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I admit I got a little nervous dispepsia when I read Artist's response, but I think I'm over the worst now.

Steve does beat about the bush, so. I wish he'd get to the point.

21/23 boy ain't fcuking walters matey boy - if you think so then pitch up for a weekday drill night (ever had your lungs bleed?). I did 10 years para reg and TA SAS is not a walter outfit, so stop making outlandish remarks until you've experienced the torture bitch. Go on, go to your local TA SAS unit and try it, it'll break your fcuking heart sweet pea.

Read "the quiet soldier" by Adam Ballinger. Its about a a guy who did selection with 21 SAS.

Plucky Brit
Bit behind on this thread, but as I'm supposedly the resident "expert", I would say the following:-
Being SF isn't all it's cracked up to be. It isn't all glamour etc. There is also a lot of hard work and boredom involved.
You have a degree in Physics. That seems to me to be a much needed speciality in this country. Why waste it by joining the SAS for about 12 years, of what would undoubtably be, enjoyment?
Go and join 21 or 23 SAS. See where it takes you. Don't fall for the glory angle.
Sneaky

Yeah, I have come to the conclusion to try for 21. Although it is certainly appealing to bin the 9-5 and join the army full time, having thought about it I don't think it would be a wise move.

Just to pick up on what you said - I know I'm not really attracted to the glamour of SF. Part of the appeal for me is the challenge of passing selection - it is a great goal to train for. But what truly attracts me is the chance to work with real professionals who appreciate the need for hard graft and committment. That, coupled with getting away from all the whingers that seem to spend all day complaining rather than just getting on with things. If I won't find that, please let me know!

A genuine question though - can anyone suggest any other jobs worth considering (non-SF) where you can find a similar environment?

Aren't TA SAS allowed to try for selection to 22 SAS?

As for other jobs with a simular 'environment'...what do you mean by environment? Also, there are never any guarantees when it comes to selection for any SF or specialised role. You shouldn't join the regs in the assumption that you'd ever do anything more than you sign up for.

As a Crab, I would recommend that you investigate Non-Commissioned Aircrew as an option. If you are directed towards AirLoadMaster (Helo or C-130) after training, you can find yourself working in an SF environment.

Dont they have a TA SAS signals?

Dont they have a TA SAS boathouse painters?

All I'm going to add to this is,
this.
I wish Chunky from York could read this post.
Sadly I think we have lost him.
Wholley.

joethejudge wrote:Dont they have a TA SAS boathouse painters?

I thought they paint all the decoy boathouse's spread across hereford different colours so no one know which one is the real one/what colour it really is.

The boathouse has now been dismantled, too many wannabes kayaking up the Wye and drowning themselves apparantly, no bodies found only kayaks riddled with 9mm rounds!

PluckyBrit,
Go for it, have a go at 21, but you better hurry the next course starts in a few months. Give your local unit a ring and have a chat with them.

And forget "The quiet soldier" by Adam Ballinger that book was written about 20 years ago, selection has changed one hell of a lot since then.

What you have got to remember is that selection will take up a lot of your time, and it's not all about being fit. Yes you have got to be reasonably fit but most of it is to do with your attitude, as they say 'It's all in the head'

SAS(R) is an active unit, unlike the rest of the TA. Join the SAS(R) and you will get deployed, that's a fact.

In the past recruits attempting selection for either 21 or 23 were not expected to meet the times of the regs(22), however things have changed, all recruits be that 21,22 or 23 will have to get the same times. In other words SAS(R) will be expected to move over them hills at the same pace as the lads from 22. The reason for this, SAS(R) are being integrated more into 22 so that 22 can use lads from either 21 or 23 on ops etc. without the worry that they are up to scratch or not.

So my advise to you give them a ring, they will send you out some info regarding selection and invite you along for a day to see what it's all about.

http://www.army.mod.uk/uksf/special_for ... e_/sas.htm

Biggles1211 wrote:As for other jobs with a simular 'environment'...what do you mean by environment?

By that I meant, non-military jobs (way off-topic here I guess...) where you work hard in a team, but don't have to fill in a form to scratch your arse. Things like mountain rescue, etc. I guess I've just had enough of sitting at a computer sending emails all day.

Minstrel - thanks. I was actually going for the later intake for various reasons, so have a little more time. I did read Ballinger's book, but realise my experiences will be different - I have viewed it as useful background. [I did get the distinct impression that all the people recommending it didn't have any basis for doing so - I guess that's typical SAS BS!] As for the mental side - we shall see.

P.S.
I don't mind all the people taking the piss cos I'm just another wannabe and sure as hell haven't proved anything. But, I personally can't help thinking that the people ripping it out of the SAS-wannabes are either:
a) In some other SF and have penis envy over the attention SAS gets. That is a fair beef to have, but you should be blaming idiots like McNab+Ryan and crap like Ultimate Force for that problem though. I really wish they hadn't become so publicised because it makes it damn hard to be taken seriously when you say you want to try for it.
b) Not in any SF. It just makes you feel better if you rip it out of anyone that has the balls to try.
c) Failed to get in to SAS. You're bitter and think if you didn't get in, then no-one else can.
d) Actually in the SAS. OK, so you can take the piss as much as you want, but try to remember that you weren't in at one time!
It's not like I was asking how many pressups you need to do to pass selection or who would win if the marines attacked the SAS!

What keeps me training is knowing that although SF may be "special", rumour has it that they're not superhuman. Now I really should shut up until I've proved something.

P.P.S. How many situps do you need to do?!

Pluckybrit,
You won't get lads from the regiment taking the piss out of anyone thinking about doing selection.

Remeber you might be the fittest person around running a BFT in 7:30 can carry the loads over the hills with no problems, this still dosn't mean you will pass selection. The regiment are looking for that certain type of person.

Yeah know where you are coming from about the regiment becoming more publicised, some say the worst thing that happened to the regiment was the Embassy. And don't knock Ultimate Force, about time they got some birds in the regiment, and did you know that one of the actors is actual ex-regiment.