Australia seeks SAS recruits

More than 300 commandos and special forces troops are needed

Australia has taken the unusual step of launching a public recruitment drive for elite commandos and special forces troops to help meet commitments to the US-led war on terror.

To publicise the campaign, commandos parachuted into Sydney Harbour and sped in power boats to the Garden Island naval base on Monday.

The stunt marked a break with the tradition of only recruiting elite soldiers from within defence ranks.

But it was considered necessary to fill 334 extra commando places announced by the government earlier in the year.

We are after young men, fit, bright... who can commit to a cause.... the security of this country Major General Duncan Lewis Special Operations commander

Australia has about 2,000 special forces troops, which were deployed in the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, winning praise from U.S. commanders for their ability to operate behind enemy lines.

"We are after young men, fit, bright...who can commit to a cause, because the cause we are asking them to commit to is a serious one. It is the security of this country," said Special Operations commander, Major General Duncan Lewis at the launch of the recruitment campaign.

He said recruits, aged 19 to 30, would undergo accelerated training, with those successful taking around 18 months to reach the elite level where they may see military action.

Some may get the opportunity to join Australia's elite Special Air Service (SAS).

Major General Lewis said he expected the bulk of commandos and special forces would still be recruited from those already in the army, navy and air force.

But he said direct recruitment from the community could fill between a quarter and a third of the vacancies.