Go to: SAS The Special Air Service regiment of the British Army was founded in 1941 and has the motto "Who Dares Wins." Conceived to fight in the North African desert behind the German lines, the regiment later developed anti-terrorism skills while hunting the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland. The most famous SAS mission was the May 1980 liberation of the Iranian Embassy in London that had been taken over by six gunmen. When the gunmen killed a hostage after six days, the SAS stormed the embassy, killing five of the six terrorists. One hostage was killed and the 19 remaining hostages were freed. In the Persian Gulf War, four SAS soldiers died while hunting Iraqi Scud missiles behind enemy lines. SAS soldiers also participated in the Afghanistan conflict in 2001, including several who were wounded during the Taliban prisoner uprising in Mazar-e Sharif in 2001. The SAS is organized into squadrons composed of four 16-man teams, known as troops. Each troop specializes in one area and all SAS soldiers are rotated through different troops during their service. These troops are Air Troop, Boat Troop, Mobility Troop and Mountain Troop. Only around 10 soldiers out of 125 applicants are said to make it through the grueling selection process. Those selected receive the beret and famous winged dagger beret badge -- symbolizing the Sword of Damocles.