VAT 69 Commando

69 Commando
69 Komando
The emblem of the 69 Commando
Active	1969–1997 : PPH 69 1997–present : 69 Commando (47 years)
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Royal Malaysian Police
Type	Special Force, Commando
Role	Special Reconnaissance, Intelligence Gathering, Direct Action, Search and rescue, Jungle Warfare, Counter-terrorism
Size	~1,900 Operators
Part of	Pasukan Gerakan Khas National Special Operations Force
Garrison/HQ	PGA Northern Brigade Camp, Ulu Kinta, Perak
Nickname(s)	VAT 69, Komando Polis (English: Police Commando)
Motto(s)	"Warisan Darah Perwira" (English: Inheritance of The Blood of Warriors)
Colours Colour of Beret	Black, Red and Yellow         Sand Coloured
Anniversaries	October 20
Engagements	Pudu Prison siege Sauk Siege Operation MV Paulijing Operation Astute, Timor Leste Genting Sempah Incident UNMIT Lahad Datu Standoff
Commanders
Current commander	SAC Dato' Fisol Salleh
Insignia
Crest of 69 Commando PGK
Royal Malaysian Police Parachute Wing Insignia

The 69 Commando (Malay: 69 Komando, Jawi: ٦٩ كومندو); also known as Very Able Troopers 69 (Abbreviation: VAT 69) is an elite multi-tasking element of Royal Malaysian Police special forces . The unit is headquartered Ulu Kinta, Perak and together with Special Actions Unit (Malay: Unit Tindakhas; UTK), they are part of Pasukan Gerakan Khas (English: Police SOCOM). The mission of 69 Commando is to conduct high-risk task such as counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, intelligence gathering, and counter-insurgency.

Prior to the year 1989, the 69 Commando was tasked for a smaller scope of work which is to focus on the war against communist terrorist inside Malaysian jungle. Today, the 69 Commando is still master of jungle warfare and some of their operators are drawn from elite tracker unit, the Senoi Praaq which is now being part of Royal Malaysian Police General Operations Force.

The VAT 69, also known as Task Force, Charlie Force and Special Project Team, modelled on the British 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, founded in 1969, (hence 69), as a small combat unit to counter the tactics and techniques of communist terrorists, proposed the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, The Honorable Allahyarham (late) Tun Dr Ismail to fight the communist insurgency.

In October 1969, 1,600 officers and men from the Police Field Force (Malay: Pasukan Polis Hutan; PPH) applied for VAT 69 training of which 60 qualified themselves for basic commando training. A group of drill instructors from SAS were sent to Fort Kemar, Perak to supervise the inaugural 69 Commando. Only 30 police officers managed to pass and they formed the first nucleus troop of 69 Commando Battalion. The official name for VAT 69 at that time is Pasukan Polis Hutan 69; PPH 69 (English: Police Field Force 69) and they are part of Police Field Force (now General Operations Force).