Special Forces: Making the Cut - Hills Phase

Listen to the stories of Special Forces veterans as they reveal some of the hard, sometimes gruesome, truths about the challenges of their training.
Find out more by visiting our Special Forces: In the Shadows exhibition:
www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/specia...
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[@michaeljames4904]

Robin still sporting his standard-issue 70s Regiment ‘stache, which on its own put that fire out at the Iranian Embassy.

[@garryharriman7349]

😂🤣

[@twothreebravo2374]

4 confirmed kills that tash

[@cheekboy7247]

@@twothreebravo2374 5

[@stocksyere]

Absolute hero! what a man to look up to

[@michaeljames4904]

@C C jellie at how irresistible it made him, clearly had enough of all the wet knickers hitting the floor as soon as he walked in a room

[@oreilly1237878]

I don't know why the vigours of the hellish selection are allways so fascinating.

[@davidbailey7579]

Here’s me blowing out of my arse running upstairs to the toilet! Respect

[@WyeExplorer]

I used to hear stories of selection from my father Terry Jickells who ran selection with good Old Lofty (Wiseman) back in the 70's. Story Arms is imprinted on my mind. They are a certain breed for sure - not without their sense of humor. Mark

[@NS-wo6ze]

These men are the best mentors for life’s ups and downs. The standards and digging deep into the self helps me in the gym. I’m not a soldier but I regards Robin’s words as wisdom. Always strive further and dig deeper and ask for help if you need it.

[@andrewcharley1893]

N S , good solid advice. I love it. Stay blessed!!!!!

[@afroliciouspresents3603]

Yes and no. They are the best of the best at what they do, but as for life in general, it's a sad fact that UKSF has the highest number of suicides per capita in the British Armed Forces. They deserve our respect and support.

[@hmq9052]

Lol. What a waste of time

[@harishkk661]

Pakshe ninakku

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Coward!

[@colinstewart7123]

These dudes are a breed apart. Next level awesome. Most so-called hard men wouldn't even attempt what they do routinely.

[@herrickmaster77]

Tabbing 40 mile with CFT weight is ninja over that terrain full respect to these guys

[@petehumphries3359]

You're all special! Thanks for your s a service! Bless you all.

[@andrewcharley1893]

Pete Humphries , with you on that one!!!!!!👍🏾

[@kc3718]

sounds like one of my holidays.

[@rencarlos5683]

Yup haulin my wife's luggage made me a man

[@stuartwebster4955]

So much respect for these guys

[@williamcarrington61]

Even though l failed Pre-Selection , on 2 attempts in the ' 60's , it was not in vain . I was already serving with the Para. Bgde.as a REME V M , and it was a logical step to try for the SAS . Lasting memories of those "Sickener Tests " , and still keeping ones sense of humour was essential . At Hereford , l met a comrade from 63 Para. Coy. RASC , who said " What're you doing here , you old git " , with his East Anglian accent . Best wishes to all .

[@stealmysunshine]

You passed P company. Thats a feat in itself man. Much respect

[@williamcarrington61]

@@stealmysunshine On the last attempt , soaking wet climbing the Black Mountain , l knew hyperthermia was setting in . Took all my clothes off , and changed into dry stuff . Laughing for no reason , feeling groggy and excessive shivering . I moved on , but stopped at the sound of a 2-stroke engine . The mist suddenly cleared , and down below was the Storey Arms , with a truck blasting out that infamous sound . The next thing was this SAS instructor shouting , " Oi , over here " ! He pointed the way to get down to the check-point , and l'd overcome that crazy moment , thankfully . It was back to Aldershot , but no feeling of shame . Best wishes to all candidates , know your limits , please . Thankyou Richard for awakening my memories .

[@stealmysunshine]

@@williamcarrington61 chap who taught me Close Protection had a similar experience. Ex 29 commando, went for selection, got hypothermia up a mountainside in Wales and had to be RTU'd. As I failed at the most *basic* test to join the army (I was deemed medically unfit due to eczema) I am exceedingly impressed by anyone who even gets the foot in the door for selection.

[@JamchesterBoozle]

@@williamcarrington61 Ohh the memories....i was on the 2013 selection where 3 recruits very unfortunately succumbed to the heat. Collapsed myself a couple of times. The course was cancelled which is unheard of. Although I never got into the SAS i did learn i was good enough or fit enough to get in, which with reflection is all i wanted to really know. It's taken me a long time to come to realise that and the mental battles post selection have been hard to deal with. But in the end I'm very proud of what I done and so should every other man on that course. It was hell that day. RIP brothers.

[@paralogregt]

william carrington hello bill, you won,t remember me but we were in log regt together. I too tried selection but got bad hypothermia on the fan, never been so cold and wet in all my life. I did have couple of good years at Hereford as a vm with brian cooper as my boss.

[@jonessmith3997]

I was on training course with diana Abbott, I lost I was able to add.

[@johncameron-davies1752]

Thanks brings back some wonderful memories /59

[@chocksaway100]

Interesting insight into Special Forces Selection . Thanks

[@arunbainsuk]

Robin is an absolute legend

[@GavTatu]

Robin's book, brilliant read !

[@davey1686]

On reflection of the first fellas interview, many would say that it didnt bother them and that they marched on with their Bergen doing 150 push-ups every 100 yards, regardless of blisters over their kidney area and blood dripping down their leg. Those are the ones who blast their special forces history throughout every aspect of the media. Honest, genuine and real man, and obviously a special trait of the British special forces.

[@alanwitton5039]

Respect

[@welshpete12]

The Welsh hills in winter are no joke , I would not go up there without someone with me . If you are on your own and break a leg , or even just sprain a ankle . You could well die of exposure , people do . It's very easy to get lost . Specially if the mist comes down, even with a compass . It's a cold wet rain , light not heavy , but it seeps in everywhere . Its heavy going , not like waking on ordinary turf .

[@Fyrdman]

Would you rather do it in the winter or summer?

[@richardgatecliffephotograp7024]

Thoroughly recommend Robin’s book ‘Fighting Scared’. A very modest hero as true SAS men are.

[@colinstewart1432]

Totally agree. It's a very compelling read. He certainly went through the mill. Took some horrendous beatings but came out smiling.

[@johnmellor932]

Peter Radcliffe said it best, your body is so numb you have to check yourself every so often to make sure a part of you hasn't dropped off.

[@cheekboy7247]

Where did he say that?

[@johnmellor932]

@@cheekboy7247 In his book I think.

[@cheekboy7247]

@@johnmellor932 thanks, I have read it but it is some months ago

[@TheOutdoorlife78]

Top boy 👍

[@joecook5689]

Sas are best ever. It's almost sad by some stories how hard they were pushed to make it. Like, dont injure them

[@cheekboy7247]

What?

[@joecook5689]

@@cheekboy7247 turn the volume up

[@welshpete12]

Oh they do , last year two lads died doing that !

[@mickymac6571]

Which is worse,the summer or winter course, heat stroke or hypothermia.

[@tgchan]

🔥

[@EFChartley]

FAITH in 🇬🇧 ! ...agree?

[@jackiehamer1932]

Rusty and mac were amazing on the day our cou oountties heroes always love Cochrane bill brilliant guys😀👌💝😎

[@anthonylewis2080]

So called tough guys: "Bunch of has beens/old men". Special Forces Veterans : "Hold my beer". I know who I'd like on my side in challenging times!.

[@bubbles6883]

Oh my god

[@1e0s]

Still a handsome man

[@user-qp6vg9ho8u]

Yea I’ll give that a miss

[@angusg220]

Gather you have not been very well Robin. PJ and I were remniscing on the old days. A*** probably has a family now. Extend my good wishes.

[@plutomars5368]

I'm curious as to the total distances covered in the Hills Phase: so six marathons in five days? 26 miles X 6? 156 miles? Or did he just refer to each march as a marathon, disregarding distance? The Navy SEALs run 200 miles in Hell Week. But 156 miles over mountains is tougher. Someone help me understand, please.

[@Adywebb123]

156 miles over the Brecon beacon on your own, mostly at night. In winter you can be up to your knees in snow on summer it can blazing hot. Miles away civilization’s. Everyone of these guys have spent a minimum of 3years in the military only the very best get put forward, as they are representatives of there unit. So 250 start who are the best of the best. 20% pass

[@DA-of9sv]

40 miles with 55lbs 😱

[@sailasavakalala8660]

Is that a pegasus tie he's wearing ?

[@jezzBC]

Yes that is a Pegasus tie as Robin was in the Parachute Regiment before he passed selection for the SAS.

[@sailasavakalala8660]

@@jezzBC My younger brother gave me one as well.He was a Para of 216 signals. He followed dad into the Paras.Dad served in 1 Para of 16 Parachute Brigade based at Arnhem barracks,Aldershot,Hants. That was the 1st thing I noticed during this clip was the tie !!!!!!

[@dinahmorris8759]

this is what it feels like living with a real mental illness....relentless....you can't even find your boots, the alarm didnt go off- hill? which one? thank you to those who SERVE ;-)

[@dotdashdotdash]

and several times a day, most days, imagining ways to top yourself with the least fuss & most chance of success, then being aghast at yourself for even thinking this shit

[@1e0s]

I was a carer for a chap who trained in the first SAS unit up in Scotland. His stories were extraordinary. 👍

[@hmq9052]

SAS don't chat. He was making it up

[@DonWan47]

The first SAS unit was in the Middle East and Africa. Very different from the Commando unit’s who trained in Scotland.

[@hyena131]

@@hmq9052 These two in the video are chatting.

[@hmq9052]

@@hyena131 If there's a camera present they're not chatting. They're blabbing.

[@hyena131]

@@hmq9052 Right.

[@gorantanko9849]

Nice expierience...but do they teach you is it round or flat?Or does it even matter!?I would really like an answer on that,cheeres!

[@cheekboy7247]

They teach you that the earth is round if you are a sniper

[@joshuawood9055]

I’m pretty sure this is the sas.

[@davidbailey7579]

Selection is the same for both SAS and SBS but there’s a water element when you choose the SBS.

[@trident1314]

@@davidbailey7579 the lines are getting blurry though, boat troop SAS do the same stuff as the SBS and I'm sure elements of the SBS are freefall trained. Whilst each have primary taskings maritime/land based operations there's is a lot of crossover between both units

[@mathematics5573]

This might seem like strange thing to say, but i think SAS is even more prestigous and rarer that FRS. FRS = Fellow of the Royal Society. SAS are less common. And FRS is very hard to get into. only about 2% of professors get in. 52 scientist are elected FRS each year.

[@renditioners]

My grandad, was in the 'queen's Royal battalion of' fudge packers, he saw a lot of action, I fink he got std, or ptsd, sumfink like dat, he loved hanging out with the hussars, always cleaning his 'weapon, he told me' u gotta have a clean weapon, bless 'im' the great big soft poofy can't,

[@1e0s]

I would've been right there with you were it not for this gammy leg! 😌

[@ChrisGroggyCreaser]

Wow,I Couldn't have done that in my times!!... :) *Approx '71-83,13/18th Hussars/RCT & RE's (TA).... :( Frigging HARD WORK For VERY LITTLE PAY!!... :(

[@markfullbrighton5070]

No disrespect, but this sounds quite easy. If you want to know what true pain is, try USA Delta Force selection which makes SAS selection seem like a cake walk.

[@billytruth6444]

Hahaha, very good joke, thanks for making me laugh out loud. But this is obviously a waaah...

[@Dr.IanPlect]

Mark; clueless vomit.

[@hyena131]

Mark Bullnotsobright < < < Silly *TROLL:)*

[@gabagabago0l]

Shut up you idiot

[@BeardedChieftain]

You do realise of course that all the CAG Plank Owners (First members of the Unit) had to pass 22 SAS Selection and that CAG Selection is modelled on SAS Selection, right? If you truly had any idea about CAG selection, you'd not have made this stupid comment.

[@Spyderp99]

Im not a man, this is a man

[@MaxRank]

Bergen burn sucks

[@michellegordon456]

I consider myself a snowflake:-)

[@onedirection3510]

Hmmm.. I can get the need to train for mental and physical toughness but at the same time these guys are training to an extent which seems like something that makes no sense. As he mentioned the analogy of doing five marathons with about 60 pounds on your back. That seems like a boxer training for 40 rounds! What’s the point?

[@onedirection3510]

Spartacus Maximus ok fair enough.

[@ZolaMagic25]

@@onedirection3510 I suppose if you can get through this then you've succeeded in what's likely the most challenging thing you'll ever have to do in your life.

[@onedirection3510]

ZolaMagic25 emmm..no doubt about that.

[@ZolaMagic25]

@@onedirection3510 ouch. Apply that to your comment.

[@boybull]

They live by the maxim "train hard.....fight easy" looking at it another way....if selection wasnt so extreme they wouldn't be that special would they.

[@FordTransitvan]

Has diversity ruined this yet?

[@elpanchosancho2314]

Making the "cult" more like it

[@michaelanderson7715]

No, that's religion.

[@georgeholbrook1886]

Now here's a man who HATES to be contradicted an is condescending in how to responds. Lost a lot of respect for him for that.

[@EFChartley]

FAITH in 🇬🇧 ! ...agree?

[@hudson7354]

Israel kick the fucking shit out of you

[@rp4712]

@UCujTQ449w1DIRoiUe51BbtA cry more ya pussy