Background

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]

1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment

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]

Malaysian Special Service Command

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]

21st Special Service Group

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]

1970–1980

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

1980–1981

1981–1983

1983–1985

1985–2022s

Current formations

21st Special Service Group

Unit's name (English)	Unit's name (Bahasa Malaysia)	Abbreviation	Beret backing	Headquarters	Specialty and purpose
11th Special Service Regiment	11 Rejimen Gerak Khas	11 SSR		Sungai Udang Camp	The 11th Special Service Regiment is a premier special forces unit in the Malaysian Army and one of the 21st SSG's three combat units. 11 SSR is also known as the 11th Unit Lawan Keganasan (Abbr.: 11 ULK), or the 11th Counter Terrorism Unit in English. Its responsibilities include counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and close protection.
21st Commando Regiment	Rejimen 21 Komando	21 Cdo		Sungai Udang Camp	The 21 Cdo is one of 21 SSG's three combat units. The 21 Cdo task is similar to the 22 Cdo task, but 21 Cdo is more focused on airborne operations. Its responsibilities include unconventional warfare, direct action, counter-insurgency and special reconnaissance.
22nd Commando Regiment	Rejimen 22 Komando	22 Cdo		Sri Iskandar Camp	The 22 Cdo is one of 21 SSG's three combat units. The 22 Cdo task is similar to the 21 Cdo task, but 22 Cdo is more focused on waterborne operations. Its responsibilities include unconventional warfare, direct action, counter-insurgency and special reconnaissance.
Garrison Command	Markas Garison	Mk Garison		Sri Iskandar Camp	The Mk Garison is a company-sized administrative support unit tasked with assisting the 21 SSG in the administration of the Sri Iskandar Camp.
21st Logistics Group	21 Kumpulan Logistik	21 Kump Log		Sri Iskandar Camp	The 21 Kump Log is a battalion-sized special operations support unit tasked with providing combat service support to all units under the command of the 21 SSG, such as logistics. The 21 Medic and 21 Kump Log, which was formed in 2017, is the 21 SSG's newest unit. The 21st SSG's service support companies were merged into this unit, which now has three squadrons: the 21st Materials Squadron, Royal Ordnance, the Service Squadron, Royal Service, and the 21st Workshop Squadron, Royal Service.[8]
21st Signals Squadron, Royal Signals	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 tasked with providing medical support to all units under the command of the 21 SSG. The 21 Medic and Logistics Team, which was established in 2017, is the 21 SSG's newest unit. Among its responsibilities are providing special operations combat medics as well as medical care to all special forces members and their families at all army camps occupied by the 21 SSG.
21st Company, Royal Military Police	21 Kompeni Polis Tentera Diraja	21 KPTD		Sri Iskandar Camp	The 21 KPTD is a military police unit in charge of enforcing the law in the 21 SSG and Sri Iskandar Camp.
21 SSG's BAKAT	BAKAT 21 GGK			Sri Iskandar Camp	Family welfare support for the group.

Green beret

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]

Shoulder sleeve insignia

Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 21st Special Service Group. Worn from the 1980s to the present.

Stable belt

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