Inside the World of Special Forces: Training, Missions, and Sacrifices: Simon Jeffries

Simon Jeffries shares the truth inside the world of British Special Forces: The training it takes, what it’s like being part of missions on operations, and the sacrifices it requires.
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[@anniwilson2534]

Really insightful. Such an interesting life journey! A worthwhile feeling being in a good place and able to help others.

[@patricktracey7424]

my service with the Royal Marines started when i was 16 yrs and 1 month old and consisted of 26 weeks training at the depot RM deal without any pre selection course and then a continuous 14 weeks at the Commando training centre , Lympstone. so by the time you got to the final commando tests you were physically and mentally exhausted and this was deliberate this is what the training team were looking for. how far further you could push yourself when you were finished, we started with 57 recruits and finished with 12. what he said is true i was the smallest and youngest in the troop and was good with the GPMG machine gun and so carried it for the rest of my career, i was the one with the tears in my eyes carrying it from dartmoor, exmoor, mountains of skye, norway, the jungle northern ireland and many other locations, though i did love the gimpy it was a beautiful weapon. at 45 commando i added the LMG bren gun to my personal weapon for use in Norway again a lovely gun.

[@thenaturaledge]

The proper old school. Good to have a comment from you Patrick, to remind us the standards have ALWAYS been high and training has always been nails. Hope you enjoy the channel Royal!

[@RossNaylor-uq4jp]

Why is it us little guys always end up carrying the heaviest kit 😂 I'm only 5'7 and I was always carrying either gimpys,laws,mortars, Milan's,or lsws and when you add the ammo as you know it weighs a good bit then the terrain that you have to drag these weapons is always cold,muddy,wet and either its up hill ir down hill especially when you are in brecon i remember doing the commando wire across the river and I cant swim i was the most nervous ive ever been and just my luck i ended up in the water 😂 I actually forgot my dry kit too mega rookie mistake middle of January and I am in Brecon soaking and no dry kit i ended up being taken back to camp in a ambulance the 8 tonner journey would have turned me into a ice cube 😂 you must have been a beast at 16 to pass marine selection well done bro I always wanted to go for my dagger but I knew my tabbing was not upto standard after tabbing all ovet Exmoor, Dartmoor, Salisbury plain and brecon anyway take care bro all the best

[@Alex_P_19]

One of the best discussions about selection, it was really interesting to hear you talk about your thought processes and responses, you articulated it in a way I haven't heard others do.

[@markedmunds1966]

Great insights on the fact that so many people leave because of what they see as the monotonous crappy jobs. Shining a belt buckle at 3am the night before Anzac Day or cleaning a weapon after a long exercise suck but those are my favourite memories because all my mates were there getting on with it helping each other learning we could rely on each other in the monotonous boring stuff.

[@GoodCovfefe]

I have never heard anything make as much sense as the way he described all those concepts.

[@angelomarcos6801]

Great interview. More detailed description of Selection than any podcast out there. Humble dude. Thank you.

[@thenaturaledge]

Glad you enjoyed it Angelo 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

[@davidbrumpton84]

Incredibly insightful. Thanks for the amazing content

[@mik3y860]

I did exactly the same regarding not looking down the sight when firing on a live range….section commanders boot to my face. Lesson learned.

[@Flyfishthebordersandbeyond]

Great to hear an SF operator giving normal infantry soldiers the respect they deserve. Top man

[@thenaturaledge]

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

[@jonathanmorgan1129]

Really good interview covering a lot of information in a short space of time!

[@thenaturaledge]

Cheers Jonathan, glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevenrabson937]

Great interview...great guest...Well thought out questions. I'm an instant subscriber. Well done!

[@thenaturaledge]

Welcome aboard mate!

[@mannyade2890]

Greatest desire of becoming purposeful had lead me to looking into researching the army, which lead me here. Loved the whole episode, especially the end.

[@seanstacey3223]

Excellent video, very interesting and informative 👍 Looking forward to your next one.

[@thenaturaledge]

Nice one mate thanks. Stay tuned, it’ll be out a week on Sunday.

[@tomstockton6865]

Great video, really insightful!

[@gmacka6333]

The Army did the same thing with a 3 day "pre-selection" course. Pysical exams, medicals, interviews. Lots of running, jerry can carrying, ammo box lifting ,no bending of the elbows with 40lbs in the box i believe it was, arms held straight out. Sit-ups, chin-ups, etc etc. It was actually pretty fun. Stressful though, as you're contantly afraid of screwing something up. I actually loved it.

[@Guide504]

Something to do and someone to love. The secret to a happy life.

[@TommyAye]

Simon I remember seeing you a Lympstone. I was in phase 1 of training and I think you were in King Squad. I recognised you because we went to the same high school, you were a few years above me. I wish I had said hello at the time but life moves pretty fast at Lympstone so I never got the chance. Glad to see you doing well mate.

[@thenaturaledge]

Small world eh! What are you up to now mate?

[@TommyAye]

@The Natural Edge I'm joining the police soon, just waiting for a start date. I left the Corps after nearly 5yrs and then did surveillance in the private sector for quite a few years. Good to see you're doing well mate

[@davesharpe3877]

Glad i came across this video, ive been out the Submarine Service for 10 years, still not easy leaving the military.

[@darrenb230]

Ditto, i left boats in 96.. Took a while to adjust.

[@thenaturaledge]

What is it you do now Dave?

[@davesharpe3877]

@@thenaturaledge I work with Autistic adults

[@thenaturaledge]

I imagine that is rewarding and challenging in equal measure, though very different from the mob mate.

[@davesharpe3877]

@@thenaturaledge Very different from the Mob, the Civilian mind set is so so very different from the military, as is the sense of humour we used to get us through the most challenging situations!

[@warriorjin1815]

Good channel 👍🏼 new here but what ever I’ve watch so far, been really informative and helpful

[@joshKozak]

Love learning about the British army and all the things you preach. Thanks again. 💪🏽🫵🏽

[@thenaturaledge]

Thanks for watching Josh, your support means a lot!

[@jazzflute2465]

The Royal Marines Commandos are NOT the Army

[@bigjim5423]

Navy!

[@pentreifan3905]

Thank you for this. Interesting. I learnt a lot. You're cut from a stronger cloth than me. Thank you for your service

[@thenaturaledge]

Glad you enjoyed it 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

[@winstonk400]

Nice one Royal!

[@auxiliary4023]

He gave a great piece of advise to would be recruits of all forces, which I followed myself back in the day as a Nod which is, concern yourself with the day in hand, don't think about what's ahead next week etc. Too many recruits are rattling on about exercises weeks away. I just took training as a sort of prison sentence which I had no choice but to complete. I wasn't the best recruit but I got through in one go by ignoring the "Nod vine" and ended up enjoying it and the "Gronks ball".

[@thenaturaledge]

Gronks, haven’t heard that term in a while. 🤣

[@CharlesM84]

What a rush: captivating stuff

[@ioancrabb192]

Class video!

[@thenaturaledge]

Cheers!

[@philippinesOneLove]

Great Decision , Every one should have that Experience ,, Not just Jump straight in as an Officer .. 💯👌

[@frogman5809]

Simon love this podcast

[@thenaturaledge]

Good to hear it!

[@DO-hz5yo]

Would have loved to hear more about the signaler SF selection. Would be interested to know what they cover vs the fully badged SF guys. And on operations, what their day to day looks like vs the other chaps. Great interview

[@feolender2938]

Day to day will be basically spending about 8 or 9 months a year out of the country on operations or on courses, meaning any semblence of a normal life will be impossible.

[@Tyroniusmaximus92]

Awesome interview. I wonder if any SBS(R) have done jungle.

[@MrTangolizard]

What many civilians don’t know about basic training when they see how hard it is and that’s when u join your regiment you do far far harder things some of the advance to contacts I did in my infantry regiment were killer compared to basic

[@thenaturaledge]

Truth

[@onepunchflan3071]

I like the t shirt. Edwin is a sick brand

[@adventussaxonum448]

I always remember driving across the wild plateau from Penderyn to Llwyn onn reservoir and seeing a lone figure carrying a huge Bergan, trudging through the driving wind and rain, into the gathering dusk, and thinking "poor sod!"

[@timhannah4]

Good Call 🤘

[@ChampChamp2024]

Cheerfulness in the face of adversity! Can I ask what made you go SAS instead of SBS

[@djeq721]

Should of touched more on SFC selection / being one. Not much out there about them, for obvious reasons of course, but still would of been interesting.

[@Sir_118]

Great video very informative and can't forget the g shock 💪🏿

[@thenaturaledge]

Did you get it?

[@DJRAJEE]

interesting thank you

[@exmoorfarmer4880]

Great video and I have taken some steps on the same road. How do we get Simon a screen test for the next James Bond? He's got all of the credentials. Ex RM, ex SF, a good looking or "essence" bloke and an astounding barnet! The names Bond, Simon Bond....queue theme tune!!!!

[@djeq721]

Bond has gone woke, they want the opposite now sadly.

[@honahwikeepa2115]

Respect 💪👍

[@bigjim5423]

Have you ever looked at Neurolinguistic Programming for the rewiring of the neural pathways? Richard Bandler & John Grinder are interesting characters with checking out.

[@thenaturaledge]

I have an awareness of it, but haven’t had a deep dive. Thanks for the recommendation 🙏🏼

[@bigjim5423]

@@thenaturaledge it's the quick way of rewiring neutral pathways on several levels, whether it be stimulus response, behavioural strategies, beliefs & values. The meta model is the diagnostic tool and then you've probably heard of many of the change techniques like the swish pattern, collapsing anchors, installing new strategies. It's philosophy is "doing what works" to get what you want by optimising the "state".

[@Dark_Nemesis4300]

Why did you mute out when he said the base of the SBS? Everyone knows where it is, just as everyone knows where the SAS are based. Just interested to know why.

[@James-bc1jk]

Just listened to this great podcast and I'm struggling right now feel like I'm stuck in a boring life and it's like I'm watching myself fade away it's weird

[@willjohnson2722]

I'm 39. When I was 21 I went to the military recruitment office. They needed 5 GCSEs for officers, I had AAB at A-level. They told me they wanted me in military intelligence. I went to the coffee shop with all the brochures. A guy sat next to me in the coffee shop and started talking. He said that he used to be in military intelligence, and what that meant was- he got into plain clothes, then went to the pub in Northern Ireland and pretended to be someone else to infiltrate the IRA. He told me- if you're joining the army it's to do one thing, and that's to kill people. They are training you to kill people. He told me if you want my advice, take your skateboard and go travelling. Which I did, I went around the world several times. Many veterans are on the streets homeless with complex PTSD. When you're chewed up and spat out the army won't give af about you. You can have a more interesting life without killing people brother.

[@dhcrouchmarineltd3049]

The problem with not knowing what to do with life is each day passes and blurs into another, you'll lose reference to how much time passed. Daily life in the UK can be incredibly comfortable or impoverished. I started running and going to the gym recently. It not something I ever did and thats now so important to my mental state i miss it so much if i dont go. Each day sould have something simple that defined it's own, this is why I like personal discipline, but it has to built around something with purpose. But that first step which seems beyond any sense isn't even about what you decided, once that first step out of the blurr is made the rest starts to fall into place. Not sure i am making sense but taking that first step out of the blurr is the most important. Get out of the blurr and you'll start to head in a direction. At that point you can then make choices to direct your path.

[@ClickChase]

​@@willjohnson2722Well said. You're right.

[@jamesparker1]

is that lawrence 'stretch' price interviewing - played 13 for cardiff uni circa 2004

[@thenaturaledge]

It is 😎

[@forwardprogressonly]

Hi Simon, SF signaler - isn't that signals army sf group of different for rm is it the same course as army sf signaler ?

[@bigboy0625]

Love a good bedtime story 😴

[@jadebannermalfc6]

Great Interview, out of curiosity what is the watch you are wearing. Thanks

[@bodie463]

Looks like a G Shock Rangeman?

[@thenaturaledge]

Correct! 😎🐸

[@DanielOconnor-ed3yg]

if anyone is thinking his voice sounds like someone, it sounds like Chris Stark from Radio 1

[@jd8226]

If it’s the Ryan Curtis I’m thinking of that you mentioned, he was an absolutely hoofing bloke. Very sad to hear about his passing. Genuinely didn’t come across many blokes as sound as him in the corps. He will be sorely missed x

[@sorryiamanonymous]

Im an indian but i like to listen to any sf guy podcasts

[@nickrich87]

Hoofing video butt! Where is that T shirt from as well 👌🏻

[@kylelewis1687]

It’s Edwin mate

[@andyperkin2103]

🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@tikkunolam112]

Guy creeping past SF operator at 6:07 ...

[@thenaturaledge]

100% 👀

[@tikkunolam112]

@@thenaturaledge A real insight into your life journey ... really enjoyed your conversation ... All the best

[@thenaturaledge]

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ajwest3081]

Love the content. But I must say they are two very handsome guys……..

[@marielouisenilsson3766]

Im so impressed by these men! Heroes!❤

[@thenaturaledge]

Thanks pal 👋🏼

[@frannyp46]

Real respect for these remarkable humans, but a m often upset when dead soldiers come home after fighting a war for elites agenda and they have been misled. Also how some governments toss aside traumatised soldiers and they end up on the streets rather than getting the treatment they deserve. For a real test of strength, look into big doses of psilocybin mushrooms which will smash your ego and get you to truly look at yourself.

[@melon9680]

Many folks work and hope of owning nice things, having a high paying job, and and and. And may do just that, and achieve it. Me? Ive always wanted to be in the military, infact if i dont do it, i have nothing ahead of me. Ive already lived the life, and its all boring. Normal people lack integrity, discipline, professionalism, and give in to trivial drama. But youd think someone like myself being a private contractor living in a broken country can actually get what seems inevitably fkol in the grand scheme of things? I am probably the only person who purposely deals with firefights, facing dangerous situations every single day so that i can afford to leave my country to join a military where getting shot at would be more worthit. Also its a hell of allot safer than my own country anyway. Id go to the east on vacation compared to what i and many other guys deal with. People in first world countries have it piss easy.

[@ronald.pickering]

Zogbots

[@ivorc8957]

Posh boy.

[@thenaturaledge]

Thank you for noticing Ivor. 👍

[@grassypants4450]

As a fellow Bootneck I obviously wish you well. However the abundance of lads now telling all on KZbin doesn't fit well. What happened to the grey man. Loose lips sink ships.

[@thenaturaledge]

Doesn’t fit well how? I don’t think a podcast will lose anyone a war and ultimately most who appear on these are patriotic. There’s an abundance of veterans from all walks of life and military experience, wars etc talking about operations they were on, training etc as far back as ww1.

[@billperry7549]

Royal Marines are not special forces!! FFS! Wake up! Navy!!

[@willjohnson2722]

I'm 39. When I was 21 I went to the military recruitment office. They needed 5 GCSEs for officers, I had AABC at A-level. They told me they wanted me in military intelligence. I went to the coffee shop with all the brochures. A guy sat next to me in the coffee shop and started talking. He said that he used to be in military intelligence, and that meant- he got into plain clothes then went to the pub in Northern Ireland and pretended to be someone else to infiltrate the IRA. He told me- if you're joining the army it's to do one thing, and that's to kill people. They are training you to kill people, full stop. He told me if you want my advice, take your skateboard and go travelling. Which I did, I went around the world several times. Many veterans are on the streets homeless with complex PTSD. When you're chewed up and spat out the army won't give af about you. Go find Joe Glenton, former British soldier- hear what he has to say. If you lionise the military you're doing a military recruitment video. If you're doing a military recruitment video you might want to take a second to stop and question what you're doing.

[@markedmunds1966]

I agree I was in for years and loved it but I agree completely with you

[@ClickChase]

Got to be honest I've had to click off this video. He's not a great storyteller. He needs to work on this skill. Thanks for his service though 👍

[@Tyrekickingwetdreamer]

The REAL truth is you lost the last two wars and got chased out of Afghanistan and iraq so we want all the tax money wasted back

[@thenaturaledge]

Interesting perspective, thanks for watching 👍

[@winkle1]

Shut up

[@nipboy9027]

Thanks to the politicians we lost most of the wars we were in, but no soldier is to blame

[@CPTLYNXY]

It is not his fault

[@rainhart458]

The wars on terror. Where just a means to launder tax payers money into the pockets of the defence industrial complex. And the next money making racket is in Ukraine.

[@kriskupiec4361]

i believe him even that i have not watched him :)

[@KP-bq9jq]

I failed sbs selection twice

[@shaun-chrisjoash9820]

What do you think caused you to fail?

[@Stu1664RM]

Beefer

[@thenaturaledge]

Cheers shippers!

[@jazzflute2465]

The first question was why you joined the ARMY ffs Royal.

[@thenaturaledge]

Basically the same aren’t they?

[@jazzflute2465]

@@thenaturaledge they certainly are not.

[@thenaturaledge]

🤣

[@sharkwolf7788]

I'm sure your blood pressure spiked a little when he asked that😅

[@jazzflute2465]

@@sharkwolf7788 correct 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JubbatheHatt]

Royal Marines along with the parachute regiment are the most highly trained soldiers in the world outside SF's me i truly believe the Paras are man for man much better theyre tougher stronger nuttier and trained to be surrounded but i would not want to fight either 😂

[@thenaturaledge]

Horses for courses mate.

[@rashadrafiq9875]

From 47min onwards telling how your mindset is when going from 10mins 5mins 3mins to helicopter landing and moving towards the back doors of the helicopter with its opening and getting into that elite tier-1 operator mindset is just unbelievable feeling going into no man’s land is incredible place to be. 🫡✊🇬🇧👌🏼👍

[@thenaturaledge]

Thanks for watching buddy 🐸🤙