Could You Join the SAS Reserve Regiments 21 / 23 SAS? 

I have literally just done it now (just now finished loadbearing category event) and I agree it feels at least 25% harder than Fan Dance which I've done loads.

Yeah, HW was a beast. I remember getting to the turnaround point at the sheep pens and looking up White Fell and thinking...FUCK that's a bit cheeky. I had eaten a massive fry up at Warcop and spewed this all up, sprinting down the Calf. I also had a monumental race against a regular Royal Marines officer and beat him in by about 100 metres after he cramped up. On my HW, one of the guys had a heart attack on the way back on the top of RGT and was helicoptered off. He got sorted out and was back on the next course. You were probably one of my DS.

I did 21 in 1998 after coming out of Regulars and was put on regular selection right away.

Best route, SAS Reserves are still part time, so going 22 directly makes more sense ​@@ghostwriter2031

23 in 93, Belle Vue Manchester. G Sqdn. Now long gone. Very first pre selection Wednesday evening, I came last on the run. Was sick all over myself twice but never stopped running. The staff taking it told me, "well-done". First time, got to weekend 5 but not fit enough. Did it again 6 months later when hill fit. We were first cadre that did test week with the regs at Sennybridge. PSIs at time from both 22 and SBS.

It reminds me of several interviews on YT I watched with British Special Forces Commandos who depicted similar situations while marching equipped to make enemy contact in the Malvinas island. Furthermore, they report losing of lost equipment due to excessive weight plus reaching the objective are *BELOW normal aptitude* to fight. It makes me doubt the real effectiveness of such test/training drills to accomplish real life missions, as they don't take into the account time spent in the target area fighting.

The Falkland Islands.​@@renatosureal

Ive been out 20 years. Not been in new camp. Spent plenty at pont. Your not wrong re NI. Powder keg just waiting to kick off. Hopefully wont but you never know.

Well done buddy

Amazing story did you ever meet bear grylls during your days on selection?

​@fishingwithtommy5743 yes I was aware of him from the early stages as he was quite switched on and vocal at times. There were about 10 or so of us left when I came off so we ended up talking more as the numbers thinned out.

@@lkxbrw1874 amazing he's my hero!

@@lkxbrw1874 21 and 23 selection has never been at 22 standards, they don't do jungle phase at all, for a start.

Yes I read it as part of my research for this video! 😁📕

@@HardRoutine_TOTW Ohhhhh….excellent. It’s an honest and cracking read. It can still be had from Amazon too.

Amazing, Thx for the comment! I'm having a crack at Long Drag again this September (civvy event self-nav)

@@HardRoutine_TOTW Fair play to you. I'm now approaching 60 with 2 new knees. I could only dream of completing it now. Are you doing the long drag in the Howgills? Before Long drag, for 21 selection we had to do something called Nav 1, Nav 2 as a qualifier. Apparently it was close to the reg Endurance but started at Storey Arms instead of Torpantau area. On weekend 4 we had to do the Fan dance...with a twist. We had to go over the Fan 3 times...not 2. We were sent over Cribyn and back...it broke alot of people who thought it was just twice over.

At 52 I'm lucky to have no major knee issues. The long drag I'm doing in Sep is the classic one. There's a video on my channel where I do a full recce at easy pace (camping overnight). In Sep the pace will have to be a lot higher 🤣

Yeah I've got all of those maps as well. I hated the Jock weekend in the bloody Moffats...spend most of the weekend in the wagon...

@@HardRoutine_TOTW I'm 54 now and have only recently discovered that I actually have knees!!

Hahaha yes I know what you mean. Thx for the comment!

Actually a guy I did selection with in 91 was previously studying at Edinburgh. I think he was doing an MA at Oxford . I used to give him a lift. A very young talented officer in the Para reserves. He absolutely smashed 21 selection...one of those naturally gifted good looking. Super intelligent types.

​@@jimbo658now that you described him, he does sound very similar to me 😂😂😂.

One of my Recce teammates (Trev) went to 22 and passed selection. Our BC (Major) was also from the SAS. There's a chap being interviewed on a few of the RU-vid channels right now that was also from my battery but he was a few years before my time, called Mick Hawkes. From my observation, it's all very different these days, all sexy, hyped up and overtly celebrated. Back in the day, it appeared to be much more understated and was only something the hard core few would sign up for. Of course, you were certainly very respected in general, for making the grade.

Thanks will do!

Good point. Sub 4min/km pace it does sound extreme. The classic combat fitness test of 1.5 miles requires a sub 10.30min time for male infantry officer candidates (not special forces) which is only marginally slower (4:10 min/km) so it's not impossible. Anyway I got it from a document but no firsthand experience so it's a fair comment. Anyone reading this know if it's accurate?

@@HardRoutine_TOTW Where are you getting that male infantry officer requirement from? There is no fitness requirement change depending on gender now. It is the RFT, which is 4km with 40kg in 40 minutes folllowed by a 2km with 25kg in 15 minutes.

Great, if you join our private Facebook group (link in channel bio or description) there'll be folks keen to see it buddy. Cheers, F

I knew a guy from 22 who told me when he was bored at an OP, he would pull his clingfilm wrapped presents out of his pack and play with it like play-doh. He might have been just trying to get a reaction, but upon getting to know him a bit better, I believe him. He had some interesting stories, and quite a few centred around the brown sticky stuff. One in particular about a Monarch who will remain nameless, and how theirs was captured in the sewer after being flushed, and kept preserved on his mantle piece.

As far as I've been able to ascertain CIC is still required. Those who want to find out for definite best off contacting recruitment directly.

I don't know, but I'll look into it. That's an interesting challenge!

Yes, the Cambrian Patrol is still run. 4-13th of October for this years.

Video of the Sabre XXIII event inbound this weekend with some stunning scenery ⛰️😁

@@HardRoutine_TOTW For those more old and bold than swift and bold, many in the military have tabbed those hills, so just seeing the scenery again is good enough. I can remember seeing a lot of my DMS boots padding along in the mud too, when huffing and puffing under the weight. Old injuries, in my case a compressed spine, means those days are over however romantic it might seem to do it all again. Good times. ATB.

What a lot of people dont know or realise is there are plenty of so called reserves that are actually full time. They are self employed civvies that put their own business on hold and commit to their SQN. I did it for years. SQN and Reg came 1st before anything ir anyone else. My 1st year back at SQN after regular service. I did 235 days. Official reserve limit was supposed to be only 50 days a year.

@@rickydepledge3245 Too true. I was only ever a Reservist, and certainly I did more than the minimum days. Probably, averaged 60 to 90 over my 13 years. Frankly, anything less wouldn't have held my professional attention, as if you are going to do a job then best do it well. It is well understood that a Reservist takes three years to get fully up to military regular skill levels beyond "recruit". Once there it is maintenance of those skills, and there is little difference. However, Reserves do suffer from fitness and endurance levels especially when taking a unit as a whole. In the Regulars there is time to sort that out. And then there is attendance where a Training Major might plan an exercise but never know how many might turn up. Regular units know their strength at any time, and have a far more comprehensive training year. An important role for Reservists is to do a years tour, and supplement Regular numbers so ensuring the Regular unit works at near full strength. Regular units have courses and leave which can leave them short. Usually, Reservists integrate quite well, and found to be an asset bringing their other skill sets whatever they might be. One thing is they might think outside the "regular military box" which can be "refreshing" or "annoying". What Regulars can do, and why Reservists are no replacement, is train to be highly proficient and a cohesive complete unit, with full combined arms integration. Done well that isn't a part time job. The modern military may well be highly sophisticated and incredibly powerful, but as Ukraine is showing it still needs numbers of boots on the ground. Again, Reservist play an important role but only a complimentary role, however I've been out of the loop far too long to know how its going now. Good luck, and all the best to all.

To join R Sqn you have to be a former regular badged bloke or from the RMR units

@@Veritas118 no r sqn recruit from any trained reservist accross all 3 services.. Been that way since 2005

@@CraigArnott I stand corrected

Is that claiming what they state is therefore wrong?

If you join the channel Facebook group one of the members kindly published it in pdf form

As far as I'm aware you can start the process. Good luck!

You can, you should 👍🏻 take à HR monitor and build as much fundamental endurance as possible as a start.

Joining age max is 42 and 365 days.. Get after it lad.

You can apply. Yes, you have another 6 years until you hit the age limit. Just make sure you're in a position to do it because it's not a part time job, even though it's the reserves. It's full time. If you have a day job, you'll have to pick which one you want to do, can't do both. Another thing to think about is the eyesight. For uksf, to be fully deployable, you'll need good unaided vision

Don't rush into it. Build your baseline fitness slowly and steadily - over a year or more - with plenty of rest time. You potentially have a high capacity for endurance and stamina at 36 (as well as mental resilience and maturity) but the risk of injury will be your bugbear.

That isn't accurate for 94 cadre. Winter. We did same test week as regulars but with slower pass times. Not massively slower and not sponsored by the signals lads.

@@dominicohooley9733 same difference - a slower pace. At some point after your course the administration and management of reservists was done by 264, at the pace you mention. At the same time as test week (easier to run one)

Fair play.

If you mean regular UKSF then yes I believe so, but only if you attend and pass regular selection.

Because its a full time job, despite the 'reserve' title.

@@travisbickle0526 so what’s the perk of being in a 21/23 SAS then?

@@G4x5da As per the other thread, 21 and 23 are not the top 1%.

@@Dr.Ian-Plect yeah you’re right, less then 1%. 21 and 23 combined only has a few hundred men while the British Armed Forces had 140.000 men

@@G4x5da You know what I meant and you know from my explanation on the other thread that you're wrong. Their selection, training and scope of roles is far below 22 SAS/SBS. So when you state "Why would anyone go trough the ordeal of the most demanding selection end training in the world to be placed in a reserve role.", that's demonstrable nonsense.

Having just now finished the Howgills highwalk I agree. Bloody hard...

@@HardRoutine_TOTW remember High walk is minimum standard “the easy test”

@@macmckie2238 staff explained that when he was in 23 selection they got to highwalk with 36 who had all passed the marches leading up to that point. Cut-off was 4H50min and only 10 progressed to test week. That's a level of fitness I'm nowhere near 😄 But I'm glad I got round. In today's heat half the participants binned off at the halfway point.

Pipeline harder than real high walk, but off camber tabbing in the Howgills and Calf, not pleasant. Babies heads in the Black Mountains worse.

I think they have FTRS (full time reserve service) jobs at 21/23 but as far as I'm aware you'd have to do selection again if you want to transfer to 22 as I don't believe the reserve units go to the jungle during their selection

Also as far as joining reserve SAS, it is open to any reserve capbadge and there are also opportunities to attach if you have a particular trade (ie vehicle mechanic)

Reserve selection have slower timings to achieve than regular, don’t conduct a jungle phase and a different role altogether. No such thing as transfering to 22 from 21 or 23

Yes it does.... You can start the process then if you pass bac you can select to go on the regular pathway.... I think cic (combat infantrymans course) is mandatory... But even if not get on it as the learning curve during soptac phase is astronomical

To transfer from 21/23 to 22 you'd have to do Aptitude again, to the timings and routes of 22, but that's essentially it. You need to have done CIC to be loaded onto BAC.

You really need to educate yourself

@@user-dv3fi7zs3t you think so? I was the PSI for one of the sqns...I fully know exactly what goes on and the 'opinions' of what reservists actually do, but what theyre really capable of and do.

​@@OMT988Well since we are being brutally frank: If you were a PSI for any reserve unit and it wasn't up to snuff by the end of your tenure, that was down to your effort and the imagination of the Training Major - or maybe just you. You had the manpower, materiel and money - but motivation and training were your responsibility. Maybe some adjustment of your attitude was necessary. "Cynicism is the besetting and venial fault of declining youth, and disillusionment its last illusion".

@@lindsayheyes925 ohhh you think so? shows what you know. here's the reality. I could organise as much training as I wanted, but it could never be progressive...why? because if I did phased training every new phase new guys that never turned up for phase 1 would show. meaning the only way to progress was to restart. hence why any one that thinks a reserve unit. (for those unaware, they do one evening a week and one maybe 2 weekends a month plus a few camps...meaning maybe 2 weeks weeks twice a year) thats the training time available but a minority (the ones on the dole) regularly show. so my point here is, no...reserve units are not and can never meet the standards of any full time unit....its actually incredibly rude those that think they can. the common reply would be....ive done some some filled environments and fire raining...does that make me a fully qualified fire fighter....of fucking course it doesn't. The military, just like any other profession is a full time skill. Thats reservists...now imagine thinking special forces-art times is actually a thing 🤣

@@OMT988 So here's the thing: Your contempt for reservists is evident, but an important MO of special operations since WWII has been training local militias, resistance groups and other civilian volunteers. How can an operator do so effectively without respecting them? How can you respect members of a Firqa or the Maquis of another country and culture if you can't give due credit to people in your own army and branch of service who are prepared to risk their lives and civilian careers to be your force's force multiplier in war - or be your personal BCR? You are as blind to their commitment as the clock tower at Stirling Lines. We shall remember them - but you won't have found their names there with the regular soldiers who have fallen: Bob Popham wrote his name on a paper tape and stuck it on the front of his para helmet. I met him, just once, in the bar the King's Road. It bothered me that I couldn't remember his face when - three weeks later - I was issued that very helmet and his CSPEP. I immediately scraped that paper tape - his only regimental memorial, so I knew: Who dares wins can mean play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Thus I learned to expect attrition and to respect EVERYONE for their service - he'd served in the MT Troop. RIP Bob. Rude? I bet all the reservists spoke highly of you.

Obviously never did BATUS or Kenya etc. We had so much spare ammo in Kenya that we had competitions to see which section could fell a tree the quickest with bursts of 5.56.

@@A.Mardleit’s just abit of a stupid remark. How could you even say it 😂

Ironic.

What happened to it?

@HardRoutine_TOTW I did selection in 86 and am confident that 23 was amalgamated into 21. I'm starting to doubt myself now, though. 😕

@@Bacchus001 They're both still listed on the army website. It's possible one was stood down, then spun back up as demand surged.

@@skaus2184 negative... 23 was never stood down... Both regiments did lose 2 of their 5 squadrons in 1996 now having 3 apiece.. A C and E in 21 and B D and G in 23