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Concerning the recent deaths during SF selection.

General discussions on joining & training within Special Forces.
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Rover
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Concerning the recent deaths during SF selection.

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Tab
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Re: Concerning the recent deaths during SF selection.

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We used to do the same thing in the Desert to get us fit for the invasion of Suez in temperatures of 45 c, so this sort of thing is not new to the forces. One of the big things here is that you have TA Soldiers trying to pass fitness courses designed for regular soldier. I am not having a go at the TA or the work that they do but they can't be as fit as a regular soldier who works at his fitness five days a week. A TA soldier may do a few hours during the week and the odd weekend yet they think they are as fit as a regular soldier and this just goes to prove that they are not, it is shame that three TA soldiers paid the price of their lack of training.
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Re: Concerning the recent deaths during SF selection.

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An SAS selection march in which three reservists died should have been called off hours before the first man was found, a coroner has said.

L/Cpl Edward Maher died as a result of hyperthermia during the Brecon Beacons march on one of 2013's hottest days.

L/Cpl Craig Roberts and Cpl James Dunsby also collapsed and later died from the effects of over heating.

The coroner said there were a catalogue of serious, but not criminal, mistakes.

The inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, had heard had organisers strictly followed the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) code of practice, the march would have been cancelled after two men - not among those who died - were withdrawn from the exercise shortly after midday due to heat sickness.

Controversially, Army personnel had told the coroner they were not aware of the contents of the MoD guidelines and had been told not to bother reading them.

The hearing has heard Cpl Dunsby, of Bath, would have been suffering signs of heat illness when he passed the penultimate check point but staff missed it.

Delivering her conclusion on Tuesday, coroner Louise Hunt said: "Those running this march were fundamentally under-briefed. They did not fully understand the risk of heat illness, and the emergency plan was inadequate.

"I consider the briefing to those running the march to be inadequate as it failed to include weather conditions, the risk of heat injury and the reporting of reasons for medical withdrawals should they occur.

"It also failed to include plans to evacuate any casualties," she said.

Ms Hunt said the medical plan for the march was not good enough, water supplies were insufficient and the risk assessment did not identify the correct hospital for treatment.

A lack of water contributed to Edward Maher's death, the hearing was told.

There should have been closer liaison with emergency services to avoid multiple 999 calls and signal problems meant calls were cut off, leading to delays in getting to casualties, Ms Hunt said.

The coroner said there was a lack of understanding by the march's directing staff of soldiers withdrawing from heat illness and some staff were unaware some were ill.

She said had the MoD's own guidance on heat illness been followed, the march would have been called off by 12:40 BST - more than four hours before Cpl Roberts died on the mountain.

GPS trackers used to monitor candidates were not fit for purpose - something the MoD had known since 2009, the hearing was told.

"No measures were put in place in this march to mitigate that risk. This is concerning because it appears lessons have not been learned," Ms Hunt said.

She added there was a lack of understanding of an "individuals will to succeed" and there was "complacent" attitude to risk.

Ms Hunt added the reservists were not adequately conditioned for the march, unlike regular soldiers, but all three were fit.

The test was the second time L/Cpl Roberts, from north Wales, and L/Cpl Maher, of Winchester, had attempted SAS selection.

The inquest into the three reservists' deaths sat for four weeks before adjourning for Ms Hunt to consider her conclusions.

The closing submissions at the hearing raised the issue of whether the coroner could consider a verdict of unlawful killing.

Other issues of consideration include whether there was a gross failure on the part of the Ministry of Defence in ensuring the exercise was carried out safely.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-33512416
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