SAS: Circus

[sp10122]

Ok books were one thing but this is getting ridiculous:

Chris Ryan hunted by SF (BBC, later this year)

SAS Survial Secrets (this weekend, BBC)

SAS: Real Story (Channel 4, Mondays (which, to be fair seems an attempt at serious(ish) journalism)

SAS: Are you Tough Enough with (bet he's popular, now) Sgt thingy

U Farce, grrrr

All within a few weeks of each other.

Regardless of anything they give away (questionable) it just seems to be turning the Regt, and more importantly what should be a highly respected part of the Army, into a circus. The excellent 'Fighting the War' I thought brought attention deservedly on to normal guys doing the job.

SF is a tiny (but very effective) part of the British Army but the whole SASTV thing just seems to be getting ridiculous and putting a massive emphasis on SF.

I'd be interested in your views?



PS: Anyone fancying a laugh....

http://www.discussfitness.com/showthread.php?t=9159

or

http://www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/beonashow/shows/sas.shtml


Chunky, go on mate....relive your youth!

[Sticky Blue]

It is becoming quite tiresome. SAS urban survival, SAS pub fight survival, SAS menopause survial... how many more will they do. It does heighten the profile of the SAS but it is general recruiting that is in need of a helping hand. Why not have a Para or RM tryout program. Follow some wannabees right through in a weekly diary from start to pass out. A documentary where they don't try and make everyone look like idiot and where the cameras don't get in the way "Oh can you do the 30 miler again because we missed the Sgt shouting from the top of the hill at the poor lads who were struggling".

[jamesthegren]

>>it is general recruiting that is in need of a helping hand. Why not have a
>>Para or RM tryout program.

You beat me to it. I've got no problem with programs in general about the forces, and if it raises their profile and increases recruitment then all for the good. But what the hell is the point in SAS: Is my dick big enough (or whatever.) I mean you have to be a serviceman to apply for selection anyway and to stand the best chance you would want to be a para or a marine to start with, so what is the point in encouraging civvys to join the SAS.
I spent a week on satisfied soldier a couple of months ago at my career office and I had a lad asking to join the 'SECRET air service' which says it all really.

I enjoy sensible programs on the forces, there was a program on the Ark Royal recently which I enjoyed, partly because my best mate is an able rate on the ark (although fortunatly he was'nt filmed, he's not exactly family viewing )

Incedently I enjoyed the C4 program.

But most channels at the moment seem to get their teeth into something and work the idea to death, (fame acadamy, big brother etc).
I would'nt be suprised if after the beeb has finished sucking the genre dry that the public are'nt sick of military fly-on-the-wall programs for the next decade.

James

Apologies for being slightly verbose and not entirely literate

[Tab]

When you work it all out it comes down to cheap television. To make any other sort of programme it runs into about half million for a half hour show. To make a hald programme on the SAS all you pay is for the presenter and the camera crew about £5,000, and there are enough people who will watch a show like that to make it worth their while to do it.
Now may be if the Marines ever become famous they might do a few more
shows about them. Duck incoming

[adj125]

[quote="jamesthegren But what the hell is the point in SAS: Is my dick big enough (or whatever.) I mean you have to be a serviceman to apply for selection anyway and to stand the best chance you would want to be a para or a marine to start with, so what is the point in encouraging civvys to join the SAS.[/quote]



http://www.army.mod.uk/uksf/Special_For ... e_/SAS.htm

[voodoo sprout]

I concur with the above, my main complaint is that the media is it seems taking something valuable from the special forces. The more the SAS get on TV (those Stirling Services blokes must have done more TV programs than Carol Vorderman), the more its aura of secrecy and professionalism gets eroded. I think the problem was illustrated well in Afghanistan, where the right dishonourable Mr Hoon wanted to use the SAS actions as publicity tools to create support, which is hardly a fitting treatment. I'm just worried that things will turn American, with serving SF soldiers taking part in gameshows purely for public entertainment. I can understand that recruting from civilians they may have a different perspective on the whole public relations issue, but it could only be bad for our special forces .

[jamesthegren]

[quote="jamesthegren But what the hell is the point in SAS: Is my dick big enough (or whatever.) I mean you have to be a serviceman to apply for selection anyway and to stand the best chance you would want to be a para or a marine to start with, so what is the point in encouraging civvys to join the SAS.[/quote]

OK I forgot about the SASR. Still what I said stands, a civilian watching SAS: whatever and then applying to SASR is unlikely to get in as most SASR are ex. regiment troops.

[adj125]

most SASR are ex. regiment troops.

Are they??????

[jamesthegren]

> Are they??????

I had been told by a staff that a lot (most, may be an exageraton) were ex-regiment. However it is perfectly feasable that he (we), are incorrect it was not the most reliable of info. but it seemed sound enough

The SBS (from the site you posted doesnt take civvy's).

Also I had'nt seen that site about SASR a mate of mine wanted to go for selection for SASR on the Tyne a couple of years ago as he had heard they had a unit there and it took us a week to find a contact number. All change I suppose.

[Josh]

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the whole SAS popularity thing start with "Bravo Two Zero"?! I mean look at the SBS they are bloody excellent (not trying to start a pissing contest) but they don't get half the publicity, maybe they need a failed mission too. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way but I watched one of those worlds’ greatest Special Forces programmes tonight (about the SAS) and Bravo Two Zero took up a large chuck, why? Essentially it is a failed mission?! When you watch a programme about the SeAL's or Delta you don't see failed missions? I'm not trying to knock the soldiers of Bravo Two Zero, they are heros I’m just trying to illustrate a point. I mean at some points in "Gulf War 2" it felt like the ultimate experiment in reality TV, again not to say it disrespectfully to the people who fought in it; but if you watched the 24-hour news channels you would be forgiven for thinking it was big brother with guns!

Again just to make it clear I am not trying to trivialise the SAS or any other regiment, just point out that if some thing will sell, people will try to sell it.

[adj125]

[quote="Josh"]Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the whole SAS popularity thing start with "Bravo Two Zero"?!
quote]


It started with the Embassy seige and a book by Sir Peter de la Billiere (I think)

[Archie]

It started with the Embassy seige and a book by Sir Peter de la Billiere (I think)

It started there so a certain well known politician could be seen as being a strong leader. The right way would have been to cordon the whole area off, place a D notice on all media to prevent reporting of the incident and then allow the team to carry out the operation as they saw fit. Instead it was carefully set up for the world to see and never mind the potential damage to SF.

It was a cynical exploitation of the men, the media and the public.

Politicians, I wouldn't p**s in one if he or she was on fire!

[chunky from york]

SP 10122


Yes it really is past a joke and I will be glad when the public have had enough.

I joined 'B' Sqdn 23 SAS (v) in 1969 in those days we were just another bunch of squaddies, granted we wore a camouflaged smock and at that time only Para's and Royal Marines wore them, but that was considered just an aberration.
The telephone numbers of all SAS units were in the telephone directory under 'Army'.
We did not even have lockers at the TA Centres and traveled in uniform, in London you could see 21 quite a lot on the tube. Anyone who gave any thought to Special Air Service thought we serviced the Army's helicopters.
But the rot really started when Harold Wilson told the press that he was sending the SAS to Northern Ireland and got the spin doctors to brief the press on the Regiment in order to frighten the IRA. Before that the Regiment had actually served in Newtnards in uniform at Squadron strength and no one had even noticed.
Very few members of the SAS reserve have served in 22, they tend to Join 'R' Squadron in Hereford ( or L Detachment as they call themselves now) but a lot are ex regular army and a few straight from civvy street.

But as Tab said it makes for cheap television and best selling books. Plus a lot of bloody Walters.

[FIRE]

At the moment I am watching SAS Survival Secrets. I find it very interesting and it's not a "game show" like Are you Tough Enough.

Why is the SAS cooperating with the producers/BBC?
Is it to atract new recruits? Make them hungry with pictures of this "secrect force" and then let them join normal units?

[Frank S.]

My sense is that FIRE's right: publicity about special forces can be a recruiting tool in countries which have a professional army, having abandoned conscription/draft.

The French have abandoned conscription recently and there are signs that they will (the French ministry of defense) open up more to the media.

It is never a good thing in my opinion, but it's the kind of thing which is bound to happen when you have to bring in applicants.