Australian Defence Force Report Details SAS Command Failures
A new report reveals that non-commissioned officers held excessive authority during special forces operations in Afghanistan.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Military
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The Australian Defence Force has released a report detailing how a breakdown in command led to serious misconduct within the SAS. Senior leaders and junior officers face scrutiny for allowing patrol commanders to act without proper oversight during the war in Afghanistan.
Why it matters
The findings highlight a culture where mateship was prioritised over leadership, leading to operational autonomy that allowed for systemic abuse. This report provides critical insight into how the elite unit functioned as a largely unchecked authority during combat operations.
The 22-page report indicates that patrol teams of four to six soldiers frequently operated with total autonomy. The findings detail how non-commissioned officers gained power over junior officers, who often failed to enforce standard military protocols.
The players
Australian Defence Force
This is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests.
Oliver Schulz
He is a former soldier currently facing a murder trial scheduled for February 2027.
Ben Roberts-Smith
He is a former SAS corporal who has been accused of executing five prisoners.
Ken Gillespie
He served as the Chief of Army during the period of 2008 to 2011 when the operations took place.
The details
The report characterises the SAS as having a culture akin to a bikie gang, where patrol commanders independently selected and executed missions based on flawed intelligence. Evidence included the staging of weapons next to bodies to simulate combat engagements, while higher headquarters ignored patterns of high enemy death tolls and low casualty rates.
Timeline
The report was published online on 27 October 2026.
Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie served as Chief of Army from 2008 to 2011.
Fighting in Afghanistan intensified around 2009.
The war in Afghanistan ended in 2021.
The murder trial for Oliver Schulz is scheduled to begin in February 2027.
Political Context
This report follows the precedent set by the Brereton Report findings on Afghanistan war crimes. It marks a significant shift by focusing accountability directly on the command structure rather than solely on the actions of individual soldiers.
This disclosure forces a public reckoning regarding the accountability of elite military units and the use of taxpayer funding for operations. It also underscores ongoing legal proceedings that will likely impact public trust in Defence Force oversight mechanisms.
The takeaway
The report serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in allowing elite units to operate outside of traditional command structures. Maintaining rigorous oversight and clear hierarchies is essential to prevent the normalisation of misconduct in combat zones.
What happens next
The murder trial for Oliver Schulz is scheduled to begin in February 2027.
Further reading
For more information on national security developments, visit the Military section.
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