SAS troops quit to become security guards in Iraq

The Australian Defence Force is reportedly scrambling to cover gaps left in its elite SAS unit after troops quit to take up lucrative positions as security guards in Iraq.

The Sydney Sun-Herald reported that up to 40 SAS members had quit the Army since the regiment fought in Iraq, with some returning there as private security guards earning up to A$1500 ($1760) a day.

There are 500 members in the regiment but only 100 fought in Iraq. They were replaced by 300 commandos when their job was completed.

Four soldiers who served in Iraq a year ago had returned as private operators for British-based international security group AKE, the paper said.