[4][3] The unit was drafted at the end of 1976 by Group Captain Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar, Squadron Leader Lai Kiat Meng, and Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli.

Subsequently, more officers and airmen were trained, leading to the establishment of the Pasukan Pertahanan Darat dan Udara (the "Air and Ground Defence Force"), abbreviated as HANDAU, on 1 April 1980.

A small number of Malaysian Army Gerak Khas commandos were attached to HANDAU as the RMAF Air Rescue Team.

[2] On 1 April 1980, the 102nd HANDAU Squadron became the first unit to assume security duties from the Malaysian Military Police Corps at RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base.

The RMAF Security Regiment (Malay: Markas Rejimen Keselamatan TUDM — MAREJ) was established as the command headquarters for HANDAU squadrons.

Since its establishment in 1980, MAREJ has reported directly to the Air Force Command (Malay: Markas Tentera Udara — MTU) for all operations involving the HANDAU squadrons.

Additionally, the Hostage Rescue Team, the RMAF Special Forces' counter-terrorist unit, which was previously under the Combat Wing Squadron, was transferred to the FPS.

[14][15] On 6 May 2004, only 81 out of 198 personnel who started the three-month Basic Commando training program received their blue berets, including the top trainee, Laskar Udara (Aircraftman) Meor Mohd Nazri Othman.

In this course, trainees will learn land, sea and air insertion, jungle warfare tactics, sabotage and hostage rescue.

This unit consists of specially selected and trained RMAF Regiment personnel, and its role is distinct from that of the army's Gerak Khas and the navy's PASKAL.

Target marking Security of important assets Search and rescue Counter-terrorism The sky blue beret is the distinctive headgear of the RMAF Special Forces commandos, symbolising their elite status.

[22] Initially, all HANDAU personnel within the RMAF Regiment wore the sky blue beret, regardless of their role in special operations or provost duties.

Commando-trained HANDAU members used to wear a green beret with the Gerak Khas cap badge, similar to the 21st Special Service Group but with a red RMAF Regiment backing.

This tradition of the light blue lanyard traces back to the Malaysian Special Service Unit, which adopted it from the 40 Commando, Royal Marines, during its founding.

The four commandos included Major Muhammad Mustafa Omar RMAF, Air Force Sergeant Shahrizal Abu Bakar (retired as Warrant Officer II), Air Force Corporal Rosli Mustafa (retired as Flight Sergeant), and Leading Aircraftman Mohd Afendy Ahmad Zaini.

The team, accompanied by specialists, covertly entered separatist-controlled areas through the warzone to negotiate the repatriation of the remains of MH17 victims, including crew and passengers, and recover the flight recorders essential for the crash investigation.

RMAF Special Forces commandos conducted psychological operations by dropping leaflets urging Sulu terrorists to surrender.

The team which consisted of 40 soldiers was deployed to assist New Zealand Armed Forces in the peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid in the Bamiyan District, Afghanistan.

[31] In July 2007, RMAF Special Forces, with the 10th Parachute Brigade, 22nd Commando Regiment and the Pasukan Gerakan Khas, supported by the United States Navy Air Fleet (from USS Jarrett (FFG-33)), Police General Operations Force Senoi Praaq, Police Air Wing, Fire and Rescue Department, Forestry Department Rangers, Malaysia Civil Defence Force and local villagers, were deployed in a search and rescue operation after a RMAF Sikorsky S61 'Nuri' helicopter went down with a crew of six near Genting Sempah, in the Genting Highlands.

The remains of the pilot were found on the seabed 28 days after the crash, 150 metres (0.081 nmi) off the coast of Pantai Lanjut, Rompin, Pahang.

[37][38] RMAF Special Forces was involved in rescue operations on 28 July 2005, after a Hornbill Skyway Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter crashed in Bukit Batu Tiban, Ulu Baleh, Kapit, near the Sarawak-West Kalimantan border.

[39][40] On 7 June 2005, 21 RMAF Special Forces and 35 VAT 69 of the Pasukan Gerakan Khas commandos were involved in the search for four children who were reported to be missing on Fraser's Hill as well as another two persons who were lost on Gunung Brinchang in the Cameron Highlands.

[41] RMAF Special Forces, together with the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the 10th Parachute Brigade, were involved on 14 March 2004, in the search and rescue of the occupants of a civilian Piper 28 aircraft which had crashed.

[42] On 19 January 2003, a fibreglass boat carrying two senior officers and four servicemen from RMAF Special Forces capsized after encountering large waves in stormy conditions.