Sweeping changes to Australia's SAS are being considered as elite soldiers brace for the findings of a long-awaited inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
Defence insiders believe the initiative is instead aimed at helping to break down a "tribal" and "isolated" culture within the SAS, by bringing the soldiers closer to their special forces rivals in the commandos.
As part of these efforts, the ABC has been told 20 members of the SAS will also be temporarily transferred to the 2nd Commando Regiment in next year's first deployment rotation, although Defence has declined to confirm the plan. Neil James from the Australia Defence Association welcomed the move but said more radical ideas may be needed to help Special Forces Command deal with the fallout of the war crimes inquiry.
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