO distinguishes itself by emphasising airborne operations, in contrast to the 22nd Commando Regiment. Its capabilities encompass unconventional warfare, direct action, counter-insurgency and special reconnaissance. | ||
| 22nd Commando Regiment | Rejimen 22 Komando | 22 Cdo | Sri Iskandar Camp | The 22nd Commando Regiment is among the three combat units within the 21 SSG. Undergoing a restructuring in 2009, the 22 CDO now places a greater emphasis on amphibious operations compared to its previous specialisation in mountain warfare.Like the 21 CDO, its responsibilities encompass unconventional warfare, direct action, counter-insurgency, and special reconnaissance. Additionally, it has taken on a new role in anti-piracy.[7] | ||
| Garrison Headquarters | Markas Garison | Mk Garison | Sri Iskandar Camp | The Mk Garrison is a company-sized unit that provides administrative support to assist the 21 SSG in its administration. | ||
| 21st Logistics Group | 21 Kumpulan Logistik | 21 Kump Log | Sri Iskandar Camp | The 21 Kump Log is a specialised unit that supports combat operations for the 21 SSG by providing services like military logistics. Formed in 2017, it is one of the newest units alongside the 21 Medic. Merging service support companies from the 21 SSG created the 21 Kump Log, resulting in three squadrons: the Royal Ordnance Corps' 21st Materials Squadron, the Royal Service Corps' Logistics Service Squadron, and the Royal Service Corps' 21st Workshop Squadron.[8] | ||
| 21st Signals Squadron, Royal Signals Regiment | 21 Skuadron Semboyan Diraja | 21 SSD | Sri Iskandar Camp | The 21 SSD is a special operations combat support unit tasked with providing communication support to all units under the command of the 21 SSG. | ||
| 21st Medic Squadron | 21 Skuadron Medik | 21 Medic | Sri Iskandar Camp | The 21 Medic is a special operations support unit assigned to provide medical support to all units under the command of the 21 SSG. Alongside the 21st Logistics Group, established in 2017, these are the newest units of the 21 SSG. Its duties include supplying special operations combat medics and delivering medical care to all special forces members and their families at army camps occupied by the 21 SSG. | ||
| 21st Company, Royal Military Police Corps | 21 Kompeni Polis Tentera Diraja | 21 KPTD | Sri Iskandar Camp | The 21 KPTD is a military police unit responsible for law enforcement within the 21 SSG and Sri Iskandar Camp. | ||
| 21 SSG's Intelligence Cell, Royal Intelligence Corps | Sel Risik 21 GGK | Sri Iskandar Camp | This unit manages military intelligence operations, overseeing the careful dissemination of information within the 21 SSG to avoid leaks. |
The 21 SSG's BAKAT manages family welfare support for the 21st Special Service Group. The spouse of the Commander of 21 SSG leads the organisation, with the commander serving as its patron.
Members of Gerak Khas inherit the green beret and Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife as a symbol of commando qualification, a tradition adopted from the Royal Marines Commando. This practice originated when the initial group underwent commando training at the British Army Jungle Warfare Training School with the 40 Commando Royal Marines. Unlike the British Armed Forces or the U.S. Army, where only those who have completed the Basic Commando Course or the United States Army Special Forces selection and training are authorised to wear the green beret, all members of the 21 SSG wear the green beret, irrespective of Basic Commando Course completion.
Members who have successfully completed the Basic Commando Course have the option to wear their unit's beret backing (Malaysian renditions of the U.S. military beret flash) to distinguish themselves from non-commando-trained members.[9] As of 2023, only those who have passed the Malaysian Special Forces Selection are allowed to don the green beret. Other members of the 21 SSG who have not yet passed the selection process continue to wear their original unit berets.
The insignia, alternatively referred to as a tactical formation patch, is affixed to the combat uniform and bears olive and black colours. The patch prominently showcases a roaring tiger's head with a commando dagger positioned at the centre.
The personnel of the 21 SSG don their command insignia on the left shoulder sleeve of their number 2 uniform. The 21 SSG shoulder sleeve insignia closely resembles the beret backing but incorporates a distinct black outline. This current design draws inspiration from the insignia of the Malaysian Special Service Unit, featuring a striking depiction of a roaring tiger's head with a commando dagger at the centre. The background is a fusion of jungle green and Caribbean blue, where jungle green signifies commando specialities and serves as a representation of the colour of Islam, while Caribbean blue pays homage to the founder, 40 Commando Royal Marines.[10]
Members of the 21 SSG don the number 3 uniform (work dress) paired with a green and light blue stable belt.
Since the establishment of the Malaysian Special Service Unit in 1965, 22 individuals have served as the Commander of Gerak Khas, also known as the Panglima Gerak Khas in Malay. Out of these 22 individuals, 17 have held the position of the Commander of the 21st Special Service Group, which was created after 1981.[11]
The position begins after the Malaysian Special Service Command was renamed to the Malaysian Special Service Group on 1 April 1981.[12]
| 1960 | 1965 | 1970 | 1980 Separated | 1981 Name changes | 1985 Name changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malayan Special Forces | Malaysian Special Service Unit | 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment | Malaysian Special Service Command | Malaysian Special Service Group | 21st Special Service Group |
| 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment | 21st Para Commando Regiment | 21st Commando Regiment |