UK Special Forces Reserves Selection

smitters · Last edited by smitters on Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

Random question - a friend of mine has just been hauled out of the final stages of what I assume to be Selection Phase 1 for medical reasons.

Does anyone know what his options may be? He's obviously absolutely gutted after spending two years focussing on this. I appreciate this is quite specialist and so a PM may be more appropriate, but it would be nice to propose/be able to discuss some general ideas of where to go next as he's naturally gutted and also very focussed on what he's lost, not on what else he might be able to do.

Cheers
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StevieW · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:23 pm Post subject:

Get him to pose the question on arrse.

explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 7052 Location: Woburn

It will depend upon the medical reason.......
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Jorgan · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:07 pm Post subject:

He should get two stabs at it (pardon the pun Wink

) if the 'medical problem' is not long-term diagnosed i.e. just an injury. If it's a long-term or irreversible problem, then it's just hard luck I'm afraid.

ARRSE is a much better place to ask, but even then, they can't provide advice to circumvent hard & fast medical standards; if indeed that is what's caused him to be 'failed'.
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E-J · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 5721 Location: North East

as said, depends on the medical reason. But i know guys who've had 3 cracks at selection before making it all the way through. Provided you're a real potential they'll give you the time.... desperate for recruits.

while medical conditions existing pre- sign up are black and white, there is leeway once you're in. But it all depends on what it is.

feel free to pm me as i know medics in the SAS who could advise further.
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explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 7052 Location: Woburn

explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 7052 Location: Woburn

Jorgan · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject:

smitters · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks folks. I've avoided AARSE as I imagined a first post regarding the Special Forces might not be viewed with the most sympathy!

I'll have a chat with him but the main thing was to get a very vague background in what option he may have so I can spark/maintain a positive and forward looking discussion. I reckon anyone who puts themselves through the hell of selection deserves all the support they can get.

I've deliberately avoided specifics as I've found the internet to be a surprisingly small place sometimes.

Cheers again.
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Owd Bill · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject:

If it's an injury or temporary problem, like for example the 'flu, the staff will have advised him he can try again. He may not have heard it in the trauma of 'failure'.

There's no shame in not getting into SAS/SBS. Lots of otherwise brilliant troops just have not the ability they're looking for. They'd save a fortune on 'selections' if they could find the capability any other way.
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GrahamO · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:44 pm Post subject:

markie r · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 12156

is this 'friend of yours' incapable of using a computer for themselves? seems like a strange thing to ask a mate to query on a mongboard they go on.
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smitters · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:36 am Post subject:

Or, indeed, it could be his friend asking off his own back, so that when said friend (me) and he meet up, I have something constructive to talk about at what must be a pretty low point.

Lets be fair, if he needed someone to ask questions for him, he'd not have got very far in any portion of the armed forces.
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Jorgan · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:51 am Post subject:

He's effectively just failed a tough job interview; plenty of people have done that. We've all fallen short of our expectations at some point in our lives (tests, courses, interviews etc) and gotten over it. I have stepped through some doors in my career, knowing it would close others, but that's life.

I'm sure he'll pick himself up. If it's not a medical issue, why doesn't 'he' join the RMR? Plenty of kudos in gaining the Green Beret; like a Para but capable of rational thought.

Keep him away from spy thillers though, in case he wants to do that next Wink

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smitters · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:30 am Post subject:

Ha! No need for the 'he'. If you saw all 5'8 and 83 very spherical kilos of me you'd know!

He started out going for RMR. Completed the physical assessment and was told to go and talk to some chap off to one side. He and the two others who were top three were approached to see if they fancied upping the ante, so to speak.

You're right though, it's just another stage of life and with every week passing perspective takes more control from emotion. The only way I can relate to it would be to work hard for all three years at Uni, then somehow fail my finals and not get a degree. In that sense, I'd like to think my mates would rally round a bit until perspective got the upper hand!
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