Anyone here know anything about the NZSAS?

[Skyryder]

There's a few of them in SIS. Now if I'm off line for a week or two ya know what's happened.


Incedently any Callan fans on here??


Skyryder

[wbks]

I'm just wondering if when the guy on the selection in the "best among equals" say's "once they're gone they never come back" (or something along those lines), if that is because you only get one shot, or if it's because they don't want to?

[FJRider]

yes to both

[Skyryder]

The Brits get two shots at selection............well they use to unless it's been changed.

[wbks]

I'm just thinking how gutting it would be to get super fit, super good with all skills needed, and get dropped for no apparant reason that you can pick out? It's kind of like not knowing what you actually need to do? Are they after mentally weak people to pick out or people that aren't determined or what? Ofcourse I won't get any definitive answers here, I'm just venting I guess. Seems like even if you are a hell of a marksman, at a triathlete level physically, have everything at the right level navigation/tracking wise, everything else, still determined to get there you aren't likely to get there. Pretty much all it says on army.mil is get motivated, fit physically and mentally and get it done "if you want it enough" etc but there must be more than that.

[paulmac:Me]

[Soldiers of all trades are required in the SAS so no particular trade has preference in recruitement. Anything else they think you need to know ... they will teach you. A high fitness level is required/important, but its not the only prerequisite. Attitude, stamina, and mental soundness, are also high on the list.
Beware ... recruiters will tell you lots of bull ... to get you to sign the dotted line.[/QUOTE]

What he said, also being an officer can be a negative when applying for Squadron. Ruperts aren't that well regarded !!
Join an infantry regiment first. After a couple of years you'll have all the answers you need. Get fit, take a HTFU pill and learn how to drink !!

[doc]

Jesus fucking christ, it's a lot less than what has been screened on TV and shown on the internet

There is no such thing as superman. They are normal people who have a high standard motivation and don't give up. Once you measure up, you get the training that will develop the talents they recognise you have. It's all about mental toughness which is in the top 6 inches. It's about ones ability to function above the rest when your at your lowest and still perform. Cheesy as it sounds its a team player who can work as an individual. The highly strung racehorse types don't make it.

You will never kinow if you have what it takes till you front up to be tested.

P.S. If you want people to know you have made it .Dont try it. Its not what they want

[fatzx10r]

"if you want it enough"

that's what it comes down to really.

[kave]

If I was trying to get into the SAS I would join the army as infantry with the aim of getting into one of the recce teams. I would plan on doing a few years in the army before even bothering to try out for the SAS. Thats just how I would go about it, but so long as you are hugely strong, fit and incredibly driven any path should be fine.

[Delerium]

okay then. here are some answers and corrections to misinformation.

to do selection yes you need to have served for several years. any trade any service.

Usually only one shot at selection but not always. injury for example means you may get a second go (read the autobiography about CPL Willie Apiata).

If you join as an enlisted rank you can apply for a comission later on. If you join as an officer you CAN NOT become an enlisted rank. ever. even if you leave and come back several years later. too bad.

In saying that officers and soldiers have different jobs so you need to do what you are suited for. I think officers do a bit more during selection than soldiers, but im not sure on this.

To succeed you need mental and physical strength. Plan to train for the year building up to doing selection. Map work and weapons skills are a must. You will only get through if you are one determined boy and bust your ass to get it. You can read about some of what is involved, but know that not all of it is published and for good reason.

What service and trade you do previously is up to you. You may choose to do a technical trade in order to set you up should you leave.

other than that, let us know what you decide and how it goes.

[MaxB]

The SAS has certain functions to fulfil and during selection they are looking for soldiers to mould into what they need.

Often the recruits themselves don't know whether they have got 'the right stuff' until they go through the course since they will never have experienced something so traumatic.

So whether you pass or fail you will find out heaps about yourself in the process. If I was in your shoes I wouldn't join up just to try for the SAS I would want to build a career in the forces first.

[Hoon]

If I was trying to get into the SAS I would join the army as infantry with the aim of getting into one of the recce teams. I would plan on doing a few years in the army before even bothering to try out for the SAS. Thats just how I would go about it, but so long as you are hugely strong, fit and incredibly driven any path should be fine.

Best advice so far. Join the Army as a rifleman either TF or RF. You need solid infantry skills before you will even get nominated for pre-selection. You also need to be a competent soldier otherwise your application won't even make it past the OC's desk. The best infantry soldiers end up in recon platoon of whom a majority are SAS selection aspirees or washouts. Recon also perform a lot of the green role tasks that SAS do so you'll get a taste of it. Engineers is another option - they are superfit for some reason and do well too.

Joining as TF or RF both have their pros and cons. If I was dead serious I'd join as RF to get the most training and then change to TF leading up to selection so I could fully focus on preparing for it. All going well you could be ready for selection in 2-3 years.

A lot of my mates have failed selection, most of them top soldiers in their prime. Others have made it through when I wouldn't have even given them an outside chance. Of those that had the fitness and endurance, Nav was their undoing.

[paulmac:Me]

Go regular force. don't fuck around with the TF, you won't get the training required !!

[Swoop]

and get dropped for no apparant reason that you can pick out?

The Psych. people did a study some time ago. They sat all the applicants down and "had a chat", then deduced who would succeed Selection.
When the dust had settled, they were right.
There is more to the mental and "attitude" side of the process, than just physical fitness.

[Finn]

Lets hope National increase our defense budget and properly fund the SAS as currently they are way under funded. Under Labour, they were sent to Afghanistan in their undies. Embarrassing.

Also, we don't look after them when they retire. Most of them go offshore and work in consulting because of this.