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ADF Chief Says IGADF Found Serious SAS Failures in Afghanistan

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Australian SAS officers knowingly allowed “throwdown” weapon planting on dead Afghan civilians and failed to stop it.
The 2021 IGADF investigation reported a breakdown of command and erosion of discipline within the SAS regiment.
Senior non-commissioned officers dominated junior officers, creating “learned helplessness” among the latter, per the report.
ADF Chief Admiral Mark Hammond told the Senate the findings showed serious failures and unacceptable behaviour in the SAS.

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Australian SAS officers knowingly allowed “throwdown” weapon planting on dead Afghan civilians and failed to stop it.
The 2021 IGADF investigation reported a breakdown of command and erosion of discipline within the SAS regiment.
Senior non-commissioned officers dominated junior officers, creating “learned helplessness” among the latter, per the report.
ADF Chief Admiral Mark Hammond told the Senate the findings showed serious failures and unacceptable behaviour in the SAS.