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Can the Royal Marines join SAS or can they only apply for the SBS?

You can join sas as an RM yes, can i ask why you would want to?

As a RM (and anyone from any branch of the services) you can now apply for any branch of SF, SAS,SBS or the SRR. Lots of guys from the Corps never fancied SBS and to that end we lost quite a few to the SAS by way of PVR.

I assume the ones who went sas took a dislike to waterborne activities?

timex wrote:As a RM (and anyone from any branch of the services) you can now apply for any branch of SF, SAS,SBS or the SRR. Lots of guys from the Corps never fancied SBS and to that end we lost quite a few to the SAS by way of PVR.

timex,

Any explanation for this? Why not fancy the SBS but SAS? Does it work the other way? If an army guy didn't fancy the SAS but preferred the SBS are there many applicants? And what's the logic?

A while back I heard that guys who failed SBS selection were able to go back to SAS trg. Was that correct or not?

A lot of the RM guys had only one option and that was SBS, for a lot of guys this wasn't what they wanted or liked. (Most didn't want to be divers and a few others didn't like the set up at Poole), so off they went.

SAS, similar to SBS have/had various troops which specialised in certain areas, (Boats, Mountain, Mobility etc) so you didn't have to be a diver first.

I wasn't SF but was fortunate to work with them for a while and had friends who went down that path, this is all info passed from them and bits gleaned over the last few yrs so is probably out of date.

As to which SF route you take, the last time I spoke to a mate he said that when you decide which branch you go for that's where you stay, (it doesn't matter if you come from the RN, Army or RAF). You can do exchange tours when you are qualified.

Geraintm6 wrote:Can the Royal Marines join SAS or can they only apply for the SBS?

Hi Geraint, you did manage to sign up then?

The Marines are allowed to request selection for the SAS, years ago it was frowned upon but now its no problem.

LloydL001 wrote:

Geraintm6 wrote:Can the Royal Marines join SAS or can they only apply for the SBS?

Hi Geraint, you did manage to sign up then?

The SAS are allowed to request selection for the SAS, years ago it was frowned upon but now its no problem.

You mean marines? :p

And if this is the path you would like to take, I would recommend that you get parachute trained with the marines before hand, just to gain some experience as it will benefit you.

Thanks Nero for pointing that mistake, fixed now.

i only asked cause im planning on doing so many years as a marine then applying with the SAS

i dont understand what you are getting at?

Geraintm6 wrote:i only asked cause im planning on doing so many years as a marine then applying with the SAS

Would this be in the "Space Marines"?
Followed by the Inter-Galactic"Special Atmosphere Squad"?
Of course you would have to be at least 2000 years old to apply.

'note to self'
Why do I bother

Geraintm6 wrote:i dont understand what you are getting at?

He is implying that the reason you would choose the Air Service over the Boat Service is because the SAS get more publicity and are much more well known due to the books, films, TV etc. as opposed to a less popular SBS - though that is just a blind assumption he is making about you.

However, the decision lies completely with you. He won't be there when you decide to take your career a step further and join the special forces, so my best advice is do what you want. If you've had your heart set on the SAS after marines, don't let someone on the internet persuade you to join the SBS.

Indeed, its your decision mate. I assume you havent got your green lid yet? If not, focus on that for now. If in a few years time you feel ready for it, then go for it and don't look back. If you dont fancy being a diver then Sb probably isn't for you. When you get into the RM's you might change your mind anyway. But whatever you decide to do, best of luck with it!