Special Forces Briefing Course (2 days)

Over a weekend, potential candidates are shown what life in the SAS is like and are
briefed on what to expect during selection. There is a map and compass test, a
swimming test, a first aid test and a combat fitness test.

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Fitness and navigation (4 weeks)

The first part of selection is held in the Brecon Beacons and Elan Valley. The weather
there can be unpredictable and several soldiers have died during selection, mainly due
to hypothermia or exposure. The actual selection starts with the Battle Fitness Test
(BFT), a squadded 2.5 km run in 15 minutes, and then the same distance run
individually in under 10.5 minutes. The first week mostly consists of runs in the
neighbourhood, up and down hills with a small load in the bergen. Lessons in
navigation and map reading are included. Navigation runs in small groups in
woodland areas and night tabs follow shortly. The load in the bergen gets heavier and
an SA80 rifle with no slings has to be carried. Soldiers have to keep the rifle in their
hands as they climb up the slopes and jog down again. In the third week navigation is
solo from grid reference to other points on the map. At each rendezvous (RV) point,
the soldiers have to indicate where they are before the next grid reference is given.
The soldiers are not told how long the run is and where they will end up. In the last
week, there is a race against the clock every day, with each task more punishing as the
distances and load of the bergen increase. The "Long Drag" or "Endurance" is the
final test - about 40 miles over the mountains in between 20 and 24 hours depending
on the weather.

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Initial continuation training (4 weeks)

This consists of detailed and realistic training in weapon handling, demolitions and
small patrol tactics.

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Jungle training (6 weeks)

Soldiers are divided into patrols of four and are watched over day and night by
Directing Staff (DS). Soldiers must stand-to for one hour at dawn and one hour at
dusk every day without fail and must also keep their knife with them at all times.
After lessons in navigation through dense jungle, boat handling, camp building and
jungle contact drills there is a final test, where all things that have been learned must
be applied correctly. Soldiers will learn to live, fight and survive in the jungle, and
will have to take care of every cut, scratch and blister, as it could easily get infected.
The rain is almost constant, which further demoralises the candidates. Jungle training
is usually carried out in the thick rainforest of Brunei or Malaysia.

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Combat survival (4 weeks)

There is another month of training in survival skills, living off the land and using
escape and evasion (E & E) tactics. There are lessons and lectures in interrogation
techniques from people who have been Prisoners of War (POWs). The last few days
is the E & E stage. In groups the soldiers are dressed in greatcoats to slow them down
and have to evade capture from the Hunter Force, which is usually comprised of
Parachute Regiment or Gurkha soldiers. When captured, or on giving themselves up
in the unlikely event that they make it to the scheduled end of the exercise, every
soldier has to withstand tactical questioning (TQ).

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Passing selection

After passing selection, soldiers lose any previous rank and become troopers. They
have to work their way up again from the lowest rank. If they ever leave the SAS,
they revert to their original rank (called Shadow rank) with appropriate increases in
rank for length of service. Officers, who must hold a minimum rank of Captain, do
not lose their rank but may only serve a three-year tour with the SAS. Officers are
allowed to do a second three-year tour provided they pass selection again.

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Specialist training

Specialist training includes:

• First Aid, to a fairly high level, with stints in busy hospitals, including a week
in a mortuary
• Signals
• HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) parachuting technique
• HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening) parachuting technique

(this takes place for four weeks at RAF Brize Norton)

• Sniping - all SAS snipers are trained by the Royal Marines at the Sniper
course at CTCRM (Commando Training Centre Royal Marines)
• Languages
• Vehicle Operating Skills - off-road, for cross-country insertion and patrolling,
and also on-road evasive driving as part of the close protection role
• CRW Training
• Explosive Method of Entry (EMOE)
• VIP protection (body-guarding, or close protection)

The "Fan Dance" is the name given to part of the 22nd Regiment of The Special Air
Service's (22 SAS) Selection process. The "Dance" involves potential recruits to the
regiment having to complete a 40-Mile run over the Brecon Beacons, whilst wearing
full battle dress and carrying a fully laden Bergen and weapon. In order to
successfully complete the exercise, troops are expected to finish the run in under 20
hours.
Navy SEALS
Training

Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training is conducted at the Naval

Special Warfare Center in Coronado (San Diego, CA) and lasts 26 weeks. Assignment
to BUD/S is conditional on passing the PST, which requires the following minimums:

• 500-yard swim using breast or side stroke in under 12:30

• At least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes
• At least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes
• At least 6 pull-ups (no time limit)
• Run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in under 11:30
• Members’ vision must be 20/200 uncorrected and correctable to 20/20. SEAL
candidates may qualify for PRK or LASIK surgery to correct their vision

Again, the above are the minimum requirements necessary to qualify for BUD/S.
Prospective trainees are expected to far exceed these minimums. Competitive scores
are as follows:

• 500-yard swim using breast or combat side stroke in less than 10:00
• 79 push-ups in 2 minutes
• 79 sit-ups in 2 minutes
• 11 pull-ups (no time limit)
• Run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in under 10:20