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Hi,

My first post so be gentle. Obviously for any SF the physical requirements are going to be high and just had a few questions (before I go onto the physical bit). I know the SAS and SBS both have (roughly) the same selection process, do SRR as well? And on the same note I know SAS(R) and SBS(R) exist but are there any plans for SRR(R)? (sorry to go off on a tangent just curious)

More specifically for this thread what times and distances do yo think people should be able to achieve before attempting selection for all the aspects (running/swimming/distance)? Also what weights you should be used to running with and what type of terrain you should train on?

emu155

Do you realise that you can't just get super fit and join SF? You will need to serve time with either a reserve SF unit or with another branch of the services (Marines and Paras being the most common I believe).

There's loads of info on here on how to get fit for either of these units if you use the search button (top left). There's also a sticky on the RM forum title 'Royal Marines Fitness Schedule' - that may be a good place to start.

And the general opinion on here is that if you haven't run with weight before, don't. You will be taught how to do it properly if/when you join an infantry unit.

emu155 wrote:Hi,

My first post so be gentle. Obviously for any SF the physical requirements are going to be high and just had a few questions (before I go onto the physical bit). I know the SAS and SBS both have (roughly) the same selection process, do SRR as well? And on the same note I know SAS(R) and SBS(R) exist but are there any plans for SRR(R)? (sorry to go off on a tangent just curious)

More specifically for this thread what times and distances do yo think people should be able to achieve before attempting selection for all the aspects (running/swimming/distance)? Also what weights you should be used to running with and what type of terrain you should train on?

emu155

emu155

As the other poster is saying you generally need 3 years before going for SAS etc unless you are joining 21/23 SAS the reserve unit and even now I think they have changed the rules and you now need some military experience.

I am not ex SF so others can advise more on this.

If interested in 21/23 talk to your local unit contact details are given in the TA section of the main Army website.

However a good book for you to look at is "Joining the SAS" by Barry Davis, as there is a generic training programme in one of the chapters.

Good luck

ali_hire wrote:Do you realise that you can't just get super fit and join SF? You will need to serve time with either a reserve SF unit or with another branch of the services (Marines and Paras being the most common I believe).

Yea get that, not trying to come across as a twat but I do know the rules etc for joining etc. Was trying more to find the times you were expected/recommended to be achieving before attempting selection and at what distances. I don't really need advice on how to get fit just what levels are recommended! Thanks away for the advice, will check out those threads as well.

emu155

I know very little about the subject chap, but, according to the book 'Fighting Fit', a good benchmark would be to be able to run 10 miles in 70 mins and pass part 2 of the army BFT (1.5m run) in less than 8.5 mins.

Ready to be corrected.......

Ill correct you now

For the 21st its a mile and a half in 9 and a half minute, which seems simple enough but its in the form of the bleep test which is a good test of fitness, i advise ANYONE try that because its a good way to train the mind aswell.

I would say running the ten miles in about 60 mins would be more accurate.

Corrections fini

Jame4rs wrote:Ill correct you now

For the 21st its a mile and a half in 9 and a half minute, which seems simple enough but its in the form of the bleep test which is a good test of fitness, i advise ANYONE try that because its a good way to train the mind aswell.

I would say running the ten miles in about 60 mins would be more accurate.

Corrections fini

10 miles in 60min but only 9:30 for the 1.5mile, are you sure about that? You do realise that the pace for that 10mile run is faster than for the 1.5miles don't you?

Someone has been telling porkies. I think you will find each location will carry out their own fitness assessments, often in the form of a bleep test but the actual first test of fitness will come on the first weekend.
You should be able to comfortably run 8 miles in 1 hour. For more specific information about what tests you will have one the first weekend you should ring up and ASK!!!

and how do you run the mile and a half in bleep test form? Do you mean run 1.5 miles in 20m shuttles??? Or do you run a standard bleep test until you've covered a mile and a half (which by my reckoning and with the help of my calc would take about 12.5 mins).

If it's the former method - that must be nails!!!

Jame4rs wrote:Ill correct you now

For the 21st its a mile and a half in 9 and a half minute, which seems simple enough but its in the form of the bleep test which is a good test of fitness, i advise ANYONE try that because its a good way to train the mind aswell.

I would say running the ten miles in about 60 mins would be more accurate.

Corrections fini

Given that one of the tests on the first weekend is 8 miles in 64 minutes I might suggest you retract that statement...

Im pretty confident that by the end of selection your going to be able to do better than 10 miles in 60 minutes, but we're talking about benchmarks for joining.

Spooky wrote,

Im pretty confident that by the end of selection your going to be able to do better than 10 miles in 60 minutes, but we're talking about benchmarks for joining.

Is that in running kit or full fighting order.? There is a difference.
You are talking 6 minutes a mile. That isn't too bad for a guy in running kit, especially over 10 miles!!
The Royal Marines Commando training asks all the members to do a "speed march" of 9 miles in 90 minutes. That is in full kit.
I make that a mile in 9 minutes,

A big difference!!

Sneaky

sneaky beaky wrote: The Royal Marines Commando training asks all the members to do a "speed march" of 9 miles in 90 minutes. That is in full kit.
I make that a mile in 9 minutes,


Sneaky

Oh dead oh dear oh dear. Hate to piss on your fire here sneaky but I make that a mile every 10 minutes.

I take the cut on this that if your training for Special Forces your not going to say
"Right, I can do 10 miles in an hour. Excellent, now I'm off to the pub to get farkarsed."
You will keep on training and trying until your legs are bleeding bloody stumps and your arms are tired from dragging your limp beaten body up the hill.
If your not prepared use every fibre in your body then you obviously don't want it badly enough. Well, at least not as much as me. And I guarantee there are other guys out there who are better and want it more (or that’s what I keep on telling myself, it’s probably true but you need the motivation).
I've already started my career moving. I have an interview with some chap from the AFCO on the 13th. I believe it is just checking whether or not I am a knobber.
Mr. Nuts

sneaky beaky wrote:Spooky wrote,

Im pretty confident that by the end of selection your going to be able to do better than 10 miles in 60 minutes, but we're talking about benchmarks for joining.

Is that in running kit or full fighting order.? There is a difference.
You are talking 6 minutes a mile. That isn't too bad for a guy in running kit, especially over 10 miles!!
The Royal Marines Commando training asks all the members to do a "speed march" of 9 miles in 90 minutes. That is in full kit.
I make that a mile in 9 minutes,

A big difference!!

Sneaky

Thats in PT kit Sneaky. Its just a fitness test at what I understand to be the first weekend of selection following preselection; to see if the bod is up to scratch so far and has a chance sort of stuff.