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Is the SAS still needed?

General discussions on joining & training within Special Forces.
Cheeze
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Is the SAS still needed?

Post by Cheeze »

Is the SAS still needed?
Too much publicity to be effective?
Standards dropping?
I here these things said about the SAS all the time.Are they true?You see I am an 18 year old South African who really,really wants to join the SAS(or attempt to) and I was wondering if its still worth having a shot at it or if its a waste of time.It would be a big mission for me to move to Britain,join the Paras and then attempt SAS selection.I just want to know if it is worth it?Could anyone with more knowledge than me help me out?
Thanks alot!
Cheers.
cheeze
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Post by Chester »

The publicity thing is very crap, I heard a tale that Margaret Thatcher didn't trust the SAS and pushed for SBS whenever a problem arose
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Post by lew »

Cheeze, what you hear of the sas is a mere snippet of what really goes on, as for standards dropping know one will ever know about that, but I very much doubt that the best trained army in the world would have that, do you???

As for the being in the sas, one step at a time mate, make it through Para’s first aye :wink:

lew

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Post by joe »

Put things into context. When was the last time you heard about an operation that was in progress that concerned the SAS ... ? "Never", I think is probably the answer (except maybe at Princes Gate 8) ).

Just because a shed load of books have been written about the Regiment, and it's past activities, doesn't necessarily mean it has become less effective at operating in the here-and-now.[/b]
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Post by Bigwig »

I read 1 not so long ago about SAS storming some of the secret caves in Afhganistan.

"Is it still worth having a shot" Cheeze, if u can I bet you would. Its if you can. The best SF in the world.
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Post by joe »

bigwig, I guess my point was that you read about that AFTER it had happened ... therefore, how could it have compromised the op?

The fact of the matter is that these days information is so much more freely available. If the SAS were disbanded and replaced with something else, information would still find it's way into the press. That is even happening with the SBS these days ... it's not like back into the 60s or 70s when no one had even heard of these units. Provided you keep a lid on current operational details, it shouldn't affect that units effectiveness.
Cheeze
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Post by Cheeze »

Thanks for the feedback guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have helped me make up my mind,I'm gonna go for it.Going to attempt to join the Paras in 2004/5. :D
cheeze
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Hmmm.....

Post by Devils Advocate »

I'm curious about those wanting to join foreign armies.......

WHY????

From laymans/wannabe perspective South Africa's own SOF/SMU are "comparable too"* the UKSF units.................

(*Don't like to talk about stuff that I have no 1st hand knowledge of, visa ve,'the best'..... :agrue: )

All I can see is that, albeit from a limited,unexperienced and somewhat cursory view, the SA SOF appear to have higher pre-selection & training PT standards then UKSF.........eg. Rep's + distances + times + duration.
(Knowing nothing about UKSF or SASOF Selection, whether the final -'badged' or 'capped' I think- standard is higher or not .....???????????)

If you were to make it all the way for your own countries 'elite' staus, I suspect I would not be alone in being envious and respectful of the level of your effort and determination. :o
:wink:
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Post by surfa35uk »

To be honest guys A lot of the ops that the press claimed was the regiment, was infact a joint or SBS team, and some times publicty is not a bad thing (balcome st ) when the IRA gave themselfs up without a fight because they heard or saw the regiment arrive.
x soldier, twin lads in 1 para.
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Post by Aldo »

The publicity isn't necessarily a bad thing. If everything being said is exactly right then yes it would be troublesome but I imagine the government has put alot of false information out there so what we all think we know could be all designed to keep us from the truth :o Sounds like a good movie plot don't it!
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Post by davo141 »

to be fair, i dont think there is any army or regiment as well publicised and respected as the SAS and SBS. Through it all they still are the world leaders in there field and are the example other countries follow...even the US!

nothing wrong with an ambtion to be a trooper...but i would advise getting through P Coy first :wink:

cheers, davo
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Is the SAS still needed?

Post by df2inaus »

Devil's advocate,
I'm curious about those wanting to join foreign armies.......

WHY????
Within 15 years Canada and New Zealand will likely no longer have armies. Young men from Carribean nations and Fiji are dirt-poor and have no prospects. The South African army's commander-in-chief is Robert Mugabe's apologist-in-chief Thabo Mbeki, formerly high up in a terrorist organization. What if Ireland united and Gerry Adams was commander-in-chief-what would you do?

Only Australia's beginning to rebuild their military thanks to John Howard, the only Commonwealth leader who not only accepts geopolitical realities but who has a reservior of moral courage.

Join the British Army and you have a challenging, eventful three years with the possibility of a career. Operations need not always require UN approval. Now do you understand why foreign nationals consider joining the British Army?
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Is the SAS still needed?

Post by df2inaus »

Cheeze,
I am an 18 year old South African who really,really wants to join the SAS
Slow down. Find the Corps or County Regiment that's right for you and enjoy a few years in the army before considering the SAS.

You'll need to prove yourself first in your unit and if you give off the impression you'd rather be somewhere else the whole time you won't likely get promoted or put on selection.

Get to the UK on your working holday or ancestry (lucky bastard) visa, find a place to live, a job and get stuck into the recruiting process-good luck!
"Poor Ike, it won't be a bit like the Army. He'll find it very frustrating. He'll sit here and he'll say, 'Do this! Do that!' And nothing will happen."
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Cheeze
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Post by Cheeze »

Thanks for the advice df2inaus!
I posted this topic quite a while ago and have done alot of research since and hopefully I am a little wiser.I`m most proberly joining the RM`s at the end of 2004 and then after a couple of years(if I get in) I might try out for the SBS.
I totally agree with what you said about Commonwealth men wanting to join the UK Armed forces.

I origanally posted this topic after reading"Ghost Force" which said the SAS should be disbanded and wanted to find out what you guys thought.
I read a good book by Mark Nicol"Ultimate Risk" and he gives some good advice as to how UKSF should handle the media fascination with it.You should read it.
cheeze
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Re: Is the SAS still needed?

Post by anglo-saxon »


Within 15 years Canada and New Zealand will likely no longer have armies.
Bit of an odd statement, that. Quite untrue by the way, at least in Canada's case.
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