The Edge of Endurance

- Selection for the SAS

10 March 2009

It’s what many consider the pinnacle of soldiering – membership of the SAS.

In what at times seems an almost unbearably gruelling test SAS aspirants will trudge through paddocks and creeks over endless sprawling hills, and past SAS staff who monitor every stage of their performance.

As one seasoned trooper told Army News, “There is a built in, unseen barrier in the SAS process that gets rid of the clay. The men who can get themselves past that barrier are usually the men we want – the men we will turn into SAS officers and soldiers."

One officer who passed that barrier and is on his way to further SAS training this year, tells his story.

Selection

Selection. Something many in the military have thought about; something less have attempted and something even fewer have been successful on. I do not intend to preach to you about what you need to do to get there, you can read that online. What I want to do is give you some of the realities of the course, talk about the perceived hardships and myths and go through some of my personal observations that will hopefully give you a better understanding of what you are up against. It is important for you to understand that I am somebody who has passed and failed selection and I give this to you with no ego attached.

The Decision

The decision to attend. It may sound obvious, but this is probably the most important part of the step. It is when you decide that you want to become part of this unit. Your reasoning must be sound; no “I’ll give it a go” or “people think I should so I will” as people with this attitude will not finish. If you are in a relationship that you want to keep, you will need to talk to your partner in detail and explain to her exactly what it is you want to do and why. If your foundation is not solid at this early stage, for whatever reason, it will surely crumble come selection. Once your decision is made, you can focus on the next step.

Your Training

Your training will vary depending on your start state. Because the majority of selection is done with a pack on your back, so should your training. For myself, I walked a number of longer sessions to get my mind used to the boredom and fatigue. Ensure that you do not over train. Take time off during training to relax and take it all in. At the end of the day, we are all in the military and can all carry a pack. It is really no different on selection other than the fact that it is you, not your commander who decides when you get up to take that next step.

Pre-Selection

Pre-selection must be a lot of fun for those who are in the position to observe it from the sides. People of all shapes and sizes turn up with just as many different attitudes and reasons for wanting to be there. It soon becomes apparent that those bristling with confidence and a desire to prove themselves during this phase will inevitably fail. Pre-selection does give you your first glimpse of the badged members though and I would be lying if I did not say that it was inspiring to see people wearing the beret and belt. Just concentrate on what you are there for and forget about the other distractions.

Selection Proper

Selection proper is the time to show what you have got. Day one starts with the RFL, shortly followed by the BFT, swim test and hares and hounds (webbing run). It is a hard slog of a day but if you break it down into its key elements, it is much simpler. As someone once said to me “the way to eat an elephant is by doing it one bite at a time”. Days two to four are open country pack walking. That’s it, simple; but for some reason it is the time when most people come off the course, not because they do not make the timings (which are not that difficult) but because they take themselves off. For whatever reason, they have given themselves the excuse to depart. If you have your motivation squared away from the start, then this will not be you.

Exercise Von Temptsky, the ‘dunes’ or the ‘Jerries’ as it is affectionately known. Probably the most talked about and anticipated part of selection. I must admit that prior to starting them I was also a little anxious about the next 20 hours until I had a realisation. That realisation was that I am going to be here for the next 20 hours, carrying jerry cans, so deal with it. And I did. Like the others around me, I just knuckled down and got on with it and to be perfectly honest found it easier than I thought I would. If the task was not achievable then no one would have passed, and so many have. So my advice to you is to suck it up and crack on. You have already made the decision to be there so don’t cut yourself short.

The final days of selection are occupied with the close country navigation and the 60km pack walk. Do not let yourself relax because you have ‘broken the back’ of the course by finishing the ‘jerries’, because it will only make the next few days harder. The key, as with the rest of the selection is just to keep on going, and be prepared to go a little further than that.

Passing

Passing selection for me was an interesting experience. For so long I had been looking at the selection ‘door’ and all of a sudden it was open. It’s a very satisfying feeling to know that you have passed but the reality that it is only the beginning also starts to set in.

I have a long way in my journey to go and I would not presume to know the ‘in’s and out’s’ of this unit and those that make up its numbers. All I know is that I want to be part of it. I sincerely wish you all the best for your journey.

The road to 1NZSAS GP now has two paths – the Special Air Service (SAS) route, or through the Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group (CTTAG). Both directions are voluntary, and each are achievable with grit, determination and the will to succeed.

The SAS/CTTAG roads lead to the one goal of "Success for further training within 1 NZSAS GP"

Here a soldier who tried for SAS selection last year, was not ready, so changed path to CTTAG Assessment tells his story.

I attempted the NZSAS selection course in November ‘08 for the first time but was unsuccessful; however I was given another opportunity in the CTTAG entry assessment.

I had used the training programme provided by the NZSAS for selection. I spent a lot of time pack marching long distances; however I wish I had done more big hills. I joined my local orienteering club to practise navigation and square away my map to ground skills. I was happy with the work I had put in before I arrived and was confident with my navigation. Not worrying about how prepared you are helps with the mental side of it, allowing you to focus on the job at hand.

The SAS selection course began with pre-selection which surprisingly involved a lot of walking, but gave everyone a chance to practise navigation. The course itself was hard mentally and physically. The first four days were tough because you were racing the clock. Add to that a mistake with your nav, some bad weather and rolled ankles, and before you know it you’re behind and trying to catch up. Once at the jerry cans I struggled to keep them from hitting the ground and this weighed heavily on my mind. This is where I came off the course.

In my debrief interview with the Training Officer I was offered a second chance. There was a CTTAG entry assessment course starting in two days, and if I wanted to be on it all I had to do was get some rest and some food in me. I was driven up north with a couple of other guys who had come off on the jerry cans as well. We got our heads down and in the morning found that pretty much everyone who came off the first selection course was there and ready to go all over again.

None of us knew too much about the entry assessment and we tried to piece together what we were going to be in for, and assumed it would be not much sleep and a lot of work. That was pretty accurate. The course began with the usual RFL and BET, but the difference being the beep test rather than the pack march. In my mind I was worried about the level of fitness I had having only just come off the first course. I was to realise that the first day is designed to exhaust you, so that those who genuinely want to be there will stick it out.

The attrition rate seemed to be about the same as selection with guys disappearing on the first day. The intensity and tempo of the whole thing was very high. By the end of the first day you knew you had worked hard and there was plenty more to come. I was given a second chance and I wasn’t going to mess it up. I wanted to be there. I remember being so tired that I was falling asleep on my feet. The course was the hardest thing I have done to date, but finishing is an amazing feeling.

CTTAG Entry Assessments 15-22 May 09
Pre–Entry	15 – 17 May 09
CTTAG Entry Assessment	18 – 21 May 09
C. CTTAG Officer Testing	21 – 22 May 09
CTTAG Employment Training 6 Jul-22 Oct 09
March-in / Administration	6 – 9 Jul 09
CTTAG Employment Modules are over the period	11 Jul – 22 Oct 09
CTTAG Beret parade	23 Oct 09
NZSAS Selection 7-26 Nov 09
Pre-Selection	7 – 13 Nov 09
Selection	14 – 22 Nov 09
Officer Testing	23 – 26 Nov 09