SAS (R)

[DeeElle]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 24 November 2013 at 05:28

[sunoco69]

Suggest you pay them a visit on a training night or call the unit and ask to speak to the Adj.

That is a serious world you are entering so I would VERY highly recommend you get it from the horse mouth, not a PH thread.

[rhinochopig]

sunoco69 said:

Suggest you pay them a visit on a training night or call the unit and ask to speak to the Adj.

That is a serious world you are entering so I would VERY highly recommend you get it from the horse mouth, not a PH thread.

Nonsense, approximately 70% of members are ex SF on PH. There's even an SAS forum!

OP, I've worked with a couple of ex-regulars (SAS/SBS) and they did say of the 21 and 23 lads that their training requires a lot of self direction, i.e. the onus is on you to be fit, extremely competent at navigation, etc. i.e. you do a lot of 'homework'.

As said though speak to horses mouth. I would even avoid ARRSE TBH.

[V88Dicky]

Many, many moons ago we had a troop of them join our warship in Gibraltar to be ferried somewhere and dropped off in the dead of night a few miles offshore. They seemed a decent bunch, and despite a lot of them being Geordies, they steadfastly refused to have a drink with us. They had some cool kit with them, I think that was the first time I saw a pair of NVGs that were actually light enough to wear without giving you an instant crick in the neck.

[chrisxr2]

Randomly worth reading Ben Collins or bear grills book to give an idea of the training, though asking at your local place clearly best option.

[griffin dai]

If you are serious about it but don't want to join the regular Army (which is looking pretty dodgy at the moment with these ridiculous cuts) then join a TA unit first and get some time under your belt as well as a couple tours, then after four or five years when you've got the experience (and you still fancy it!!) ....yeah go for it.
Chances of getting in straight from civvy street with zero previous military experience is very slim.

Simplest way to say this (and I don't mean to offend) is would you want someone on a job next to you with no experience or someone who's put in a bit of time and knows what he's doing....

When I say TA I mean Infantry not REMF

[shouldbworking]

DeeElle said:

Looking at joining the reserve forces and noticed there is a unit as per the title close to me. The commitment seems big, even for the initial selection/training period which is understandable. Anybody know how you would be utilised in the role upon completion of training? Would it be as per a standard TA tour where you are granted leave from your regular employer to complete pre-deployment training through to tour?
There must be so much to learn to bring you up to scratch with your regular counterparts that it seems nigh on impossible to achieve through training every other weekend. Anyone have an understanding of how it works? I'm just after any informed advice before I make any major commitments.

Is there a particular reason you are looking at that unit rather than any other? as per the regular variant, they have their own way of doing things which means I can't speak with certaininty on the subject being just a normal TA bod.

For the training period you would be expected to make the time - the army won't write to your employer saying we need this person for such and such a weekend, you'd be expected to look at the training schedule and switch shifts / take holiday etc accordingly with your main employer.

Deployments work differently - those cases your employer does get a letter saying we need x for y period.

[Mattt]

I was of the understanding that Reserve Special Forces was for ex servicemen only? I assume from your question that you have never served?

[DeeElle]

You are able to join without prior service, or should I say attempt selection without prior service. I have considered joining another unit initially but time isn't on my side as I'm rapidly approaching 30.
I'm under no illusions that it'll be a hard slog as well as a steep learning curve but I'm going to give it a go regardless. Hopefully some new opportunities will present themselves if I'm successful.

[dudleybloke]

grow a tash, it will help.

[anonymous-user]

As mentioned earlier, read Bear Grylls book. He joined SAS reserves out of college.
Sounds very tough, they have to go through same selection process as the regulars.

Also broke his back whilst serving in Africa after his parachute failed to open properly!
God luck,

[Taita]

Current RUMINT is that 21 / 23 are due a bit of a thinning of numbers shortly.

I've not worked with guys from that unit, but I've heard that a LOT of ex-regular and that they usually deploy as small teams (rather than Troop / Sqn deployments) or individuals to bolster regular units.

[Taff107]

As long as you are realistic as to your level of fitness and the amount of time that you will be asked to commit to (which will be extensive due to the level of training you will get and the pie-in-the-sky plans for A2020 )then get yourself along to one of their Drill nights at the earliest opportunity.
Don't waste your time asking on ARRSE or any other forum. Get it straight from source and you will avoid the misguided advice / Billy-bullstters / scare stories etc.

[ecain63]

Dont listen to misguided civvy bullst on here or on any forum. These units, regular and reserve want people who will make time to find out for real by actually turning up. When I left the marines I also considered SBSR and SAS(R) as I had both units quite close to me. My new civvie job did not leave room for training or tours so that plan went by the wayside. I did however do a few nights with them and what I saw looked very appealing but you really do need to get yourself through it. PH is not the place to ask. Get out there and look for yourself.

[Asterix]

As above really.

You need to go and see them and get the facts.

I was in the TA (Royal Anglians) before I joined the regs and after leaving six years later I looked into getting back into it with my sights on SF. However, six months later I got a record deal and spent the next four years snorting coke off supermodel's tits.

I couldn't reconcile the two so I'm one of those that wished he'd had a crack at selection and will never know if I'd been good enough.

Edited by Asterix on Sunday 12th May 09:39

[chrisxr2]

You are in bear grylls book too Mr James Blunt. ; )

[Asterix]

chrisxr2 said:

You are in bear grylls book too Mr James Blunt. ; )

Sounds like it, doesn't it. However, I'm not a whiney bd

[mercfunder]

May help...

http://www.stuff.themutual.net/taselect.htm